In a floor speech Tuesday, the Congresswoman from Moline and Illinois' 17th District said working families have been her top priority during her five terms in Washington. So for her last year, she'll focus on re-instating the Child Tax Credit that just expired this month.
"Hard working families who are just trying to get ahead have come to count on that support month to month since we passed that last year. Now, there are 71,000 families, just in the Congressional district that I serve, who won’t see that deposit into their bank account starting this month."
In addition, in Illinois more than half of the children living in poverty don’t attend pre-K classes.
"Parents across our nation are spending a good chunk of their take-home pay for the child care they need in order to be able to go to work. And it’s our job to help make that more affordable. So, let’s get to work."
Bustos was first elected in 2012, and announced last April she would not run for re-election this year. So far there are six Democrats campaigning for the nomination, and two Republicans.