Since joining Congress in 2013, Robin has established a record of working on behalf of the constituents of the 2nd Congressional District of Illinois and prioritizing issues like gun safety, healthcare, maternal health and jobs.
Constituent Services
Whether it’s help with passports, accessing government services or navigating government bureaucracy, Robin and her hard-working staff have prioritized responsive constituent services. Over the past two years alone, Robin’s office has secured over $4 million in casework savings for constituents.
Delivering for the 2nd
Robin has worked hard to help local governments, institutions and organizations secure over $25 million in federal funds. These funds have been used for infrastructure projects, public safety equipment, and public health programs, among other things. From small towns like Tilton to the City of Chicago, Robin wants to make sure all of the 2nd District gets the resources they need. It’s vital that Illinois taxpayers see their tax dollars at work in their communities.
Gun Safety
Since taking office, Robin has prioritized addressing the gun violence epidemic. As Vice Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Robin has been a leading voice to combat gun violence in Congress. She helped lead the 2016 sit-in, forcing the House floor to shut down in response to House Republicans’ inaction on gun violence. Robin has taken a constructive approach, working bipartisanly to advance the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which included provisions based on her bill to combat gun trafficking. While this bill was long overdue, Robin believes more work needs to be done. She has introduced legislation to get at the root causes of gun violence by providing more opportunities for young people, increasing standards for federal firearm licensees, keeping guns away from high-risk individuals, ensuring gun manufacturers aren’t using unfair or deceptive marketing, and approaching gun violence as a public health issue.
Healthcare
Robin is focused on reforming our healthcare system to work for everyone. Robin works across the aisle to find practical ways to lower healthcare costs and improve healthcare access. Robin has passed legislation expanding access to dental care, providing drug price transparency, diversifying clinical trials, improving organ transplant networks, and crucially extending postpartum coverage for new mothers from 60 days to one year.
She firmly opposes any efforts to weaken or undermine Social Security and Medicare, and she vows to protect the benefits that seniors have rightfully earned.
Maternal Health
Robin Kelly has tirelessly advocated for improving maternal health, addressing disparities, and ensuring all mothers receive the care they need. She has introduced and supported legislation aimed at reducing maternal mortality rates, particularly among African American women who face significantly higher risks. Her work includes promoting access to quality prenatal and postpartum care and championing initiatives to train healthcare providers on implicit bias. Through her leadership, Congresswoman Kelly has brought national attention to the urgent need for comprehensive maternal health reforms through her legislation, the CARE for Mom’s Act.
Jobs and the Economy
Robin Kelly is working to expand economic opportunities and create good-paying jobs in Illinois. She voted to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the American Rescue Plan, and the CHIPS and Science Act to bring much-needed resources back to Illinois. She has worked hard to attract federal investments to support local businesses, infrastructure projects, and workforce development programs. A daughter of small business owners, she knows the important role that small businesses play in spurring economic growth and building community. Robin has made it a priority to focus on youth job opportunities so the next generation of the workforce has the skills they need to succeed. Robin also supports the creation of a South Suburban Airport to continue the Southland’s growth and position the region as an economic engine for the future.