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.
Our nation is in the midst of a gun violence epidemic and, sadly, nowhere is this more evident than in Chicago. The tragedy of gun violence in America is compounded by another tragedy in Washington, DC: congressional inaction. That is why I have refused to standby idly while thousands of Americans die each year due because of these deadly weapons.
Since coming to Congress, I have been proud to cosponsor legislation requiring mandatory background checks on 100 percent of gun sales; limiting the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; improving the National Instant Background Check System to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals, and the mentally ill; implementing buyback programs; and requiring tougher penalties for criminals caught trafficking guns across state lines. I have also used my position as a member of the House Appropriations Committee to secure additional funding to help local police departments to implement new strategies to curb violence and fought to remove the incomprehensible ban placed on the Center for Disease Control so they can begin the critical work of researching gun violence.
I have also supported important legislation in the House, like the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, H.R. 8, which would require unlicensed gun sellers to use the same verification system by requiring them to sell their guns through licensed dealers only. This bill defines exceptions for individuals to loan a gun for hunting, to use a gun in self-defense, and to give a gun as a gift to family members. Additionally, I voted in favor of the Enhanced Background Checks Act, H.R. 1112, which addresses the so-called “Charleston Loophole,” that currently allows the sale of a firearm to proceed if a background check is not completed within three business days. This bill gives the FBI additional time to complete these background check investigations before the firearm can be transferred.
No perfect solution exists to end all gun violence, but we know from looking at other countries that a combination of small but practical policy solutions can severely reduce it. By enacting commonsense, reasonable gun legislation, Congress can make a difference. But unless the status quo in Congress changes, we will continue to lose countless American lives to gun violence.