Hon. Mike Quigley

Hon. Mike Quigley

Mike Quigley was elected to Congress to represent Illinois’ 5^th District on April 7, 2009. A former Cook County Commissioner who began his career serving as an aide to former 44^th Ward Alderman Bernie Hansen, Quigley has served his community for more than thirty years. His election to Congress was an opportunity to take his unique style of reform-minded politics, which Chicagoans have known for years, from Cook County to Washington.

Quigley strongly believes that if we want to remain a leader in the growing global economy, we must embrace the economic opportunities that trade offers, while at the same time demanding agreements protect American workers and reinforce our morals around the world. That is why he voted in favor of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which gives President Obama the authority to negotiate progressive, high-standard trade agreements with countries around the world—the same authority that we have given almost every president for the last 80 years. As one of only 28 Democrats in the House—and the only Democrat in the Illinois delegation—to vote in favor of TPA, Quigley understands that if we are concerned with current international trading standards (or lack thereof), the answer is not to block the president from trying to negotiate better deals. Rather, the answer is to give the most progressive president this country has ever seen the tools he needs to fix the mistakes of NAFTA and keep America competitive in this 21^st-century global economy.

As the only Illinois member of the House Committee on Appropriations, Quigley is using his position to prioritize investments in innovation and Chicago-area infrastructure, which will grow the local economy and spur job creation. Quigley also is fighting to put more cops on the streets and protect funding for vital housing and social services programs, and on the committee he is a leading voice for smarter defense spending and nuclear reduction. Quigley also currently serves on the Subcommittee on Financial Services and the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.

At the start of the 114^th Congress, Quigley was appointed by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to serve on the influential House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which oversees the activities of the entire intelligence community. Representing Chicago, Quigley brings to the committee a unique understanding of the national security challenges we face. He believes the government has both the capability and responsibility to strike the proper balance between protecting our nation’s security and safeguarding the civil liberties of its citizens. He will serve as a watchdog over our intelligence agencies. Quigley also currently serves on the NSA and Cybersecurity Subcommittee and is the Ranking Member on the Emerging Threats Subcommittee.

He previously served on the House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where he was the Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services, and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs.

Quigley lives with his wife Barbara in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, where he has lived since 1982. His daughters, Alyson and Meghan, are both grown and out of the house but he has his dog Scout to keep him busy. In his free time, he roots for the Blackhawks, remains optimistic about the Cubs, and enjoys playing ice hockey in a weekly game at home in the district.