Dear Neighbors,
I hope this message finds you well. As always, if you have questions or concerns, please contact my office by calling (847) 413-1959, emailing me at [email protected], or sending a message through my website at https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/contact/email. For more frequent updates, I encourage you to follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.
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Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi delivers his opening statement on working to prevent CCP aggression against Taiwan. (Click the image above to watch the opening statement in full.)
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On Thursday, the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) held a hearing on deterring CCP aggression against Taiwan, which is not only our democratic ally and a regional partner but also America’s seventh-largest trading partner. Our relationship has grown exponentially in recent years, and in 2024, Taiwan’s investment in America spiked to $14 billion. This trading partnership is even more critical for our state of Illinois, as Taiwan is the number two importer of Illinois corn and the number three importer of Illinois soybeans.
In short, a CCP invasion of the island would have a negative impact on our state and national economies, as well as shake safety and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Estimates show that if the CCP went through with an attack on Taiwan, global GDP would drop by $10 trillion, or 10 percent, leading to an “immediate Great Depression.” The US doesn't want war with the CCP, and an attack on Taiwan is unacceptable. The U.S. will not stand for actions that risk violating peace, including the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s recent blockade and missile exercises. You can watch my opening remarks here and my questioning of witnesses during the hearing here.
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This week, I renewed my call to ban Members of Congress and their families from being allowed to own or trade individual stocks while in office. On Monday, the Chicago Sun-Times published my op-ed calling for a ban on congressional stock trading. As your voice in Congress, everyone elected to office is expected to serve our neighbors and constituents, not ourselves or our own financial interests. It is outrageous that the people who write laws and regulate industries are allowed to use that power for their own self-gain, and when Members profit off inside information, trust in our government and in our democracy breaks down. An overwhelming 86 percent of Americans agree that congressional stock trading should be banned, according to a recent survey. House Speaker Mike Johnson also told reporters on Wednesday that he believes the practice should also be outlawed. I have been outspoken on this issue for years, and I will continue to speak out against this practice until it is finally banned. You can read my op-ed in the Times here.
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On Tuesday, I joined with Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) and over 100 other House Democrats in calling on Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump to scrap plans to cut funding for specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth who contact the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Americans, particularly those in the LGBTQ community, are experiencing a youth mental health crisis, and cutting funding to this vital, life-saving service is wrong and dangerous. The hotline has received more than 1.3 million calls, texts, and messages since 2022, saving lives and helping young people find the help they need. You can read my full letter to Sec. Kennedy here.
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The Congressional App Challenge is the official computer science competition of the House of Representatives. Since its inception in 2013, the Congressional App Challenge has grown to now include the participation of over 50,000 students across 374 Congressional Districts in 50 states and five U.S. territories. This year, I am pleased to announce that my office will be participating in the 2025 Congressional App Challenge. From now until October 30, my office will be hosting a Congressional App Challenge for middle school and high school students of all coding skills in Illinois’s 8th Congressional District. The Congressional App Challenge urges all students to enter the competition, as it encourages critical thinking and creativity for those of all computer science experience levels. To learn about the rules, prizes, and more, you can visit our website here.
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The best way to stay up to date on these issues beyond our newsletter is through my social media accounts, which I update multiple times each day. You can follow my Twitter (X) here, my Facebook page here, my Instagram here, my Threads here, and my Bluesky here. Thank you for staying engaged in our community.
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