Mike Quigley has proudly represented Illinois 5th District for more than 13 years. Since being elected to Congress, Mike has been devoted to fighting for our environment, small businesses, the LGBTQ community, healthcare access, and ending gun violence.
His passion for public service can be traced back more than four decades. From 1998 to 2009, he served as a Cook County Commissioner where he worked to increase transparency within the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
He currently serves as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government on the House Committee on Appropriations. Mike has utilized his position on the Committee to bring investment back to his district. Most recently, he secured over $10 million for projects within the community that will do everything from enhancing public health opportunities, to improving our city’s infrastructure.
Considered one of the most influential committees in Congress, the House Appropriations Committee is responsible for setting and approving the federal government’s annual spending levels for nearly all federal programs. As such, I take my role as a senior member of the committee and one of its twelve subcommittee chairmen with the utmost seriousness, fighting to ensure that funds are allocated effectively and responsibly. As an appropriator, I work to make sure Illinois and the Chicagoland area receive the funding they need to bolster the local economy and spur job creation.
Currently, I serve as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) and Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD). In my capacity as Chairman of the FSGG Subcommittee, I lead my colleagues in the development of the budget controlling the spending levels for many critical federal agencies, offices ,and departments, including the Department of the Treasury, the Office of Management and Budget, the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Federal Election Commission, among many others. In total, funding for these agencies comprises more than $20 billion of the federal budget, and ensures that our financial, communications, and election security systems are secure.
As Vice-Chair of the THUD Subcommittee, I’ve been proud to secure billions in federal funding for Chicago transportation and urban housing priorities. This includes funding through Core Capacity grants utilized by the Chicago Transit Authority, funds for commuter railroads to complete the installment of Positive Train Control safety technology, and crucial housing and community development projects through the SHOP, HOME, and Community Development Block Grant programs.
Recent appropriations bills have also included numerous measures that Senator Dick Durbin and I have called for to help protect children in affordable housing from lead poisoning. I have also fought for Urban Area Security Initiative program, which help local law enforcement harden vulnerable public places against potential attack.
Securing robust federal funding through the appropriations process is critical for safety and economic growth of the 5th District, Chicago, and Illinois. As your representative, I will continue to be a strong advocate for critical investments that continue to position Chicago as a 21st-century city.
In February of 2021, House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) announced that the House of Representatives will accept Member requests for Community Project Funding in appropriations bills for the upcoming fiscal year. Community Projects Funding are congressional provisions that direct funds toward a specific project within a community. Learn more about Community Project Funding here.