What types of transportation do you use during an average week, and how has this shaped your view of transportation policy?

I primarily work from home, but during an average week if I have speaking engagements, go on social outings or run errands, I usually travel by car. What this has painfully reinforced for me is the traffic congestion caused by a lack of jobs in the 2nd Congressional District.

In 2024, Chicago metro area drivers lost an average of 102 hours to traffic, ranking the city among the worst in the United States. Commute times and traffic congestion in Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District are heavily influenced by its location on the Southside of Chicago and the South Suburbs, because residents must travel to jobs in Chicago’s city center and the northern and northwest suburbs.

Economic distress is the most pressing issue facing the 2nd Congressional District. We must connect the district to the jobs, wages and opportunities of the global economy. Since I was first elected to Congress in 1995, I’ve worked on creating a third Chicago area airport in the Southland. It will create substantial economic growth and job opportunities. If reelected, I’ll keep working to build that airport with a 10,000-foot runway for global travel and commerce, putting us in more control of our economic destiny.

What are some transportation challenges in your district?

The 2nd Congressional District includes all or parts of Cook, Will, Kankakee, Livingston, Ford, Iroquois, Champaign and Vermillion counties. It stretches from the South Side of Chicago in Cook County to 2.5 hours south along the Illinois/Indiana border to Danville in Vermillion County. Transportation challenges in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District primarily revolve around aging infrastructure, public transit funding gaps, and long commutes to work.

Public transit in Illinois's 2nd Congressional District is moderately available in the northern, more suburban areas close to Chicago but becomes significantly less abundant in the southern, more rural parts of the district. The district relies on a mix of regional services, with approximately 7% of workers using public transit for their commute. The northern portion of the district benefits from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) system, which includes Metra commuter rail and Pace suburban buses.

While the Chicago metro area has the second-largest public transit network in the country, it also has some of the worst traffic in the country. Key corridors in the 2nd Congressional District are especially hard hit, with residents often experiencing long commutes. The average commute in the 2nd District is 30.7 minutes, with 3.81% of the workforce having "super commutes" exceeding 90 minutes.

There are major traffic bottlenecks affecting the district including the Bishop Ford Freeway (I-94), I-80 and I-57, all of which experience heavy congestion during morning and evening rush hours. Most residents (69%) drive alone to work, while 8% carpool. Roughly 7% use public transit, which is relatively high compared to some rural areas but lower than the denser, northern Cook County suburbs. Outside of the immediate Chicago suburban ring, public transportation options are limited, making car ownership necessary for most residents.

The regional transit system (CTA, Metra and, Pace) faces massive operating shortfalls as federal COVID-19 relief funds expire. Projections indicate a $230 million shortfall in 2026, growing to over $900 million by 2028, threatening service cuts of up to 40%. This directly impacts South Side and suburban residents relying on Pace and Metra to commute. Forty-two percent of major roads in Illinois are in poor or mediocre condition, and 16% of bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. This necessitates high maintenance costs for local municipalities within the district. There is also a lack of coordination between transit agencies (CTA, Metra, Pace) which leads to fragmented service, such as passengers having to pay twice to transfer between systems.

In late 2025, state legislation was enacted to address the transit funding crisis and overhaul the regional transportation system to prevent service cuts. While the impacts of the legislation have not yet been fully implemented, it has the potential to avert operating shortfalls.

How do you view Congress’s role in setting priorities for public transit, passenger rail, and strengthening accessibility in transportation?

Since Congress has the power of the purse, its role in setting priorities for public transit, passenger rail, and strengthening accessibility in transportation is paramount. As a Member of Congress, I would strongly advocate for robust federal investment to prioritize public transit, passenger rail, and accessibility as essential public goods. Transit should not only be thought of as local infrastructure, but also as a critical tool for achieving environmental sustainability, reducing economic inequality, and promoting equity.

Congress should provide robust funding for public transit. We should move away from car-centric policies to prioritize funding for buses, trains, and, in some cases, fare-free transit. Public transit is a key tool to reduce carbon emissions by providing alternatives to driving. In addition to capital investments in transit, Congress should also explore federal funding to support ongoing operations.

Congress needs to upgrade the national rail network, including Amtrak, as an alternative to highway expansion and flying. We need to invest in critical projects, such as fixing aging, bottlenecked infrastructure since passenger and freight rail lowers emissions, creates green jobs, and connects communities.

Congress must strengthen accessibility and equity in public transit by ensuring that transit systems are available to all, particularly low-income, disabled, and minority communities. Transportation planning should connect marginalized communities to jobs, healthcare, and education. Congress should also proactively direct how states use federal transportation dollars, ensuring that funds are not exclusively used for highways but also for non-automobile modes of transportation. Congress should create federal requirements and incentives that encourage states to create safer, cleaner, and more equitable transportation systems. We need to make public transit more affordable and accessible for everyone..

What’s your position on the Federal government and Illinois’ current transportation infrastructure spending, and if you could change anything, what would it be?

In general, I support the goals of current federal and Illinois transportation infrastructure spending, particularly the focus on public transit, climate resilience, and equity, but more needs to be done. I think the Biden administration's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill) and Illinois’ "Rebuild Illinois" program are a good start. However, Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District could use even more expansive investments in green energy and infrastructure centered around job creation.

At the federal level, I support federal funding for the proposed $2 billion CTA Red Line extension from 95th Street to Pullman in the 2nd Congressional District. I agree with the focus on climate-conscious investments, such as the $7.5 billion for EV charging and $39 billion for public transit in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which align with goals to reduce carbon emissions. However, Congress and the US DOT should not just build infrastructure for the sake of building, but to look at ways to move the greatest number of commuters safely, efficiently and sustainably to where the jobs are located.

I applaud the "Rebuild Illinois" capital program, which invests $25.4 billion into roads, bridges, and transit. This funding needs to be equitable and improve access for underserved communities. I also support legislation passed by the General Assembly late last year that replaces the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) with the new Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) to overhaul, consolidate, and improve safety across CTA, Metra, and Pace. This bill provides $1.5 billion annually to avoid a major shortfall in public transit operations in the Chicago area.

If I could change anything, it would be at the state level. To alleviate congestion in the 2nd Congressional District, we need to create more jobs on Chicago’s Southside and in the south suburbs. There is a shovel ready infrastructure project that is estimated to create approximately 6,300 jobs, create over $1 billion in economic activity, and generate an estimated $2 million in annual state and local tax revenue. It is the South Suburban Airport in Will County.

The state of Illinois already acquired the land, and the Federal Aviation Administration has long recognized the need for a third major airport in the Chicago region to handle growing air traffic. Moreover, the 2019 Rebuild Illinois capital bill included $162 million for master planning and road improvements linking Interstate 57 to the airport site.

In 2023, the General Assembly required the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to review requests for proposals (RFP) to develop and operate the airport by year’s end. IDOT must complete the ongoing RFP process to solicit qualified development teams and then select one developer. There are at least a dozen world-class developers interested in financing and building the airport as evidenced by the 12 development teams, included Boeing, Amazon, and Fed Ex, who submitted their credentials to IDOT last year during the initial screening process.

We have the studies, the land, the money and the workforce. We just need IDOT to complete the RFP process and Gov. Pritzker to release the land and unlock the gates to the global economy for Illinois 2nd Congressional District.

What is your position on investing to expand passenger rail service in Illinois, including the development of high-speed rail?

I strongly support expanding all forms of passenger rail service in Illinois. Specifically, I support federal funding for the proposed CTA Red Line extension from 95th Street to Pullman. Investments in passenger rail are crucial for economic growth, job creation, environmental sustainability, regional connectivity and car dependency reduction.

Rail investment drives economic development, with every $1 billion invested creating roughly 24,000 jobs. Major projects stimulate manufacturing, construction, and tourism. Projects connect urban centers with suburban and rural areas, improving access to jobs and services for underserved populations while station area development projects can spur local economies and boost property values, fostering dense, walkable, and transit-oriented development.

High-speed rail offers a greener alternative, significantly reducing carbon emissions by shifting passengers from cars and planes. High-speed rail is up to 8 times more energy-efficient than flying and 4 times more than driving, while also easing congestion on highways and in airports. High-speed rail provides a high-capacity, faster alternative for intermediate-range travel (100–500 miles), saving travelers time and lowering congestion costs.

Rail is one of the safest forms of ground transportation. It offers a comfortable, productive, and reliable travel experience compared to the unpredictability of highway traffic. Investment enables the upgrading of aging infrastructure, improving reliability and capacity for both passengers and, in some cases, freight.

We should consider integrating the passenger rail networks throughout Illinois - METRA, Amtrak, and local transit - for a seamless, 21st-century mobility network and leveraging Chicago's central role as a rail hub to connect the Midwest, with a focus on making trains faster and more convenient than driving or flying.

Federal funding for Illinois transportation projects – such as the Red Line Extension and Red-Purple Modernization projects – has come under threat from the Trump administration. How do you plan to shore up funding for critical infrastructure projects under a hostile federal climate?

The Trump administration has already initiated efforts to freeze or rescind funding for projects in "blue" states, including billions for Chicago transit and EV charging, citing reasons ranging from "sanctuary" laws to "race-based" contracting. Protecting Illinois’ federal infrastructure funding from a hostile administration involves a combination of proactive legal action, financial engineering to "Trump-proof" contracts, and leveraging state-level resources.

Illinois must continue challenging unlawful withholdings of federal funds by taking proactive legal action. Illinois has successfully sued to block attempts to rescind funds and is currently fighting to protect energy and infrastructure grants. I applaud Illinois’ Attorney General Kwame Raoul for actively challenging the Trump Administration and securing court orders to prevent the unilateral freezing or cutting of federal funds approved by Congress. Illinois’ legal actions need to keep arguing that Trump’s unlawful withholding of funds appropriated by Congress violate the separation of powers and the Administrative Procedures Act, as Congress holds the sole authority to appropriate funding.

Another step the Illinois government should consider is "Trump-Proofing" contracts and projects by accelerating the signing of contracts and the obligation of funds. Securing contracts immediately is crucial. Once contracts are signed and funds are officially obligated, it is legally harder for a new administration to claw back the money. While challenging, some projects may need to be restructured, and grant applications reworded to avoid triggering political scrutiny. IDOT should also work proactively with the Congressional delegation to ensure funding is "Trump-proofed" with strict contract language that prevents claw backs. We should also consider conducting proactive, internal and rigorous audits of state agencies to ensure no technical violations can be used as pretexts for cutting funding. We also need to identify projects that are most at risk (e.g., green infrastructure, bike grants, transit projects) and prioritize those contracts for legal or financial reinforcement.

At the state level, we should leverage Rebuild Illinois by continuing to use the $25.4 billion capital program to fill gaps. We should also explore finding local alternatives to bolster federal funding shortfalls, possibly reallocating local and state funds for critical projects to maintain momentum, even if federal dollars are temporarily paused. IDOT should directly engage with USDOT to clarify the status of paused projects, such as the $2.1 billion for the Red and Purple Line Modernization. To put pressure on federal officials, Illinois needs to highlight the nonpartisan local impact of these projects demonstrating that these projects create jobs and are not just "liberal" or “Democratic” priorities, but essential infrastructure that serves all residents, regardless of political affiliation.

Our streets have become increasingly militarized in the past several months as the Trump administration has ramped up DHS and ICE activity in our cities. This past summer, Congress voted to increase the ICE budget larger than most of the world's militaries.

What is your position on ICE and related immigration enforcement?

"Operation Midway Blitz" has been a poorly planned, incompetently managed, unmitigated disaster. ICE agents demolished any relationship or semblance of trust between the public and law enforcement. Decades of relationship-building work by local law enforcement have been damaged, making our communities, many of which struggle with gun violence, less safe.

An “immigration” raid by armed federal agents in the South Shore terrified and displaced residents who need to be supported. ICE got social media content but made zero arrests. We need to secure our border and deport undocumented, violent criminals. Unfortunately, ICE’s actions have not delivered, and their recklessness has escalated into the murder of a American citizens.

Many people have been detained without criminal records, and some U.S. citizens have been wrongfully arrested and held for hours. Through Oct. 15th, only 15% of people who have been detained in Operation Midway Blitz have a criminal conviction. Certainly not the worst of the worst. Six people have already died in ICE custody this year.

I support the total defunding and dismantling of ICE. I would also reconsider CBP’s 100-mile rule, specifically limiting its enforcement activities around Lake Michigan. The actions of current ICE officers show that rushed, sloppy hiring and low training standards have compromised effectiveness.

Accountability measures must be established, like a structured process to file complaints about illegal or unethical behavior. Uniform operating procedures need to be installed, especially with respect to how people are detained and the lack of transparency for why and where they are held.

All ICE officers must be prohibited from wearing masks and must be required to wear a standard uniform. They must carry photo ID and provide it on demand. The use of body cameras must be mandated and a strict and consistent standard for use of force must be in place, including restrictions on crowd control.

Immigration agents need to obtain judicial warrants before making arrests, and immigration agents cannot make arrests in federal buildings where migrants are adjudicating their status. Immigration agents must not conduct enforcement actions at hospitals, schools, and places of worship, except in specific circumstances. People legally authorized to be here cannot be arrested or detained, and those who claim to be improperly incarcerated must be allowed to immediately prove their status. Legal residents or citizens held for more than 24 hours should be entitled to monetary compensation from DHS’s personnel budget and to civilly sue any ICE officer involved in their detention.

I favor a comprehensive approach to immigration that emphasizes a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, expands legal avenues for migration to meet economic and humanitarian needs, and ensures humane and fair enforcement of laws.

We need to reform and expand the legal immigration system to make it more responsive to the nation's needs by 1) increasing the number of employment-based and family-sponsored visas, 2) creating new visa categories for industries experiencing labor shortages, and 3) eliminating per-country caps for employment-based visas.

Our border is only truly secure when meaningful legislation is passed for immigration reform.