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

I live in a suburban community, so most of my weekly travel is by car. Maintaining safe, well kept roads is essential for residents in our district. At the same time, I believe we should expand and improve suburban public transportation options to give people more reliable, convenient ways to get around and stay connected to jobs and opportunities.

What are some transportation challenges in your district?

Our district benefits from strong road connectivity, but there are still important transportation gaps. We need better and more direct public transit access to O’Hare Airport, as well as more frequent and reliable rail service connecting Chicago with surrounding suburbs. Expanding regional rail in a way similar to Germany’s S-Bahn systems would improve mobility, reduce congestion, and better connect residents to jobs and economic opportunities.

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

Congress must set a bold strategic vision for our transportation system at large. As we move away from purely commuter focused transit, Congress must prioritize the creation of metro and wider transportation systems that emphasize interconnectedness within metropolitan areas and wider regions. The same principle applies to accessibility; we must strengthen paratransit infrastructure, with a focus on buses that can reach all communities, urban and rural.

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

The federal government must step up spending on ports, railways, and inland waterways. The flow of interstate commerce and travel are the principal infrastructure responsibilities of the federal government. On the state level, I support focusing a greater share of funding towards regional rail infrastructure and high speed connections between Chicago and cities further downstate.

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

Illinois has an incredible geographic positioning to become a hub for midwestern passenger rail. I support beginning our efforts with a connection to St. Louis before connecting Chicago to other midwestern cities.

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 launched blatantly vindictive campaigns against states over political disagreements. In such an environment, I believe that it is necessary to allocate greater funding for earmarked projects as opposed to more discretionary spending.

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?

I came to this country for an opportunity to achieve the American Dream, and now I cannot leave my house without my passport. ICE must be significantly reformed and Congress must take action to investigate abuses by ICE. Congress must immediately investigate potential ethics violations, failures to comply with court orders, and unconstitutional actions by ICE and other federal law enforcement agencies. The tragic events that took place recently in Minneapolis are a clear example of why robust oversight is necessary and why Congress must reassert its responsibility to protect civil rights and the rule of law. Where investigations uncover wrongdoing or abuse of power, Congress must not hesitate to pursue accountability, including articles of impeachment if warranted.