Issues

Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson is actively advancing equitable, high-quality education in the First District. His efforts include expanding access to affordable preschool programs, advocating for equitable K-12 school funding, closing the achievement gap, and preserving the legacies of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These specific actions demonstrate his unwavering commitment to ensuring every constituent of the First District has the opportunity to succeed.

Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson has always firmly believed that healthcare should be a fundamental human right, accessible to all, rather than a privilege reserved for a few. Driven by this commitment, he has proudly supported legislation aimed at expanding and ensuring access to quality and affordable healthcare. By co-sponsoring Medicare for All, Congressman Jackson has advocated for a transformative approach to making healthcare more affordable and equitable while also addressing longstanding socioeconomic disparities in the system.

We have a duty to the men and women who have bravely put their lives on the line to defend our country, and we must provide them with the assistance they need to ensure they have a home to return to. Approximately 4% of the Congressional District 01-IL population are veterans. The district has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam. They deserve to have a home and not be on the streets. For these reasons, Congressman cosponsored the Return Home to Housing Act, the maximum rate of per diem payments provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to entities that furnish services and transitional housing to homeless veterans. He also supported the VA Home Loan Awareness Act, which would add a disclosure informing veterans they may be eligible for a VA Home Loan and direct applicants to consult their lender for more information about the VA Home Loan program. He also cosponsored the VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act, requiring a Federal Housing Administration mortgage notice to contain comparative rate and fee information about loans available under the Department of Veterans Affairs home loan program.

The district is currently facing a pressing housing crisis, with escalating costs leading to a severe shortage of affordable and quality housing. This situation is particularly challenging for the district's significant minority population, with African Americans constituting 49% of the district. Congressman Jackson has cosponsored the Government Agencies Affordable Housing Conversion Act, a measure aimed at repurposing underutilized government facilities into affordable housing. Additionally, he cosponsored the Community Housing Act, a proposal to invest over $500 billion in federal programs that fund the construction of affordable and deeply affordable housing.