Rep. Mike Quigley got his COVID shot the day after the Capitol riot, with no side effects. A staff physician told the congressman most people have no reaction to the vaccine—but then again, an allergic reaction wouldn't have much chance against the Jan. 6 adrenaline.
The 5th District representative visited a West Town neighborhood cleanup in April; 60 volunteers signed up, and picked up a lot of face mask litter, Neal McKnight reported. Quigley followed up May 3 with a virtual visit with EVA members. Citing FBI Director Christopher Wray on the threat posed by homegrown terrorism, he reflected on the insurrection. He plans to push for accountability and change on the House appropriations, intelligence and oversight committees.
"Just about anybody who was there could figure out what we needed," Quigley said, "a retractable fence, a fast-response team, a better trained, better equipped, larger police force, better ionformation, better coordination, better intel that's shared, and an agreement with the National Guard. ... I heard one of my colleagues say 'Where's the f-ing cavalry?'"
Nothing is easy in government, Quigley mused, when a $400 billion COVID relief program has to fight the perception that the pandemic is over. He proposes future relief for 1.4 million fitness workers who lost jobs in the lockdown, and advocates infrastructure relief to improve Lake Shore Drive, extend the CTA Red Line, rebuild shoreline and seaway, mitigate climate change, build the power grid, address the digital divide, replace lead water lines and possibly launch high-speed rail service.
In a question session, Quigley had answers for a range of issues. International travel is possible for the end of the summer. The new Chicago police call center and gun safety laws would start to address crime issues. COVID recovery could improve mail delivery yet structural change is still needed.
