Ensuring our communities are safe and inclusive for everyone is among Congresswoman Bustos’ highest priorities. As a member of Congress, she is committed to working toward equality and justice for all.
Congresswoman Bustos understands that our nation is in pain and our Black communities and communities of color continue to struggle with systemic and structural racism. Our nation holds at its core the American values of equality and justice for all, and we must continue to work toward them.
Racism and bigotry have no place in our society. It is essential that we hold each other accountable, demand civil rights for all, and stand together to inspire positive change and true equity and freedom for all. For meaningful change to happen, it will take action from all levels of government and society.
Congresswoman Bustos supports the following legislation:
H.R. 7120 -George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
This legislation works to address various policies regarding policing practice and law enforcement accountability. This bill also establishes a framework to prohibit racial profiling at the federal, state, and local levels and new requirements for law enforcement officers and agencies, including to report data on use-of-force incidents, to obtain training on implicit bias and racial profiling, and to wear body cameras.
H.R.35 – Emmett Till Antilynching Act
This legislation, which passed the House on February 26, specifies lynching as a federal hate crime.
H.R.4408 – Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Prevention Act of 2019
This bill would make the use of chokeholds or maneuvers that restrict oxygen intake or blood flow to the brain by law enforcement unlawful under federal civil rights law.
H.R.7232 – Establishing Juneteenth Independence Day as a Federal holiday
To amend title 5, United States Code, to establish Juneteenth Independence Day as a Federal holiday.
H.R.6902 – Black History is American History Act
This bill authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities to carry out educational programs that include the history of African-American and Black figures in the founding and growth of America, and the impact on and contributions to the development and enhancement of United States history and society.
H.R.3082 – Woman on the Twenty Act of 2019
This bill would require all $20 Federal Reserve notes printed after December 31, 2022, prominently feature a portrait of Harriet Tubman on their front face.
H.R.1636 – Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act
The legislation would establish a Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys within the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Office to make a systematic study of the conditions affecting black men and boys.
H.R. 2574 – Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act
The legislation would hold federally funded programs, including schools, accountable for their responsibility to provide all students with equal opportunity for a quality education to combat discrimination in education.
H.R.2639 – Strength in Diversity Act of 2020
The legislation would help desegregate public schools and provide support to school districts that are developing, implementing or expanding school diversity initiatives.
H. Res. 908 – Condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19.
The resolution condemns all forms of anti-Asian sentiment related to COVID-19. The resolution recognizes and denounces the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, which have been linked to the usage of racist terms like “Kung Flu” or “China Virus.” It also calls on federal and state authorities to document, investigate and prosecute hate crimes.
H.R.4004 – Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2019
The bill would create a federal grant program to empower states and local governments to tackle persistent economic and social conditions — like limited access to health care providers, stable housing, reliable transportation and healthy foods — that often hinder health outcomes and disproportionately impact communities of color and underserved communities. Through her role on the House Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Bustos secured language for the creation of an Inter-Agency Social Determinants Council and $10 million for a new pilot program to help local governments create plans that aim to address the external, social factors that impact health
This bicameral bill would would address severe nationwide shortages of early childhood and K-12 teachers that disproportionately impacts students from low-income backgrounds and students of color. Exacerbated by low pay, school leadership instability, and poor teaching conditions, schools in low-income communities struggle to retain experienced, qualified education professionals. Teacher pay has also worsened in the past 20 years, and teachers in low-income schools are more underpaid than teachers in more affluent schools.
The Retaining Educators Takes Added Investment Now (RETAIN) Act creates a fully refundable tax credit for teachers, paraprofessionals, mental health providers, and school leaders in Title I schools and educators, program providers, and program directors in head start, early head start, and Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funded early childhood education programs. The tax credit increases as these professionals become more experienced to incentivize retention.
Bustos Speaks Out
Bustos Statement on Killing of George Floyd
Bustos Statement on Nation’s Response to the Killing of George Floyd
Bustos Statement on Trump’s Gassing of Protesters
Representative Bustos on the Justice in Policing Act of 2020
Bustos Statement as George Floyd is Laid to Rest
Bustos Statement on George Floyd Memorial
Bustos Statement on Trump Executive Order on Policing
VIDEO: Bustos Helps Pass Historic Justice in Policing Act
Bustos Honors March on Washington
Bustos Condemns Anti-Asian Sentiment Related to COVID-19
Bustos Helps Pass Strength in Diversity Act to Support Local Efforts to Desegregate Public Schools
Bustos Helps Pass Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act to Combat Discrimination in Education
Bustos and Underwood Convene Roundtable on Black Maternal Health
Tackling Change at a Local Level
In light of the national moment, Congresswoman Bustos has attended listening sessions and meetings with members of the Black community throughout Northwestern and Central Illinois. At one of those meetings, The Resolution, an organization in Rock Island, Illinois, presented a collection of local proposals aimed at reform and change. You can read how legislation Congresswoman Bustos supports aligns with those proposals here and read Congresswoman Bustos’ response to The Resolution here.