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

On an average week, I rely primarily on my personal vehicle and Metra for commuting. Using both has given me firsthand insight into the challenges of our streets and commuter system, including traffic congestion and rising gas prices, unreliable train schedules, and aging infrastructure.

What are some transportation challenges in your district?

One of the biggest transportation challenges in our district is the reliability and safety of public transit, especially on the Red Line. Frequent delays and service disruptions make it harder for people to get to places on time. Not all stations are accessible, which is a serious issue for seniors and people with disabilities that requires action.

There are also serious safety concerns across the CTA system, including staffing shortages, aging infrastructure, and crime, which discourage people from utilizing public transit. Rising fares on both CTA and Metra also make public transportation less affordable, putting additional strain on individuals' and families' budgets.

Beyond public transit, residents deal with traffic congestion, deteriorating roads, and costly vehicle damage from potholes. These are everyday issues that deserve practical, accountable solutions.

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

Congress plays a critical role in setting national priorities for public transit and passenger rail by determining funding levels and long-term infrastructure policy. Those decisions shape whether our systems are reliable, modern, and accessible.

It’s the federal government’s responsibility to invest in infrastructure that keeps us globally competitive, strengthens our economy, and improves the quality of life. I support sustained, predictable funding for transit and passenger rail, along with meaningful investments to improve accessibility for seniors and residents with disabilities.

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

Illinois has been a national leader in infrastructure spending, with sustained investment and revenues indexed to inflation to ensure long-term reliability. Federal transportation funding should follow the same model. I strongly support reinstating Inflation Reduction Act resources dedicated to transit, rail, and sustainable infrastructure, and I would push for federal programs that provide predictable, inflation-adjusted funding so states and localities can plan and complete projects without delays.

If I could change anything, I would make federal transportation funding more stable and long-term, with clear priorities for public transit, passenger rail, roads, and accessibility improvements.

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

I support investing in passenger rail in Illinois, including the development of high-speed rail. Expanding rail service is one of the most effective ways to improve mobility, strengthen our economy, and reduce emissions.

Countries like China have made massive investments in modern high-speed rail, giving them a competitive edge in infrastructure, technology, and economic development. Infrastructure investment is essential for the United States to remain globally competitive. If we want to remain globally competitive, we need to modernize our infrastructure. Strategic investments in high-speed and improved passenger rail would connect major regions more efficiently, ease congestion on roads and at airports, and expand economic opportunity.

Modern rail makes travel more affordable and accessible for working families, students, and seniors. I will advocate for strong, sustained federal funding, fair labor standards, and coordinated regional planning to move these projects forward and build a transportation system that works for years to come.

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 Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse, and I intend to use that authority to protect critical infrastructure investments like the Red Line Extension and the Red-Purple Modernization projects. Federal investment and partnership are essential for completing these projects. I will work with colleagues to secure and defend that funding, even under a hostile administration, because these investments create good union jobs, strengthen our local economy, reduce congestion, and lower emissions.

A strong, reliable transit system attracts businesses, supports tourism, and connects people to opportunity. These projects are too important to let politics stand in the way.

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 support a humane, values‑driven immigration system that balances secure borders with fairness, expands legal pathways to citizenship, and protects immigrant families. We need reforms: restoration of judicial warrant requirements, mandatory facility inspections, de-escalation training, oversight boards, and strict operational protocols. ICE is acting without a clear mission, without accountability, and without professional standards of training. They are patrolling our streets arbitrarily and killing innocent people, deporting American citizens, including children, and targeting people based on the color of their skin with no criminal history.

As a former FBI special agent of 21 years, I believe law enforcement must be disciplined, accountable, and rooted in public trust. Any federal enforcement agency that operates without those principles must be reformed. Immigration enforcement should focus on genuine public safety threats— not families, not long-time community members, and not people targeted based on their race.

We should never confuse the legitimate enforcement of immigration laws with authoritarian tactics that escalate fear, destabilize neighborhoods, or result in unnecessary loss of life. Our approach must uphold constitutional rights, human dignity, and the safety of all residents. Where federal enforcement falls short or oversteps, Congress must act to restore accountability and oversight to prevent the continuation of these abuses of power.