If elected to Congress, I will focus on the need for investment in infrastructure as a way to spur economic growth in the 7th District. I will do so by securing and monitoring federal stimulus funds and effectively allocating them to improve local transit and job creation. Jobs that will do more than pay bills. Jobs that will provide careers so that families can achieve personal goals, such as retirement and college affordability for their children. I do not intend to just vote for these issues. I promise to work hard to build a consensus around these bills and be a part of the process in Congress on the legislation.

Transportation Improvements

Chicago’s economy is a leader built on transportation infrastructure and in many ways our economy still flows over these arteries of roads, runways and railroads. Even in this age of e-commerce, people, goods and most services still need to physically reach their destination. I want to engage in strengthening our transportation capacity in Congress in order to ensure that Chicago’s businesses can continue to thrive.

Illinois has received over $10 billion from the federal government and the CTA received $241 million for capital projects. We need to fix the massive traffic jam that is the Eisenhower Expressway by working with local agencies; we need to fund transportation improvements to the Green Line and the western leg of the Blue Line so that people find the west side as convenient as the South Loop and the West Loop. We need $10 billion over five years to update the RTA’s current infrastructure and we must modernize our rail hub.

The result of improving our transportation capacity will lead to an increase in economic activity and prosperity throughout the District, as we saw in the past. This will be similar to the residential development that began in the South Loop with people investing in housing, retail and service businesses. To that extent, commercial development is inevitable when communities are more reachable and approachable.

Educated Workforce

Illinois has a 10% unemployment rate. In our metropolitan area, 11% of the population, or 450,000 people, are unemployed residents. Unemployment breeds inability to make mortgage payments which leads to foreclosures. For the first three months of the current year, Illinois recorded 22,121 homes in some stage of foreclosure. Compared to 2006, the state’s foreclosures rate have increased by 61.57 percent, putting Illinois in 12th place among states with the highest foreclosures rate.

If elected, I intend to work on bringing jobs and financial security to our district. $6 billion in federal dollars are still available in Illinois to be spent on our needs, and the need for a strong educated workforce is paramount.

I am convinced that federal investment in infrastructure and an educated workforce is vital in promoting economic growth in our district. I will work with representatives from both parties throughout the Midwest and from around the country to build the support needed to fund these projects.