Reps. Bob Dold and Mike Quigley, along with Crain’s Chicago Business columnist Greg Hinz, shared their insights on the legislative outlook for 2016 with JUF’s Government Affairs Committee on April 4 and discussed several of JUF’s federal domestic policy priorities.

Noting the continued gridlock in Washington, Quigley offered a bit of optimism.

“There is still a group of us, both Democrats and Republicans, who do not shy away from compromise, but rather see it as our responsibility to come together and get things done,” he said.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Quigley stressed the importance of spending tax dollars on programs that do the most to improve our community, especially in an era of federal sequestration and state-level funding uncertainties.

Dold echoed a similar sentiment and highlighted some important legislative accomplishments over the past year, such as the reform of the Medicare reimbursement system, known as the “doc fix,” the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the permanent extension of the IRA charitable rollover, and the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, which passed the House just a few weeks ago.

Both representatives expressed gratitude for the work that JUF and its affiliated agencies do in the community.

“We can count on JUF/Federation and its agencies to put federal resources to good use by serving and creating opportunities for the most vulnerable members of our community,” Dold said.

Hinz voiced his appreciation for Dold and Quigley’s willingness to make compromises and work in a bipartisan manner on important pieces of legislation. He also offered insights into the 2016 presidential and congressional elections, as well as the latest news on the budget impasse in Springfield.

“This meeting was a great opportunity for our agency executives and community leaders to hear from, and be heard by, members of our Illinois Congressional delegation and local political experts regarding the federal policy outlook in 2016 and what it means for the issues we care about,” said Government Affairs Committee Chair David Golder. “This ongoing, bipartisan dialogue also ensures that our priorities remain at the top of our delegation’s to-do list.”