Name: Raja Krishnamoorthi

Position for which you are a candidate: U.S. Congress, from the 8th District

 

Why are you seeking this position?

I was brought to this country at three months of age by my parents, who came here because they wanted a better life for themselves and their children. For a time when my family suffered severe economic hardship, we participated in public relief programs. Thanks to the generosity of the American people, coupled with hard work and perseverance, my family ultimately achieved the American Dream. Each night at the dinner table, my father would sing the praises of America, and he encouraged me to be grateful that we live in a country where, despite being a member of a racial, ethnic, and religious minority with 29 letters in my name, I too could contribute to the greatness of this nation, and that I should do everything in my control to protect and strengthen it.

 

As a third-term Congressman seeking re-election, my goal is to help as many people as I can onto the “up-escalator” of the economy, and to ensure that more working families in our community have access to basic human needs such as quality healthcare, a good education, economic support, affordable housing, and safe streets and neighborhoods. I am using my positions in Congress to expand renewable energy programs to clean our planet for future generations, to make higher education more affordable and transparent, and to fight Big Pharma and other powerful interests to decrease the cost of prescription drugs and provide healthcare for all. With your support, I can continue to execute on this mission.

 

What experience and background do you have which qualifies you for this position?

Prior to entering Congress, I served in multiple appointed governmental positions in our community. I was the Deputy Treasurer of Illinois from 2007-2009, Special Assistant Attorney General for Illinois from 2006-2007, a Member of the Board of Illinois Housing Development Authority from 2005 to 2007, a Member of the Village of Hoffman Estates Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee from 2005-2007, and Judicial Clerk to Judge Joan Gottschall (U.S. District Court, Northern District of IL) from 2001-2002.

 

In Congress, I have a track record of building diverse coalitions and getting meaningful things accomplished. For example, I co-authored the bipartisan law to make our nation’s career and technical education system more modernized and equitable, secured millions in annual funding to make it easier to invest in clean energy, co-authored the bipartisan law to expand distracted driving awareness campaigns in states like Illinois, and co-authored the law to expand mental wellness programs for frontline healthcare workers struggling from the effects of the pandemic. As Chairman of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Consumer and Economic Policy, I have led successful investigations into Big Pharma, Big Tobacco, and other powerful special interests. We cleared the market of cancer-causing talc products, implemented a policy to limit toxic heavy metals in baby food, and banned kid-friendly marketing by e-cigarette companies like JUUL.

 

What will be your highest priorities if elected?

My constituents, like most Americans, are struggling with the impact of high inflation on everyday goods such as gas and groceries. I am working to reduce inflation in several ways. I supported the release of oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help hold down the increase in gas prices at the pump, and I have worked to remove impediments to the supply-chain that drive up the costs of consumer goods. As Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, I am working to ensure that certain industries do not take advantage of inflation to gouge consumers with excessive price increases.  I am investigating the oil and gas companies, the meatpacking and shipping industries, and even the rental car companies to prevent unwarranted price hikes and corporate profiteering at consumers’ expense.

In addition, I firmly support the League of Women Voters’ three pillars. With respect to voting rights and election processes, I am a proud cosponsor of both the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. With respect to the climate change crisis, I have cosponsored the 100% Clean Economy Act, which sets a nationwide goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and I led the fight to invest millions of federal dollars in reducing solar soft costs and enhancing solar energy research through the Department of Energy. With respect to equitably meeting human needs, I would refer to my answers to the previous two questions.

 

 

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