117th Congress
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, questioned Customs and Border Protection (CBP) leadership about the safety and wellbeing of imported live animals, a problem that has dramatically escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic, during a hearing on CBP's Resource Management and Operational Priorities. Quigley's questions came in light of an incident last year in which 20 dogs entered the U.S. on a flight from Jordan to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, led a hearing on "The Need for Universal Broadband: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic" centered on the critical role of broadband in American life. Quigley's remarks focused on the increased importance of broadband throughout the pandemic and the inequity in broadband connectivity for different communities across the country. Quigley also questioned witnesses about consumer protection efforts as broadband access is expanded.
U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement in response to ongoing violence in the Middle East:
"In recent days, I have frequently reflected on my time spent in the Middle East, when I have both walked the streets of Gaza and toured bomb proof playgrounds in Israel. We must always remember to place ourselves in each other's shoes—never more so than in these fraught times.
Today, the Congressional Ukraine Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Andy Harris (R-MD), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), sent the following letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing deep concern with the state of energy security in Ukraine and Central and Eastern Europe.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), Vice-Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus and a founding member of the Transgender Equality Task Force, questioned Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Tae Johnson, about the treatment of transgender individuals in ICE custody. Quigley urged Johnson to ensure that detainees can safely reveal their gender identity in custody and to improve training for ICE officials to reduce abuse against trans immigrants.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) re-introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2021 to enhance the mapping of urban flooding to prevent associated damage. The legislation will help give cities and towns the tools they need to address flooding in a local context and then encourage the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to apply lessons learned nationwide. In the Senate, the bill is sponsored by and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).
Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Ted Deutch (FL-22), and Gerry Connolly (VA-11) reintroduced the "Buyback Our Safety Act," legislation that would create a Department of Justice program to support local gun buyback initiatives.
This bill would authorize a new matching grant available for local law enforcement agencies to help offset costs of buyback programs. The bill also requires the Department of Justice to report back to Congress on the success of the grant program.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, participated in a hearing on the Capitol Insurrection. During the hearing, Quigley grilled former Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller about his leadership during the January 6 attack and pressed him on his unwillingness to take responsibility for the Department's failures.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) and Vice-Chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus, questioned Stephen Dickson, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), regarding ongoing concerns about aviation noise around airports nationwide, including O'Hare. During Quigley's questioning, Dickson committed to a comprehensive policy review that will incorporate issues that Quigley has focused on throughout his time in Congress.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Transparency Caucus, introduced the Access to White House Visitor Logs Act, to require every administration to publicly release visitor logs from the White House or any location where presidents regularly conduct official business.