About the Candidate
Name: Robin Kelly
DOB: April 30, 1956
Occupation: Member of Congress and Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Illinois
Political Experience: Illinois House of Representatives 2003-2007, U.S, House of Representatives 2013-present, Chairwoman Democratic Party of Illinois 2021-present.
Website: robinkellyforcongress.org
Twitter: @RobinLynneKelly
Facebook: RobinLynneKelly
Instagram: @RobinLynneKelly
Candidate Statement
Hello. I am Congresswoman Robin Kelly and I am proud to serve the 2nd Congressional District. The district is urban, suburban and rural.
It starts in Chicago along the shores of Lake Michigan and will soon expand south to the city of Danville and west to Route 66 in Pontiac.
Congress is hard at work. We recently passed a bi-partisan infrastructure bill that will repair our roads and bridges that have been neglected for too long.
It invests in broadband access as an electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
When we passed the American Rescue plan to deal with the devastation that the pandemic created, I was proud to include a provision that extended Medicaid provisions to new moms.
I am proud of my staff and the services they deliver to residents of the district. Providing quality constituent services is a priority.
But we still have so much more work to do.
I am passionate about combating gun violence and passing common-sense gun safety legislation.
I had the honor of presiding over Congress as Speaker Pro-Tem when we passed critical gun violence prevention legislation dealing with background checks. I recently introduced the Prevent Gun Trafficking Act.
The recent uptick in violence reminds us that this issue needs to be addressed.
Another issue of great importance to me is maternal mortality, especially its disproportionate impact on African American women. That is why I introduced the MOMMA Act, to address this crisis. Funding for maternal health, telehealth and gun-violence prevention was codified in recent legislation signed by President Biden.
There is much we can accomplish when it comes to expanding affordable health care coverage, spurring economic development and protecting our environment.
I am focused on protecting a woman's right to choose and dedicated to making sure that we pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
No matter our race, ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs, who we are, how we vote, we are all Americans and I will continue to use my platform to bring us together, build communities and uplift us.
I am Congresswoman Robin Kelly. Thank you for your time.
Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I have had the privilege of being a member of Congress since 2013 and I would love to continue serving the people of the 2nd Congressional District. Having worked at the local, county, state and federal levels it has always been my priority to advocate on behalf of Illinois, its communities and its people.
What does this office do well, and what needs fixing?
I am proud of my staff and the services they deliver to residents of the district. Providing quality constituent services was one of my top priorities when I first ran for this office. Additionally, my team and I have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for 2nd Congressional district municipalities, schools, nonprofits and economic development initiatives. We will continue to work on new and innovative ways to deliver responsive constituent services.
What is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
The 2nd Congressional District is urban, suburban and rural. My constituents, as well as all Americans, face a myriad of issues, however the most pressing issue is making sure that we recover from the pandemic. This has been further complicated by rising inflation. I was proud that many of the initiatives I have worked hard on were funded in the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations package. This includes my effort to improve and expand telehealth service nationwide, and $50 million in community violence intervention funding. The omnibus also included funding for 10 community projects throughout the district. I will continue to pass legislation that help all Americans and advocate for my constituents.
What specific steps would you take to ensure your office is accessible and responsive to your constituents?
After this next election the 2nd Congressional District will expand north to 43rd St., west to Pontiac and south to Danville, it will be very important that we place our district offices in locations convenient to our constituents.
