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Editorials

April 5, 2017
Editorials
On March 25, 2017 eight people were shot in the city of Chicago. The following day, twelve more people. Some were victims of retaliations and many more were left with new plans to retaliate, resulting in the continuation of a vicious and deadly cycle. As more shots are fired, more deaths occur, and more people are exposed to the trauma—and susceptible to the influence—of violence. While this sequence isn’t unique to Chicago, it is all too evident on the streets we call home. Violence of all forms is wreaking havoc in communities across the country, disproportionately impacting communities of color and shaving half a million years of life off our collective lifespan. But, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Issues:Gun Violence Prevention

April 5, 2017
Editorials
On March 25, 2017 eight people were shot in the city of Chicago. The following day, twelve more people. Some were victims of retaliations and many more were left with new plans to retaliate, resulting in the continuation of a vicious and deadly cycle. As more shots are fired, more deaths occur, and more people are exposed to the trauma—and susceptible to the influence—of violence.
Issues:Gun Violence Prevention

March 22, 2017
Editorials
Whether you’re a member of Congress or the president of the United States, the American people are your best watchdog. In order for Americans to serve this vital function and fulfill these critical responsibilities, it is only reasonable to provide them with the resources they need to carry out the job. We can start by allowing them to see who has the ear of our nation’s highest leaders. That’s why I worked with my Democratic colleagues in the Senate to introduce the Make Access Records Available to Lead American Government Openness (MAR-A-LAGO) Act, which re-instates the Obama administration’s practice of releasing White House visitor logs.
Issues:Government Transparency

March 21, 2017
Editorials
We are calling today for a dynamic U.S. initiative led by the Trump administration and Congress to unlock the potential of adolescent girls and young women in 13 low-income partner countries that matter significantly to U.S. national interests.
Issues:Defense and Foreign Affairs

February 23, 2017
Editorials
I last visited Kyiv in April 2014, when the energy in the city was still electric. For months, Independence Square—dubbed the Euromaidan by Ukrainians seeking to tug their country out from under Russia’s grasp—had been occupied by protesters and police as unrest gripped the city in the dead of the Ukrainian winter. As I stood on Khreshchatyk Street, the Euromaidan was still filled with Ukrainians from every walk of life, demanding a more transparent government, a more democratic society and closer integration with Europe and the West.
Issues:Defense and Foreign Affairs

February 3, 2017
Editorials
Despite the intelligence community's assessment that Russia interfered in our presidential election, President Donald Trump and Republican leadership seem wholly uninterested in examining how and why Russia targeted us — and what we must do to prevent it from happening again.

February 2, 2017
Editorials
In the fast-paced, evolving media coverage of the new administration, it's hard to remember what outrageous claim or attack President Donald Trump made and when. Unfortunately, despite the onslaught of offenses and barrage of new policies coming from the Oval Office, we must continue to hold the president accountable for each and every action intended to roll back progress, safety or opportunity for American families—from sweeping executive orders to 140-character tweets.

January 13, 2017
Editorials
This past Tuesday, in Washington D.C., a 21 year old man named Jay Franzone donated blood. On the surface, this act seems common, almost routine, especially as we observe National Blood Donor Month. Americans donate blood every day—on high school and college campuses during blood drives, in workplaces after a coworker falls ill, and in hospitals as loved ones prepare for surgery. What makes this scenario unique is the fact that Jay is gay, or as a blood bank would classify him, MSM—a man who has sex with men. And because of this, he is required to abstain from sex for 12 months in order to qualify as a healthy blood donor.
Issues:Equality

January 6, 2017
Editorials
An individual cannot be an effective leader without trust. Less than two months ago, Americans across the country exercised their most fundamental right in our democracy – the right to vote. They made their voices heard at the ballot box; casting their choice for the men and women they trust to represent and serve them in Congress. In order to honor this trust, Members must be held to the highest ethical standards.
Issues:Government Transparency

December 21, 2016
Editorials
O’Hare International Airport is a critical economic engine of the Chicago region, a hub of international commerce, and our city’s gateway to the world.
Issues:Economy and Jobs