Hello and happy New Year!
Like most of you, I spent the last few days celebrating the holidays and spending time with my family. I have also been reflecting on 2016 and thinking about what I’d like the next year to look like. That led me to come up with a list of New Year’s resolutions. Some of them are personal: I’d like to improve my Spanish and keep practicing it (Feliz Año Nuevo, by the way!), use my Twitter account more often, and maybe even get my dogs Eleanor and Franklin to stop jumping on people. If you come across them and they jump, don’t take offense. They’re just happy to see you and we’re working on it!
I also came up with a list of New Year’s resolutions that are more specific to my role representing Illinois’ 9th District in Congress. I came up with twelve items that I want to focus on (one for every month of the year), and I want to share that list with you today.
In 2017, I’d like to:
- Be a fierce leader of the Resistance. Given the troubling and dangerous rhetoric that defined Donald Trump’s campaign, and the growing list on unconscionable Cabinet appointments that he has made, it is clear that we must keep a watchful eye on our next President. We must form a Resistance on behalf of working men and women, religious and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, and anyone else who feels threatened as we start the New Year. I plan on being front and center of that movement.
- Complete the dream that brought me to Congress: to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable healthcare. In 2017, I will continue to defend the Affordable Care Act and do my best to improve coverage for everyone and lower prescription drug prices.
- Stand firm against attacks on women’s reproductive rights. Defending a woman’s right to choose and making sure that women have control over their healthcare decisions will continue to be one of my top priorities this year. These rights face serious, imminent threats, and I am determined to not cede even an inch of the progress we have made.
- Care for the environment, and make sure that our country is doing everything we can to combat the threat of climate change. The effects of climate change are real and only getting worse. I would like to build on the promises of the Paris Climate Agreement, and make our country a global leader on the fight against climate change.
- Protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security for generations to come.Efforts are already underway to privatize and undermine these crucial programs, and we cannot allow it. Every American must be guaranteed dignity and independence in their retirement. We should expand –not cut- benefits.
- Defend the Iran Nuclear Deal. Engaging in diplomacy with Iran and putting an end to their nuclear weapons program was the right thing to do. I will continue to push back on all efforts to undermine this agreement in the next year.
- Stand up for the rights of consumers, and fight back against corporations cutting corners at the expense of individuals. I was a consumer advocate before coming to Congress, and I remain one. Companies that use false advertising, botch recalls, and otherwise defraud their consumers should watch out for me in 2017.
- Keep up the fight for a fifteen dollar minimum wage and the right to join a union. Working men and women have been fighting for good jobs with living wages for a very long time, and the fight won’t end this year. I am a proud supporter of this movement, and I’ll fight harder for it in 2017.
- Stand with immigrants and immigrant advocates fighting for comprehensive immigration reform. Our current system is broken and, as a result, families, communities, and our entire economy suffer. Despite the enormous challenges and uncertainty that immigrants and their supporters face, I will continue to work to pass comprehensive immigration reform this year.
- Work to ensure that employment, housing and all other opportunities are available to people with disabilities. It is crucial that we build on the important progress that the Americans with Disabilities Act has made in the last 25 years. As this New Year begins, I will renew my commitment to support our brother and sisters with disabilities.
- Push for meaningful legislative action on gun violence. Congress’ failure to address the epidemic of gun violence is troubling, angering and unacceptable. This menace claims lives in Chicago every day, and 2017 must be the year that we do something about it.
- Fight against bigotry and discrimination wherever and from whomever. Given the negativity and divisiveness that we have seen brewing across the country, I am committed to fighting back against anti-Semitism, hate speech, xenophobia, islamophobia, homophobia and anti-immigrant sentiments. Hatred, bigotry, and discrimination have no place in our country. We must work hard to make sure that America remains an inclusive and respectful country.
Thank you for taking the time to read my resolutions. Keep in mind that this list is not comprehensive by any means. If I wrote down everything that I’d like to do and fight for on behalf of my constituents and my country, I’d never stop writing! If you see something missing from this list that is important to you, please feel free to contact my office and let me know.
It is true that we will face significant challenges and tough battles in 2017. A lot of the progress that we have made in the last eight years hangs in the balance, and many people have reasonable fears about what will happen during a Trump administration. As I hope you can tell from my resolutions, I am fully committed to defending our progress and working to move forward, not backwards. As always, in the year ahead, I look forward to hearing your thoughts, opinions, and insights.
Once again, happy New Year!