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U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) sent a letter to Representative James Clyburn (SC-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis and House Majority Whip, expressing strong concerns about possible misuse of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds by United States Secretary of Education Betsy Devos. He cited dramatic changes that have been made to the plan for the distribution of funds, in an apparent effort by DeVos to advantage small, private, often religious schools.
Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Tom Reed (R-NY), and Ann Wagner (R-MO), with more than 120 of their colleagues, urged Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin to delay the federal excise tax filing and payment due dates for beverage alcohol through the end of the year.
As of this week, over 1.5 million Americans have contracted coronavirus and over 90,000 have died – including more than 4,100 here in Illinois. And last month, nearly 22 million Americans filed for unemployment. I know that essential workers can't wait for support and families can't wait to pay rent or to keep food on their tables. I was proud that Congress mobilized quickly to pass three pieces of smart, bipartisan legislation but the crisis hasn't ended, and Congress can't consider our work done either.
I know these past weeks have been particularly difficult for many Americans as you have been forced to celebrate Passover, Easter, and Ramadan away from your loved ones. Please know that continuing to following CDC guidance even when we most would have liked to be with our families helped keep our community safer. I'm wishing you and your friends and families the best.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) introduced the Court Access Amid the Pandemic Act, which would authorize video and teleconferencing of judicial proceedings during the COVID-19 emergency period. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced federal courts across the country to change their daily operations to protect the wellbeing of the Justices, court staff, and the public. Quigley's bill would enable public access to these proceedings while experts recommend against gatherings.
Specifically, this bill:
U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), the lead House sponsor of the Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 1380), led a bipartisan group of members in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to express their concern with current enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The recent release of the Netflix series "Tiger King" has brought new public attention to unaccredited animal parks operating in violation of the standards outlined in the AWA.
Today, Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Bobby L. Rush (IL-01), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Sean Casten (IL-06), and Jesús G. "Chuy" García (IL-04) released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement that it will not strengthen the particulate matter national air quality standard:
Today, the Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar expressing strong concerns regarding the racial disparities that exist in COVID-19 cases and deaths in Illinois and across the nation. The members cited that while black residents make up nearly 15 percent of the state's total population, they account for 43 percent of all COVID-19 deaths.
Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Michael McCaul (R-TX), along with U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led more than 60 of their Senate and House colleagues in urging leading international health and wildlife organizations to take aggressive action toward a permanent global ban of live wildlife markets, also known as "wet" markets, as well as a ban on the international trade of live wildlife.
Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Bobby Scott (VA-03), and Jerry McNerney (CA-09) led 75 Members of Congress in sending a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler urging him to extend deadlines to allow for informed rulemaking.