For Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, it has always begun with listening.
That’s why on just about any given Saturday, you can find her walking the aisles of one of the many grocery stores across the 17th Congressional District, in what she calls “Supermarket Saturdays.” From cities like Moline, Rockford and Peoria, to smaller communities like Canton, Kewanee and Galena, she walks the aisles to ask folks what’s on their minds, what they want her to know, what they want her to fight for or fight against. And she wants to know about them personally:
Fighting For Illinois’ Agricultural Economy
As a member of Congress from a rural district who comes from a long line of family farmers, I know how important our growers and producers are to our local economy. In western and central Illinois, we have some of the richest farmland in the nation, and agriculture is the top economic driver.
That’s why as a member of the House Agriculture Committee I’ve made growing our agricultural economy a priority.
When I was a new member of Congress, I was proud to work across party lines to pass the first long-term Farm Bill in years. This bipartisan legislation provided a stable and strong crop insurance program while maintaining funding for programs that feed hungry children and families across Illinois.
Then, in 2018, I fought to pass another bipartisan Farm Bill that included several key pieces of legislation I authored, including:
But to keep our agricultural economy growing, we need to help our farmers export their products to new markets. That’s why I traveled to Cuba with the Illinois-Cuba Working Group and the Illinois Farm Bureau to help our farmers develop the right relationships so they can export more of our agricultural products.
It’s also crucial that our growers and producers have a seat at the table when negotiating new agreements with our trading partners. In August 2019, I set up a meeting at the Illinois State Fair between Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss agricultural priorities for the renegotiation of NAFTA—which later became known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
I later cast my vote in favor of a strong USMCA, securing export markets for the agriculture sector with some of our most reliable trading partners and establishing a robust framework for future trade deals.
Additionally, over the past few years, we’ve seen the Trump Administration partner with Big Oil to dismantle the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)—a move that has been devastating to our corn growers and biofuels producers alike. I’ve been working to restore the integrity of the RFS and to ensure that our growers and producers have the support they need to keep our agricultural sector strong and continue investing in the production of cleaner-burning fuels.
While we still have a lot of work to do to ensure a brighter future for our 21st century agricultural heartland, here are several recent examples of the work I’m doing.
Working Together To Put Working Families First
When I was elected to Congress, I made a commitment to put working families ahead of partisan politics–and that’s exactly what I’ve done. Good ideas can come from both sides of the aisle, and if a bill makes sense for our community, then I’ll fight for it.And I’ve got the track record to prove it. In the 116thCongress, 80% of votes have been bipartisan.Over 40 individual Republicans have cosponsored legislation I introduced this Congress, and I have co-sponsored nearly 50 bills led by Republicans.I knowRepublicans and Democrats can come together on policies to grow our economy and create more good-paying American jobs, and I’ll continue to work with all of my colleagues in Congress to deliver results for Illinois
Providing a World-Class Education for All of our Children
As the proud mother of three sons who graduated from public schools, I understand how important it is to make sure that all of our children have the opportunity to get a high-quality education. It’s my promise to every parent in our community that I’ll always fight to make sure our schools are well-equipped, our students are well-prepared and our teachers have the resources they need to help our children succeed.
This is why, as a member of the House Appropriations Education Subcommittee, I’m a strong supporter of Head Start, expanding early childhood education programs and efforts to incentivize more individuals to choose a career in teaching. Across the United States, we are facing a shortage of qualified teachers. That’s why I introduced the RETAIN Act, which would provide a tax credit that increases annually as teachers continue to serve in low-income schools. Additionally, that’s why I introduced the STRONG Act which attracts more individuals to enter teacher residency programs.
And with college debt surpassing credit card debt for the first time in our nation’s history, I’m also committed to making higher education more affordable and more accessible to hardworking young people. I’m a strong supporter of strengthening federal Pell grants, expanding career and technical education (CTE) programs and reforming the student loan system to reduce the debt burden on graduating students. I am committed to fighting for funding for these programs as a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee.
Our children deserve our full support and we need to do everything possible to prepare them to compete and succeed in a 21st-century economy.
Strengthening American Energy Production While Protecting Our Environment
There’s no doubt that energy production plays a major factor in our economy, but it also plays a critical role in ensuring our environmental well-being. As your member of Congress, I’m committed to supporting innovative approaches to invest in clean and renewable fuel sources, combat climate change and promote a comprehensive plan that keeps energy affordable for the middle class.
Illinois’ 17th district includes some of the best farmland in the nation, and we have a real opportunity to be leaders in the 21st-century American energy economy through the production of biofuels, solar and wind. Additionally, we need to support non-carbon sources of energy, such as nuclear, while investing in research and development to develop new energy solutions and make existing ones cleaner and safer.
That’s why I put forth the Rural Green Partnership, a framework of policies to bring together stakeholders across rural America to lower greenhouse gas emissions in every economic sector. Climate change may be the most complicated challenge our country has ever faced, but I intend to meet the challenge head-on and give rural America – including the families in Northwest and Central Illinois – a seat at the table as we tackle the climate crisis.
We owe it to our next generation to do our part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While there is no single solution to America’s energy challenge, we must take steps to move toward cleaner energy sources while protecting our economy.
Protecting Hardworking Taxpayers and Getting Our Fiscal House in Order
The current budget deficit, created by generations of lawmakers in Washington, is a serious problem that did not get created overnight and will not get solved overnight either. But by working together, we can take commonsense steps that will move our country in the right direction.
Like so many across our district, I learned at a young age that balancing the family pocketbook and living within our means is a question of values. I believe that what we cannot do is balance the federal budget on the backs of middle class families, seniors, students and veterans while cutting taxes for big oil companies, corporations that ship our jobs overseas and millionaires and billionaires on Wall Street.
What we can, and should do, is start by rooting out instances of government waste, fraud and abuse so that we can strengthen Medicare and expand Social Security.
That’s why as my first piece of legislation, I introduced the Government Waste Reduction Act, a common sense bill that would reduce duplicative services and root out waste in government, while preserving crucial services and programs. And in 2015, I introduced and passed The Improper Payments Coordination Act to save taxpayer dollars by utilizing 21st century data analytics to eliminate improper payments and rein in waste and fraud across federal agencies.
There’s still a lot of work ahead to get Washington in order, but I’m committed to using my watchdog role in Congress to protect hardworking taxpayers.
Your Watchdog in Washington
When I worked as an investigative journalist in the Quad-Cities, I took my watchdog role for the families we served very seriously. That’s the same approach I take to the work that I do every day in Congress.
That’s why I’ve established a watchdog task force in my office to root out problems in the community, get to the bottom of them and develop solutions for our families. It’s also why I’ve made it a top priority to provide the highest quality constituent services possible for individuals and families in our community.
If you need assistance with an issue or think there’s a problem in your community that’s not being addressed, I strongly urge you to contact my office by clicking here.
Making Health Care More Accessible and Affordable
Health care is a deeply personal issue to me.
My sister-in-law, Barb, died several years ago without health insurance. Barb and her husband both worked full-time, but they couldn’t afford health insurance and when she got sick, she couldn’t afford the most effective cancer treatment she needed to survive.
Even those who can afford insurance are not immune to the extremely high costs of operations and prescription medications. A few months after my sister-in-law passed away, my brother Danny died, leaving behind a wife and two daughters. His insurance would not cover his cancer treatment because an experimental drug was required. No family should have to go through the suffering my family did. That’s why I’ve consistently supported legislation to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable and strengthen protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
Another major issue across our nation are societal factors that lead to negative health outcomes, like access to care and racial disparities. We’ve seen this borne out in the 17th Congressional District, where many residents in Peoria lack access to healthy food following the closure of grocery stores. Many in the District also include lack of access to care caused by physician shortages and long drives to the doctor in rural areas.
That’s why I have introduced the Social Determinants Accelerator Act, which would provide funding to communities to combat these issues and help drive positive health outcomes. As a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, I am committed to pushing for Health and Human Services funding that will improve access and quality of care in our communities.
When I decide whether to support a bill, fight for an economic development project or lend my support to a proposal, the first question I ask is “how will this affect Illinois.”
Growing our economy and creating jobs
While America has rebounded from the depths of the great recession, too many hardworking families in the heartland are still waiting for the economic recovery to arrive.
For me, there’s nothing more important than making sure we’re doing all we can to grow Illinois’ economy by creating an economic environment where businesses can succeed. But, as we work to achieve these goals, we also need to make sure we’re doing it in a way that strengthens working families, grows our middle-class and creates good-paying jobs across Illinois.
Bringing 21st Century Manufacturing and Jobs to our Region
I’m working to help jump-start the next Industrial Revolution right here in Illinois. Recently, I was proud to help bring the first two Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute chapters to Rockford and the Quad-Cities. This program will help these communities position themselves as global leaders in advanced engineering by connecting local industries to advanced tools and expertise. Additionally, by partnering with government and academic institutions, the Digital Manufacturing Labs will help prepare our workers for 21st century manufacturing jobs.
I also worked to help the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council earn designation as one of just 12 regions in the country to be a part of the U.S. Commerce Department’s Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership Program. This collaborative effort will strengthen the earthmoving industry in Peoria by improving local parts supply chains, addressing infrastructure challenges that prevent existing businesses from expanding, and investing in workforce training to connect workers with the skills they need for local manufacturing jobs.
My vision for our region is simple – I believe that by focusing on revitalizing our manufacturing triangle region, we will help attract new employers and prepare our workers for the manufacturing jobs of the future. It’s not going to be easy, but nothing worth fighting for ever is.
Leveling the Playing Field
We have some of the best workers in the world, but far too often, we’re competing on an uneven global economic playing field that has resulted in too many good-paying jobs being shipped overseas to places like China and India. My standard for trade deals is pretty straight forward – if it doesn’t grow our economy and strengthen working families in Illinois, I won’t support it. But, I also think we need to take steps to eliminate any financial and tax incentives that make it easier for big corporations to outsource our jobs. Instead, we need to focus on ways to incentivize these companies to invest in our workforce and invest in American manufacturing. These are just a few of the reasons why I’m so proud to support the “Make It in America” jobs plan.
Helping Small Businesses Expand
Small businesses create two out of every three new jobs in America, so their ability to succeed is absolutely critical to our economic future. This is why I introduced a new bill that would help small and mid-sized manufacturers gain access to new markets to increase their business. The Boosting America’s Exports Act would help small businesses and startup entrepreneurs reach their full potential by connecting them with the tools and resources they need to begin exporting American-made products to consumers around the world. By helping them expand into new markets and increase American exports, we’ll create thousands of good-paying jobs and opportunities here at home.
Protecting Medicare and Social Security
Medicare and Social Security are sacred trusts that we must protect.
Since 1965, Medicare has been a solemn promise to our nation’s seniors: if you work hard and pay your taxes, health care coverage will be there for you when you need it most. I will fight to keep that promise for both current and future generations.
To ensure Medicare’s long-term financial stability, I support the implementation of common sense reforms like switching to electronic medical records to lower costs and better coordinate services. I also think it’s long past time that we pass common sense reforms to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices to reduce costs for taxpayers and seniors.
Social Security is another vital safety net program that our seniors rely on. I believe that we need to make the expansion of Social Security a priority – even if it means asking millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share. Because of this commitment, I strongly oppose any effort to gamble Social Security on Wall Street through privatization or to allow any cuts to guaranteed benefits.
Our seniors have worked hard to retire with dignity and I will always stand up for them.
Strong Women, Strong Communities
As a working mom who raised three sons, I know from experience that women’s issues really are family issues.
Advocating for women and families has been an important part of my life and career. I have always firmly believed that women should have equal opportunities and the right to have their voices heard- whether it’s in the workplace, in the classroom or in government. As women, we’ve made great strides in all of these areas over my lifetime, but as long as women in the 17th district still earn just $.72 for every dollar a man makes at the same job, our work isn’t finished.
This is why I strongly support policies to strengthen women across America such as equal pay for equal work, earned paid family leave, protecting a woman’s right to choose, renewing and improving the Violence Against Women Act, reducing sexual assaults on college campuses, and making sure that women always have access to preventative health and family planning services.
Investing In our Infrastructure to Create Jobs in our Community
Studies have shown that investments in our infrastructure lead to new economic activity and job creation – that’s why I’m proud to help lead the fight to invest in Illinois’ roads, bridges, rail lines and airports. From working across the aisle in Congress to meeting with a Republican White House, I stand ready to collaborate in a bipartisan nature to reinvest in our infrastructure.
The 17th district is home to three international airports (Quad-City International Airport, Peoria International Airport and Chicago Rockford International Airport), in addition to several smaller regional airports. I’ve fought hard to bring home federal support for these airports. Additionally, after seeing how the Chicago Rockford International Airport’s cargo operation has helped to drive the local economy, I founded the bipartisan Air Cargo Caucus to raise awareness to lawmakers and their staff about the importance of supporting this critical industry.
Our district is defined by its connections. Our highways span thousands of miles that connect east to west and north to south. The Mississippi River, our district’s western border, and the Illinois Waterway move millions of tons of goods every year through aging locks and dams. The agricultural products, along with other products and goods, moved through these highways and waterway systems are key to commerce in the region. I was proud to push the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) and help secure $4.5 million for funding to update our locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi and provide critical ecosystem restoration. And with critical rail projects like the Quad-City to Chicago rail line still being developed, I am optimistic about the potential for new economic development opportunities in the future.
In 2015, I was proud to help lead a bipartisan effort to pass the first long-term highway bill in a decade. This legislation was projected to provide Illinois with over $7.5 billion in funding for highway, transit and transportation safety programs through fiscal year 2020. As Congress considers a new highway bill, I will continue to fight for the infrastructure needs of Illinois.
If we want to attract new employers to our region and create more good-paying jobs, we must strengthen our infrastructure system. Our parents left us with a world-class transportation system. We owe it to the next generation to carry on this promise.
Ensuring our National Security and Standing up for our Veterans
After nearly two decades of war and with foreign powers attempting to interfere in our elections and political processes, America must be both tough and smart to ensure our national security. To best secure our national interests and protect the American people (and our allies) it is vitally important that we ensure our armed forces remain the best-trained, best-prepared and best-equipped in the world.
A strong military, however, is not just a national interest—it’s also a regional one. The Rock Island Arsenal in the Quad-Cities, the Air National Guard base outside Peoria and major aerospace companies in Rockford employ many thousands across our district. That’s why I have prioritized supporting these installations and our local defense industrial base. I helped establish the Center of Excellence for Additive and Advanced Manufacturing at the Rock Island Arsenal, fought to secure $9 million for a new firehouse for the Peoria Air National Guard Base, and through my role on the powerful Appropriations Committee, I helped direct millions of dollars to the Seventeenth Congressional District to strengthen our military and our region.
But, as we provide our troops with everything they need to get the job done, we must also keep our promise to those who have bravely served our nation and sacrificed on our behalf. Our veterans have earned the right to the best care and support possible as they return from battlefields overseas. This is why I support providing returning servicemembers with job training, college opportunities and financial planning to help those transitioning back into our communities and the workforce. I also support fully funding veterans’ health care benefits and ensuring that all veterans—regardless of zip code—have the ability to travel to their appointments and receive their care without lengthy wait times. 
I am also working to make sure the Veterans Administration system is easy to navigate and provides veterans with the needed benefits they earned and deserve. I have made it a priority to hold the VA accountable to make sure they are leaving no veterans behind. That’s why I helped pass the Blue Water Navy Veterans Act to extend the presumption of Agent Orange exposure and pushed the Administration to expeditiously begin processing veteran claims.
If you are a veteran seeking help navigating your benefits or dealing with any federal agency, I can help. Please do not hesitate to contact my office.