Catching Up With Quigley: Week of November 18
Dear Friend,
I hope you had a good week. I wanted to share a brief overview of some of the work I did over the past few days while in Washington.
For the latest updates on my work in Congress, you can now find me on Bluesky @repmikequigley.bsky.social
1. Introduced Legislation to Protect Illinois Communities from Flooding
For communities across our state, flooding can cause extensive property damage and impose a massive financial burden on homeowners. Yesterday, I was proud to reintroduce the Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2024. This bill would establish a pilot grant program through FEMA to allow cities to develop better methods for mapping, understanding, and mitigating urban flooding while sharing their findings with the federal government. With the recent rise in extreme weather events, I'm hopeful my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will recognize the urgent need for this legislation.
2. Joined the Helsinki Commission to Mark 1,000 Days Since Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
On Tuesday, the Helsinki Commission marked 1,000 days since Russia launched its illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The hearing commemorated this milestone by providing an update on the current state of the war, analyzing the strategic consequences of failing to stop Russian aggression, and outlining essential actions that the U.S. and its partners must take to ensure Ukraine's success. The hearing was attended by a panel of experts along with Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, I had the opportunity to meet with them earlier in the day to discuss how the U.S. can continue to support Ukraine in this fight.
3. Discussed Trump's Cabinet Appointments on CNN
On Tuesday, I joined Kasie Hunt on CNN to discuss Donald Trump's recent appointments to key government positions. Before Gaetz withdrew from consideration, I expressed deep concerns about Trump's nomination of Congressman Matt Gaetz for U.S. Attorney General. Gaetz has frequently echoed Trump's rhetoric about political retaliation and seeking vengeance against their opponents. Moreover, he resigned from the House just days before the Ethics Committee was set to release a report on serious allegations of misconduct. I joined my colleagues in urging the committee to release its findings in a formal letter to the Ethics Committee.
During my CNN appearance, I also addressed the Biden Administration's recent policy shift permitting Ukraine to use long-range weapons to strike targets within Russia. I believe this decision will empower the Ukrainian military to make significant advances against Putin's forces. To watch my full interview, click HERE.
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If you need help with a passport renewal, student loans, or getting in touch with a federal agency, our office may be able to assist you. You can call my DC office at (202) 225-4061 or my Chicago office at (773) 267-5926. You can also email me through my website at Quigley.house.gov/contact.
Sincerely,
Mike Quigley