Delia Ramirez

In a post-Roe v. Wade era, Delia understands more than anyone the need to protect bodily autonomy. Reproductive rights and abortion access are critical to Delia, and she believes people everywhere must have autonomy over their own bodies and pathways to economic security without fear of discrimination or violence. Delia acknowledges that reproductive rights are largely a women’s issue and the attack on abortion access is an effort to control women’s bodies. She also understands that nonbinary, transgender, and gender nonconforming people also access abortions and should be included in reproductive health conversations. Delia is an uncompromising supporter of reproductive rights and has consistently fought to protect the right to choose.

Delia will always fight for reproductive justice in Congress as the first Latina Congresswoman in the Midwest. She fights relentlessly to protect abortion access and honored a campaign promise by co-sponsoring legislation to repeal the Hyde Amendment. After the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, Delia has supported federal legislation to codify the right to choose into law. 

In Congress, Delia has:

Co-sponsored the EACH Act to repeal the Hyde Amendment that prevents low-income individuals from accessing abortion care

Co-sponsored the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act of 2023 to approve grants for patients who must travel to access reproductive health care

Co-sponsored the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act to remove barriers for people with disabilities to access reproductive health care

As IL State Representative, Delia:

Co-sponsored the Reproductive Health Act to enshrine the right to choose into Illinois state law. This law has made Illinois an abortion access haven for the Midwest after the repeal of Roe v. Wade.

Supported legislation to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act to remove one of the final barriers to reproductive rights in our state

Delia has a strong record of being on the front lines of pro-democracy reforms and advancing voting rights. She understands that a strong democracy requires an engaged and informed electorate and policies that protect and expand voting rights rather than restrict them. As a community leader, she supported efforts to expand automatic voter registration in Illinois. As a former staff person at the reform advocacy group Common Cause IL, she advocated for campaign finance reform to get big money out of politics. As a state legislator, she was the Chief Sponsor of legislation that secured a democratically elected school board for Chicago Public Schools.

At a time when our voting rights are under attack, Delia is a proven fighter protecting and expanding voting rights in Congress. She is a co-sponsor of the Freedom to Vote Act to end partisan gerrymandering, expand voting rights through automatic voter registration and voting by mail, and create a public donor matching fund to help curb the influence of big money on politics. 

In Congress, Delia has:

Co-sponsored the Democracy Restoration Act of 2023 to guarantee that the people released from incarceration have the right to vote

Co-sponsored the Same Day Registration Act of 2023 to mandate that states allow for same-day voter registration at the polling place

Co-sponsored House Joint Resolution 54, proposing a constitutional amendment to essentially overturn the Citizens United decision

As IL State Representative, Delia:

Co-sponsored “small donor match” for publicly funded elections as a state legislator

Supported IL elections reform bill that expanded vote by mail

Wrote and passed legislation to create an elected school board for Chicago Public Schools

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on everything from education to healthcare, from the economy to the social safety net, and it is not over. When the COVID-19 pandemic first reached our communities, Delia got to work hosting testing events, and vaccination events. Delia helped focus resources to address the public health inequities that we all saw with the pandemic in our communities. She helped ensure that important health safety communications and pandemic relief programs were accessible to everyone. She also got to work on legislative solutions, helping small businesses survive the pandemic and people stay in their homes.

In Congress, Delia continues to advocate for legislative and budgetary priorities that ensure there is a significant investment made in our communities so they can recover and thrive post-pandemic, and better prepare our nation to prevent and confront future biosecurity threats. She is a champion for President Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda, which makes once-in-a-lifetime investments in working and middle-class families to ensure a strong economic recovery. With her on-the-ground experience in our communities, Delia supports public investment to prevent the next pandemic, including efforts to develop comprehensive test/trace/isolate programs, improve our health data infrastructure, and accelerate future vaccine development.

In Congress, Delia:

Voted no on ending the national emergency declaration relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, recognizing that new cases of COVID and long COVID continues to impact our communities

As IL State Representative, Delia:

Chief-sponsored comprehensive emergency housing legislation that has led to over $1 billion in rental and mortgage assistance, reaching over 110,000 homes across the state

Hosted over 20 COVID testing events in collaboration with state public health officials and local community healthcare partners

Hosted 7 vaccination events where over 1000 community members received their COVID-19 vaccines and boosters

Delia spent nearly two decades working in and with community organizations, so she knows that economic development efforts should lead to thriving neighborhoods with robust local economies anchored by small businesses. She has been a strong proponent of community benefits agreements to ensure strong wages, equitable access, and community investment without displacement when large corporate developers attempt to profit off our communities. She has been a champion for local economies by sponsoring legislation to designate cultural districts where historic communities and their small businesses are promoted, invested in, and preserved. Delia also has seen how properly-regulated emerging technologies, including decentralized finance and blockchain technologies have the potential for improving the lives of many while also enabling social and economic growth.

Delia is a champion in Congress for the small and developing businesses and local economies of the 3rd Congressional district. She fights for relief for the small businesses that have been most impacted by the COVID pandemic. Delia also works to ensure that the US is a global leader in new and emerging technology fields to ensure that we remain competitive in the 21st Century economy. She advocates for increased investments by the Department of Commerce for community-based economic development that promotes and preserves thriving local economies. She fights for transportation investments that enable residents to access good-paying jobs throughout the region and enable people in the District and beyond to patronize local businesses. You can count on Delia to prioritize the needs of small businesses and local economies over the interests of large corporations, because she does not take corporate money and is not beholden to their interests.

In Congress, Delia has:

Is fighting for $13.5 million of federal funds for infrastructure and community projects for IL's 3rd District in the FY24 budget. These projects would invest in rail transportation improvements, highway and road repairs, affordable housing, capital projects for community organizations, and more

Co-sponsored the Raise the Wage Act of 2023 to raise the federal minimum wage to $17 per hour

Co-sponsored the Transparency in Government Contracts Act for the Small Business Administration to share data on Federal contracts awarded to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals 

Co-sponsored the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act to mandate that all sizes of airports provide airport service workers living wages and benefits

As IL State Representative, Delia:

Chief-sponsored legislation to create first-in-the-nation State Designated Cultural Districts to invest in local communities, promote economic development and preserve unique cultural and historical legacies

Chief-sponsored legislation to create the Milwaukee Ave Polish Heritage Corridor to honor and preserve the historical contributions of Chicago’s Polish American community

Supported community development projects on the Northwest side that prioritize investments into affordable housing

Championed and passed legislation to make Universal Basic Income pilot programs in IL possible without interrupting public aid benefits

Delia is the product of public schools and graduated from Northeastern Illinois University, a public university. She is a strong advocate for public education for all Illinoisans. Delia has worked with educators, community stakeholders, and parents to fight for well-resourced and high-quality neighborhood schools.

In Congress, Delia advocates for additional federal resources so that communities can stop relying on property taxes and every neighborhood has strong schools. She understands that higher education must be accessible and affordable, and that is why she supports free, publicly-funded community colleges and public universities. She is a champion for canceling student loan debt which has unfairly burdened working and middle-class families and young adults.

In Congress, Delia has:

Co-sponsored the College for All Act of 2023 to provide federal funding for free tuition at state colleges and universities, as well as Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) and minority-serving institutions

Co-sponsored the More Teaching Less Testing Act of 2023 to reduce the number of standardized tests administered to students in grades 3-12

Co-sponsored the Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023 to provide free breakfast and lunch meals for all students at public primary and secondary schools

Co-sponsored the African American History Act and Black History is American History Act to promote educational efforts of the contributions and historical oppression of Black Americans

As IL State Representative, Delia:

Chief-sponsored and passed legislation to create an elected and representative school board for Chicago Public Schools

Successfully advocated for hundreds of millions in increased funding for K-12 education to adequately fund local schools

Delia understands that we are at a crisis point to act on climate change and that we need swift and decisive action to prevent a climate catastrophe. She knows that being on the right side of this issue requires that our values be clear and uncompromised, which is why she has refused to take campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry and private energy companies. Delia is clear that future generations are depending on our leaders today to take bold and principled stances to end our reliance on fossil fuels, make a full transition to clean energy, and transform our economy to be greener and cleaner.

Delia leads on climate change in Congress as she did in Springfield. As a State Representative, she was an early co-sponsor of Illinois’ landmark Clean Energy and Equitable Jobs Act, which will transition our state to 100% renewable energy by 2045 and provide family-supporting jobs including training to make those jobs accessible to more people, including the 3rd Congressional District. Those jobs will be critical in making our economy cleaner. As Congresswoman, she has been a committed and unwavering champion and co-sponsor for the Green New Deal to invest in clean energy jobs and infrastructure, end our reliance on fossil fuels, and fight the effects of climate change in a proactive and equitable manner.

In Congress, Delia has:

Co-sponsored the Public School Green Rooftop Program to create grants for green roofs on elementary and secondary school buildings

Co-sponsored the Environmental Justice For All Act, an ambitious and overarching bill asserting that climate change response efforts center communities of color, low-income communities, and Tribal and Indigenous communities

Co-sponsored the Green New Deal for Health Act to promote a Green New Deal for Health to make sure the health care sector is prepared in the face of the climate crisis

As IL State Representative, Delia:

Was a proud and early co-sponsor of Illinois’ landmark Clean Energy Jobs Act which gets Illinois to 100% renewable energy by 2045

Championed and helped secure $50 million in annual investments for walking and bicycle paths in the Illinois capital budget

Proposed legislation to create a container deposit program in Illinois to reduce the harmful waste caused by single-use plastic containers

Delia believes that our foreign policy goals should always be guided by a deep respect for the human rights of all peoples, center diplomatic solutions to conflict, and make every effort to avoid costly wars and the unnecessary loss of lives. The United States must be a world leader not in supplying weapons but in providing humanitarian assistance that supports and stabilizes democratic governance across the world. As a member of the United Methodist Church, Delia upholds the calling to “prioritize collaboration among nations, work to reduce the use and need for weapons, and foster just, equitable and durable solutions to the root causes of conflict.”

As Congresswoman, Delia advocates for a responsible, tempered, and informed approach to foreign policy. She believes war should only ever be undertaken when all diplomatic options have failed and the cost of not acting would produce great harm to human lives and human rights. She advocates for Congress to reassert its Constitutional right to declare war, because the American people deserve to have their elected members of Congress debate the merits of military intervention. She is an advocate for refugees and migrants who have been displaced because of foreign conflicts and will be a champion for policies that address the root causes of migration. She also advocates for trade deals that center equity for both American workers and the global poor, stand against xenophobia in all foreign relations, foster collaboration with foreign nations towards our shared goals (like developing a global plan on climate change), and make humanitarian investments to help stabilize democratic governance across the world.

In Congress, Delia has:

Co-sponsored the Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act which would call for a formal end to the Korean War and improved diplomacy in the region

Co-sponsored the People Over Pentagon Act of 2023 which would reduce the Pentagon’s budget by $100 billion (without cutting service member benefits or salaries) in order to fund domestic social programs

Co-sponsored House Resolution 77 which advocates for the United States to lead efforts to decrease global use of nuclear weapons in order to prevent nuclear war.

Voted “no” on the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act and its associated Pentagon budget increases, given the fact that the Pentagon is the only US agency that has yet to pass an audit while there are other domestic priorities that are being cut or underfunded

As IL State Representative, Delia:

Co-sponsored legislation to divest from Russian stocks and create an emergency Ukrainian Refugee Resettlement program in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Advocated for budget investments to ensure Illinois would help house Afghan refugees after the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan

Delia grew up in the Humboldt Park community, where gun violence is all too common. She believes we need to get guns off our streets and solve the root causes of crime and violence. She knows that building safe communities requires a comprehensive plan that includes community-based youth programs and mental health services, investment in domestic violence prevention, stricter gun laws, and reinvesting in communities that have been under-resourced.

Delia is taking on gun violence in Congress. She is a champion for stronger gun laws to get illegal guns off our streets including: universal background checks, banning assault-style weapons, and reducing the flow of illegal guns across state lines. She pushes for expanding mental health services, street outreach, and intervention, and expanding restorative justice programs in our schools and community centers.

In Congress, Delia has:

Co-sponsored the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023

Co-sponsored the Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2023 to establish a federal agency to oversee gun violence prevention efforts

Co-sponsored Ethan’s Law to regulate home firearms storage

As IL State Representative, Delia:

Secured $250 million for community-based violence prevention in neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence

Reformed our bond system, so that judges will make pretrial detention decisions based on public safety and not jail people just for being poor

Voted to legalize cannabis, so that we can focus our public safety resources on addressing the root causes of violence and not low-level drug possession

Supported the “Fix the FOID” legislation which expands background checks for firearm purchases

Growing up in a working family where affordable healthcare was not always available, Delia knows personally the difficult healthcare choices families make every day. She believes that no one should have to choose between a life-saving medicine or keeping a roof over their heads. Our healthcare system should exist to save lives and address people’s needs, and not to deliver massive profits to investors and pharmaceutical companies. Delia has been a leader in the fight to make sure everyone has access to healthcare including championing historic expansions of Medicaid and co-sponsoring laws to reduce racial disparities in our healthcare system.

As Congresswoman, Delia is a champion for getting health care costs down, including supporting Medicare for All. She is taking on the pharmaceutical and for-profit medical industries by championing legislation to lower the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs. She advocates for increased healthcare access until we ultimately get Medicare for everyone, so no one is denied the care they need.

In Congress, Delia has:

Co-sponsored the Medicare for All Act to guarantee that everyone has access to life-saving healthcare under a single-payer model

Co-sponsored the Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families Act of 2023 to reduce barriers that immigrants face to enrolling in healthcare

Co-sponsored the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2023 to guarantee that hospitals have safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios

Co-sponsored the Stop the Wait Act of 2023 to remove the disability insurance benefits waiting period for patients with disabilities

As State Representative, Delia:

Wrote and passed a law that extends Medicaid to all low-income people over the age of 42, making Illinois the first state in the nation to grant healthcare access to seniors regardless of immigration status

Supported and co-sponsored legislation to lower the costs of life-saving prescription drugs

Supported historic legislation championed and passed by the Illinois Black Caucus to address racial disparities in the IL healthcare system

Pushed for a law to require a maximum number of patients per nurse, so we are putting patient care ahead of hospital profits

Delia has been an advocate for housing justice her entire life. Her family experienced housing instability when she was a child. She grew up volunteering at her church’s homeless shelter and became the Executive Director of a homeless services agency at 21 years old. These experiences imprinted on her the importance of housing as a human right. Delia believes that everyone deserves a safe, accessible, and affordable place to call home. She understands that housing and housing stability are deeply tied to community economic development, safety,and public health. This is why she has been a steadfast supporter of developing affordable housing and community-centered development that allows residents to afford to stay in their homes. Delia has worked extensively to extend protections to those at risk of losing their homes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delia has been one of the leading champions of housing justice in Congress, as well as during her time in the Illinois Legislature. She is a champion for building more housing - especially affordable housing and housing for families - and developing the social safety net needed to end displacement and homelessness. She fights to protect renters and homeowners from big banks and corporate landlords. She advocates for strong consumer protections and anti-discrimination laws in housing. She champions community benefits agreements so that development projects focus on addressing community needs, sharing profits with the community and not just wealthy developers, and don’t lead to destabilization and displacement.

In Congress, Delia has:

Co-sponsored the Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2023, which would revise the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to address the needs of homeless children, youth, and families, as well as center the assessments and priorities of local communities.

Co-sponsored the Build Housing with Care Act of 2023 to establish a grant program to create co-located affordable housing and on-site child care

Requested $750,000 for an affordable housing project in Glen Ellyn, and $1.9 million for the construction of senior housing in Elmwood Park

Requested $1 million for a community land trust to preserve affordable home ownership, and $2 million for a nonprofit expansion that would support housing services for low-income families

As IL State Representative, Delia:

Wrote and passed the nation’s most comprehensive emergency housing law to keep people housed during the COVID-19 pandemic which led to over $1 billion in rental and mortgage assistance reaching over 110,000 Illinois homes

Championed and won over $450 million for the construction and operation  of affordable housing in the Illinois capital budget and annual state appropriations

Passed legislation to expand and increase funding for the Illinois Homeless Prevention Program, which grants people at risk of losing their homes emergency assistance with rent, mortgage, or utilities

Delia is the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants who worked tirelessly to secure a brighter future for her and her siblings. She is also the only member of Congress who is married to a DACA recipient and understands firsthand the importance of creating a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients. She believes we must stop tearing families apart through deportation. Families belong together and our immigration laws must be transformed to welcome people trying to make a better life for themselves and their families rather than deporting them.

Delia has been a champion for immigrant families in Congress. She unwaveringly advocates for a pathway to citizenship for the more than 11 million undocumented people in the U.S. She is fighting to allow DACA recipients the ability to permanently adjust their legal status, to eliminate the case backlog in immigration court, to reduce fees so that more people can file for citizenship, and to end deportations to keep families together.

In Congress, Delia:

Serves as co-lead on the American Dream and Promise Act to create a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients

Co-sponsored the LIFT the BAR Act to remove barriers to social service programs (including free school meals, Social Security, and Medicaid) for undocumented immigrants and permanent residents

Co-introduced the Expanding Health Care Providers for Veterans Act to meet hiring shortages in the Veterans Administration by expanding employment visas

As IL State Representative, Delia:

Co-sponsored legislation to stop IL cops from acting as Trump’s deportation force and making IL one of the most immigrant-friendly states in the nation

Co-sponsored legislation to shut down for-profit immigrant detention centers in IL

Championed budgetary investments that increased immigrant services line items and created immigrant welcoming centers throughout IL

Wrote and passed legislation to remove the citizenship requirement to apply for licensure in trades such as plumbing, water and well pump installation, and liquor control

Delia’s values are deeply rooted in inclusiveness, equity, and justice and that is why she is a firm proponent of LGBTQ+ rights and protections. To fully live into being the “land of the free,” all people must be able to live free from discrimination and harassment because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We must enact policies that create protections so that all LGBTQ+ people can fully participate in all aspects of society free from discrimination. 

As Congresswoman, Delia has been and will continue to be an ally and champion for the LGBTQ+ community, having taken significant legislative action to do so. Delia has also been proud to demonstrate her allyship by supporting numerous LGBTQ+ candidates running for office at city, county, and state levels, to ensure that these communities have representation in government.

In Congress, Delia has:

Co-sponsored the Equality Act to fully guarantee nondiscrimination protections for the LGBTQI+ community throughout the United States including in housing, employment, education, and federally funded programs. 

Co-sponsored the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act to make federal population surveys be required to collect voluntary, self-disclosed information on gender identity, sexual orientation, and other information to identify the needs of LGBTQI+ people

Co-sponsored the Pride In Mental Health of 2023 Act which would revise Title V of the Public Health Service Act to guarantee protections for LGBTQI+ youth and their families.

As IL State Representative, Delia:

Co-sponsored the Inclusive Curriculum Act to ensure that LGBTQ+ history will be taught in Illinois public schools.

Supported legislation that designates most single usage restrooms in public spaces as gender-neutral

Co-sponsored the Birth Certificate Assertation law which allows individuals to self-assert a correct gender in a birth certificate change

Co-sponsored the Disrupting Disparities for LGBTQ Older Adults law that creates a three-year Commission on LGBTQ Aging, establishes an LGBTQ Older Adult Advocate, and requires state-funded providers to complete LGBTQ older adult awareness and competency training

Delia understands that we have a moral obligation to support and care for those who have served our country through military service. When we ask people to make the ultimate sacrifice, we must be willing to honor that sacrifice by supporting them when they come back home. This must include robust support for the spouses and children of military members, comprehensive health coverage, and services that ensure successful reintegration back into civilian life.

As Congresswoman, Delia sits on the Veteran Affairs Committee and is a champion for veterans and their families making sure that they receive the care and benefits they deserve. Delia is committed to fully funding the Department of Veterans Affairs and eliminating the backlog in processing VA benefits so that it is easier for veterans to access the healthcare and mental health services they need. She also supports legislation to expand dental coverage and mental health services. Delia also advocates for the thousands of veterans who have been unjustly deported and is fighting to bring them home.

In Congress, Delia has:

Introduced and passed the Student Veteran Benefits Restoration Act, a bipartisan bill, out of the Veteran Affairs Committee to guarantee that veterans defrauded by for profit schools will have full access to their education benefits restored

Co-sponsored the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023 which would improve various healthcare programs provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs

Co-sponsored the Return Home to Housing Act which would increase funding for per diem payments provided to homeless veterans