Quigley Champions Illinois Communities in Second FY21 Funding Package

July 31, 2020
Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) supported the passage of H.R. 7617, the FY 2021 Six-Bill Appropriations Minibus, which is the second funding package taken up by the House. This funding package – which included victories for Illinois and Chicago that Quigley championed as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations – makes smart investments in our nation's defense, rejects the President's massive defense budget request, and prioritizes stabilizing the economy for Americans as they navigate the road to recovery.

As Chairman of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee, Quigley oversaw the inclusion of $500 million in funding for election security grants to help states conduct safe, accessible, and secure elections. The FSGG portion of the package also ensures capital and other assistance gets to small businesses and underbanked businesses by including $273.5 million for Community Development Financial Institutions and $277 million for the Small Business Administration's Entrepreneurial Development programs. The bill increases funding for the IRS to assist taxpayers and bolster enforcement and provides $7.8 billion for the Judicial Branch to fund our federal courts and robust funding for broadband infrastructure, and federal construction projects.

"This week, the President's reckless comments about our election process have highlighted the importance of ensuring that every state in our union has the resources they need to hold safe and secure elections this November and every election year," said Quigley. "We must guarantee that every voter has access to the ballot box, and no one is forced to choose between exercising their right to vote and protecting their health."

At Quigley's request, House Democrats have taken steps to protect LGBTQ Americans by featuring strong language calling for a change in discriminatory FDA blood donation guidelines in both bill and report language on LGBT housing discrimination. Quigley fought to prevent the rollback of the HUD Equal Access housing rule and end Secretary Carson's bigoted crusade against transgender Americans.

"President Trump and Secretary Carson continue to fail our LGBTQ community time and time again. I will not stand by while they implement increasingly outdated, homophobic policies," Quigley said.

Among the health care priorities that Quigley secured in HR 7617 is more than $220 million for cancer research, including prostate, brain, and pediatric cancers, $2.414 million for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, $713 million to support low-income pregnant women, mothers, and children, and $40 million towards childhood lead poisoning prevention.

Quigley stated, "This year's funding bill rejects the President's efforts to sideline important funding to combat the opioid epidemic. Drug prevention programs, like the Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and Drug-Free Communities Program, are crucial in the fight against drug use, especially to intervene and impact young drug users."

Finally, Quigley successfully fought for measures to curb gun violence in Chicago and across the nation, including a provision he has long championed that would direct the Department of Justice to report additional data on individuals who attempt to purchase firearms who are not legally allowed to do so. Additionally, Quigley requested language to require DOJ to report data to make it easier for Congress to track the number of NICS default proceeds during the ongoing pandemic.

Other Quigley priorities included:

  • Providing $400 million in grants to carry out police reforms as authorized by the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act;
  • Making DACA recipients eligible for Federal employment;
  • Prohibiting the use of funds from the Treasury Forfeiture Fund and from the Department of Defense to construct the President's illegal and immoral wall along our southern border;
  • $162 million for Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, an increase of $82 million from FY20;
  • $200 million for state of good repair;
  • $15 million for a transit-oriented development pilot program;
  • Fully funding all FAA airport noise programs;
  • $1 million for the renaming of military buildings and bases that bear the name of confederate leaders;
  • $20 million for Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program for ALS research; and
  • $2.5 million for advanced orthopedic surgical training for military surgeons.
Issues:Appropriations