On Thursday, Aprl 2, 2020, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos was named a finalist for the Congressional Management Foundation’s highly-competitive and distinguished “Democracy Awards,” in the Constituent Service category. The nomination recognizes Congresswoman Bustos for excellence in the way her office interacts with, assists, and serves, residents of the 17th Congressional District.
“Now, more than ever, we need examples of our Government functioning at its highest level. As a finalist in Constituent Service for a Democracy Award, the office of Rep. Cheri Bustos is clearly one of the best in Congress,”” said Bradford Fitch, President and CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation. “This designation demonstrates that [she] has made a significant commitment to being the best public servant for her constituents. Rep. Bustos and staff are to be congratulated for not only being a model for colleagues in Congress, but for helping to restore trust and faith that our democratic institutions can work.”
Congresswoman Bustos prides herself on having a responsive and attentive constituent services operation. Her office offers a wide range of services to help residents of the region navigate Federal agencies, process flag and tour requests, and more. Most recently of note, her office helped a resident of Peoria, IL, return home from Peru, after being stranded due to travel restrictions put in place amid the coronavirus.
“Every morning, my staff and I show up to work motivated by the belief that Government should work for the people,” Congresswoman Bustos said. “It’s this mentality that drives every aspect of our operation, especially constituent services. As our Country faces the impact of COVID-19, our team is focused on helping the people of Northwest and Central Illinois navigate the vital resources they need, from unemployment benefits to small business grants and loans. I am honored to have our team recognized in this critical service and proud of what our office is able to accomplish for Illinoisans every day.”
Since 2017, the office has recovered more than $2,800,000 for constituents; participated in 1754 constituent meetings and district events; visited 57 rural libraries, to donate 2850 books as part of the Library of Congress Surplus Books program. Last year the Congresswoman hosted or attended more than 200 events, including 38 supermarket visits and 19 roundtable discussions, and worked 21 “Cheri on Shifts,” where she shadows constituents in their everyday jobs.
Congresswoman Bustos and her staff constantly evolve to meet the needs of their constituents, which has included holding three Minority Business Assistance Workshops, implementing a Grant Resource Fair, and creating the Rural Green Partnership to address gaps in constituent services.