United States Senate — Partido DemócrataCandidato para Senator

As a former prosecutor, Andrea witnessed first-hand the inequities in the criminal justice system and how it disproportionately affects people of color. As President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, Andrea saw how current policy puts multiple barriers in front of men and women who want to re-enter society. Instead of being given pathways to contribute to their communities, too many formerly incarcerated Americans are locked out of opportunities. The results: repeat offenses, high recidivism, and communities that remain caught in the grips of criminal activity.

Andrea believes that criminal justice reform is critical to moving forward as a nation.

As Senator, Andrea will advocate for:

• Reducing Incarceration

• Reforming Juvenile Justice

• Supporting Successful Reentry

Reducing Incarceration

The United States is home to five percent of the global population, although it houses 25 percent of the world’s prisoners. There is broad consensus across the political spectrum that mass incarceration has done little to keep Americans safer and has instead served to devastate already disadvantaged communities.

This has adverse residual effects on all of our country’s families and communities. Without comprehensive criminal justice reform, our nation is steadily being robbed of men and women who would be workers, taxpayers, community leaders or people more actively involved in their children’s lives. Instead of allowing people to languish in prisons for non-violent offenses, sound criminal justice reform can help ensure the safety and vitality of all of our communities.

All of us who value life and seek justice have an obligation to take action.

As a former federal prosecutor, Andrea is intimately familiar with the flaws of our criminal justice system. She knows that public policy around criminal justice reform should not be driven by fear, but compelled by pragmatism. As such, Andrea will advocate for the following reforms, including:

Reducing Sentencing

First, to prevent holding people before they even get a trial, charging should be simplified and there should be an expansion of eligibility for pre-judgment probation in federal courts. The number of state-level drug crimes taken to federal courts should also be reduced since federal court convictions carry harsher penalties, typically longer sentences.

Providing alternatives to sentencing

Instead of anger-based sentencing, judges should be required to consider the risk to the community in addition to the needs of the offender to improve decisions about detention, incarceration, release, supervision, and treatment. Sentencing alternatives should be used when appropriate. For example, there should be reduced sentences for participation in educational or vocational programs. Allowing these alternatives will save money that can be reinvested in reducing recidivism.

Creating specialized courts

To aid in using evidence-based alternatives, federal courts should be allowed to establish additional drug courts, mental health courts, and veterans courts within their respective jurisdictions.

Eliminating Mandatory Minimum Sentencing

Mandatory minimums should be eliminated and judges should be encouraged to offer probation for low-level offenses.

Providing a pathway for early release for the elderly

To reduce the costs of caring for aging inmates, there should be a program to assess the risk of older prisoners and allow early release for those who are seen as posing a low risk to public safety.

Juvenile Justice Reform

African American and Latino youth are disproportionately impacted by the failures of the criminal justice system.

Though only 20 percent of the state’s population, African-American juveniles make up 85 percent of the juvenile justice system population in Illinois. They also account for more than 50 percent of youth passing through the state’s juvenile detention centers, according to Illinois’ Cook County Circuit Court.

Further, almost 18,000 Latino youth are incarcerated in America, with the majority incarcerated for non-violent offenses. One out of every four incarcerated Latino youth is held in an adult prison or jail.

As Senator, Andrea will advocate for:

Reducing Overcriminalization

To reduce recidivism, rules should be in place to ensure juveniles are not incarcerated with adults and never within solitary confinement. To prevent discrimination for crimes committed when a person is young, there should be automatic expungement for young juveniles and automatic sealing of records after certain ages. Youth who have committed nonviolent offenses should not be placed in higher-level secured detention or confinement. Finally, there should be incentives for all states to set the age of criminal responsibility to 18.

Increasing Transparency

To increase transparency and accountability, the Department of Justice (DOJ) should issue reports collected from federal prisons and states. There should be an annual report on the progress of the elimination of dangerous and harmful restraints in the detention of juveniles. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention should be tasked with developing a long-term plan to improve the juvenile justice system, taking into account scientific knowledge regarding adolescent development and behavior.

Providing Youth Access to Success

Federal funds should be directed to initiatives that offer youth pathways to success and provide alternatives to involvement with crime, such as the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative and Blue 1647. Funding should be allocated to local community organizations that offer additional education, homework help, mentoring, activities, and a “safe place” in communities plagued by violence, such as programs currently offered by St. Sabina and Kids Off the Block.

Promoting Successful Reentry

As Senator, Andrea would advocate for the use of cost-savings from criminal justice reform to reinvest in communities and would also support:

Expanding post-incarceration supervision

To reduce re-incarceration, there should be more opportunity for post-release supervision. This supervision should be proportionate and not arbitrary. If there is a violation of parole or probation, violators should face swift, but intermediate and graduated sanctions. Individuals at high risk of recidivism should have mandatory supervision requirements.

Policies that aid employment

Courts considering a petition to seal a nonviolent offense should balance factors, including the harm of the protected information to the public with the ability of the petitioner to secure and maintain employment. “Ban the box” efforts should be supported to ensure fairness in job markets.

Improving Access to Capital

The Small Business Association (SBA) should encourage lenders to loan to non-violent, low-level drug offenders. SBA has provided nearly $163 billion in lending to small businesses since 2009. It has a policy to prohibit guaranteeing loans to those convicted of more serious, often violent crimes, but leaves open to lenders to determine loan policy for lesser convictions. Micro-loans, those that are less than 5,000 dollars, should also be made available. Programs offering loans should also provide support for development of business plans.

Technical Training Programs

Federal funding should support innovative, high-quality technical training programs aligned with the workforce needs in high-demand industries. This training would provide those reentering the community a direction as well as a skill for gainful employment.

Ending the Ban on Government Assistance

For the last 20 years, state and federal prisoners have not had access to Pell grants. This ban should be removed. Statistics show that prisoners in correctional education programs are 43 percent less likely to return to prison and 13 percent more likely to have a job after they finish their sentence. The lifetime bans on SNAP and other government assistance should be lifted to improve the transition from incarceration back into the communities.

Under the leadership of President Obama since the recession, great strides have been made in improving our economic outcome.   Despite this progress, unemployment in Illinois remains higher than the national average, most notably in communities of color.  And too many working families across the state are still struggling to make ends meet.  Fortunately, Illinois is a uniquely resilient state, and well positioned to build upon its strength as a major engine for commerce - with 33 Fortune 500 companies, a highly educated workforce, a robust R&D community, a unique, central location, and highly developed transportation infrastructure, Illinois is well recognized as a national and global business leader.

As Senator, Andrea will promote a comprehensive strategy that recognizes the myriad of economic opportunities in our state, while addressing the potential challenges to taking full advantage of its numerous resources.  She believes that Illinois can continue to be a force in the global economy by supporting broad-based growth for all sectors of business, while identifying and confronting regional economic challenges.

Strengthen our Business Ecosystem

The Chicago metropolitan area is the only place in the United States served by all six Class One railroads, making it the largest freight hub in the country.  And the south suburban corridor of the metropolitan area is a major transportation and logistics hub domestically and internationally.  Additionally, Illinois boasts a vibrant, agricultural tradition, not only in farming, but also in agricultural-related industries like soybean processing, meat packing, dairy manufacturing and machinery manufacturing.

As Senator, Andrea will work with her fellow lawmakers to pursue a comprehensive strategy that will strengthen our manufacturing sector to counteract the challenges form foreign competitors, as well as promote fair trade agendas that enable American manufacturers to compete in the in the global market.  She will also promote initiatives that encourage businesses to move jobs and innovation back to the United States.

As Senator, Andrea will support the reauthorization of the Export – Import Bank and policies that encourage entrepreneurship.

Export - Import Bank

Reauthorization of funding for the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) is important to small businesses because the bank provides funding for these businesses that cannot be filled by traditional financing. The Ex-Im Bank supported a total of $5.17 billion of exports from 322 Illinois-based businesses between 2009 and 2014 — with nearly two-thirds of them small businesses.  Andrea is committed to working across party lines to ensure that an Export-Import Bank reauthorization can be passed.

Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Building America

As former head of the Chicago Urban League, Andrea understands intimately the importance of unlocking access to capital to fuel start up growth, as well as connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with mentors and quality educations.  As Senator, she will support and expand the work of the Small Business Administration (SBA), which, since the beginning of 2009, has provided nearly $163 billion in lending for small businesses.

As Senator, Andrea would support legislation similar to Senate bill 2008 – that enhances transportation programs in states and would create an interconnected transportation system throughout the U.S.

As Senator, Andrea would support initiatives like President Obama’s Build America Investment Initiative, a government-wide initiative to increase infrastructure investment and economic growth. As part of the Initiative, Andrea would also support initiatives similar to the Build America Transportation Investment Center – housed at the Department of Transportation – to serve as a one-stop shop for cities and states seeking to use innovative financing and partnerships with the private sector to support transportation infrastructure. 

Investing in People Through Education and Training

Nowadays, earning a college certificate or degree has never been more important.  As more and more jobs require advanced degrees and training, access to higher education has become a necessity.  By 2020, economists predict that nearly two thirds of all jobs will require some level of education and training beyond high school.  Yet, less than 60 percent of Americans 25 years and older currently have this level of preparation.

As Senator, Andrea will:

Support initiatives like the America’s College Promise proposal – which would create a partnership with states waive tuition in high-quality programs for responsible students, while promoting reforms to help more students complete at least two years of college.

Work to dramatically improve the skills of our adult population – over 36 million working age adults in the U.S. score at the lowest literacy and numeracy levels.

Support bills like Senator Warren’s Bank On Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act – that allow student loan borrowers refinance their loans at more affordable rates.

Support the President’s proposal to create the American Technical Training Fund – which expand innovative technical training programs that are aligned with the workforce needs of employers in high-demand industries.

Support the President’s pilot program to give individuals reentering their communities access to Pell Grants – statistics show that prisoners in correctional education programs are 43 percent less likely to return to prison and 13 percent more likely to have a job after the finish their sentence reducing the cycle of recidivism.     

Community Organizations - Connecting People to Jobs

As a leader within the corporate sector, who also spent five years at the helm of a community organization, Andrea’s work gives her hands-on experience developing effective collaborations and strategic programming to connect the people of Illinois with jobs.  Community organizations offer pathways to empowerment by strengthening the ties between employers and participants in job training and education programs.  As Senator, Andrea will advocate for:

·      Training-to-Work programs

·      Increased union apprenticeship trainings that lead to job placement

·      Federal programs that connect state initiatives with local small businesses to create jobs, such as the Midwest Regional Teaming Program, funded through the SBA

Why must we be so concerned about the proper integration of these immigrants? Their impact on our economy is incontrovertible. Undocumented immigrants alone pay billions of dollars in taxes annually. In 2010 alone, households headed by undocumented immigrants paid $10.6 billion in state and local taxes, including $1.2 billion in personal income taxes, $1.2 billion in property taxes, and more than $8 billion in sales and excise taxes. Yet most immigrants, even those who are here legally, are barred from receiving most social services, meaning that they pay to support benefits they cannot even receive.

There is a strong economic imperative for immigration reform. Permitting undocumented immigrants to gain legal status will expand economic growth by enabling them to earn higher wages, consume more goods and services, and pay more in taxes, which in turn, creates economic growth.

Studies show that if undocumented immigrants were allowed to earn their citizenship, their wages would rise by an additional 10 percent. This would occur because legal status would provide the undocumented legal protections, grants access to better jobs, promotes investments in education and training and fosters small business creation.

Legal citizenship would also allow millions of undocumented immigrants to work on the books and provide a substantial contribution to Social Security – an estimated $606.4 billion over the next 36 years – at the same time when retiring Baby Boomers will place the greatest strain on the system.

Even the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that the S. 744, the bipartisan immigration reform bill introduced in the last Congress, would have reduced the budget by $135 billion in the first decade after the bill’s passage and by an additional $685 billion in the second decade, when most undocumented immigrants would become eligible for citizenship.

Andrea believes that fixing our broken immigration system will ultimately boost our economy and help all workers.

As such, Andrea believes that a viable plan for comprehensive immigration reform must include 1) comprehensive reform measures such as those in Senate Bill 744 – but without the unnecessary militarization of U.S. borders and 2) better and more humane enforcement of existing laws.

1. Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Pathway to Citizenship

We must offer undocumented immigrants a legal way to earn citizenship that will encourage payment of taxes and include requirements to passing national security and criminal background checks, and a penalty. There should be no uncertainty about their ability to become U.S. citizens if they meet the eligibility criteria established in the reform legislation, and there should be a process for administrative and judicial review for decisions.

Additionally, we must stop punishing innocent young people brought to the country through no fault of their own by their parents and give them a chance to earn their citizenship more quickly if they serve in the military or pursue higher education. Andrea supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and its counterpart, Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA), which allows parents of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident to request deferred action and employment authorization if they meet certain conditions.

Immigration reform must also clarify that newly legalized immigrants, or lawful prospective immigrants, are eligible for all of the Affordable Care Act programs and should be eligible for any public benefits that are currently available to lawfully present immigrants or to people regardless of status. Immigration reform must not only promote the responsibility of undocumented immigrants to become full members of our society, but also ensure the newly legalized immigrants are fully integrated and welcomed as well.

Andrea would also support an end to the 3-year, 10-year, and permanent bars that can prevent immigrants from reentering the U.S., even if they are eligible and qualify for a green card based on their relationship with a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Streamlining Legal Immigration

Our current immigration system is antiquated and difficult to navigate. There are many steps that can and should be taken to streamline the system to keep families together, as well as attract and reward our most promising immigrants.

As such, Andrea supports efforts to:

Keep families together

Andrea supports efforts to eliminate existing backlogs in the family-sponsored immigration system by recapturing unused visas and temporarily increasing annual visa numbers. She also supports raises existing annual country caps from 7 percent to 15 percent for the family-sponsored immigration system, and treating same-sex families as families by giving U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents the ability to seek a visa on the basis of a permanent relationship with a same-sex partner.

Better addresses humanitarian concerns

Improve immigration law to better protect vulnerable immigrants, including those who are victims of crime and domestic violence. We must better protect those fleeing persecution by eliminating the existing limitations that prevent qualified individuals from applying for asylum.

Reducing barriers for immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators for foreign entrepreneurs

Andrea would support proposals that allow foreign entrepreneurs who attract financing from U.S. investors or revenue from U.S. customers to start and grow their businesses in the United States, and to remain permanently if their companies grow further, create jobs for American workers, and strengthen our economy.

Create a whistleblower visa

Many immigrants fear deportation enough that they will avoid reporting labor violations as a result. Just as with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, immigrants should receive protection when reporting labor violations.

Increase support for refugees

We have a global refugee crisis, whether it is families fleeing war in Syria or increasing violence in Central America, but we also have an opportunity to show the true nature of our national character by welcoming refugees into our communities in their most dire time of need. We must not allow paranoia and fear to overcome our humanitarian instincts. Andrea would support increasing our capacity to review, vet and admit higher numbers of refugees the U.S. accepts annually. By doing so, we welcome those who seek to become part of the fabric of our society.

2. Better and more humane Enforcement of Existing Laws

Andrea supports:

Focus removal on national security and public safety threats

Andrea would advocate for smart enforcement efforts that target convicted criminals in federal or state correctional facilities, allowing removal at the end of sentences without re-entering our communities. Andrea would also use Congressional oversight to ensure that Priority Enforcement Programs set forth clear rules on what types of arrests would trigger notification of federal immigration authorities – this will help build trust between law enforcement and the communities they protect.

Improve our nation’s immigration courts

Andrea would work to set clear rules on deportation priorities so that judges can more efficiently process current and future cases. Andrea would also support increasing the number of immigration judges and their staff, investing in training for court personnel, and improving access to legal information for immigrants.

Use Congressional oversight to ensure that immigrants know their rights and are not forced into “voluntary deportation”

Immigrants have the right to know, under the Sixth Amendment, whether their legal actions may result in deportation. Additionally, immigrants have a right to appear before an immigration judge to have their claims for legal status decided. Andrea will support increased access to legal counsel for immigrants in these situations and will use oversight authority to ensure that federal agencies fulfill their legal duty to immigrants.

Alternatives to Detention

We must reform how we determine who must be detained and we must end inhumane detention centers. For example, detention must not be the first option for mothers and children fleeing violence, such as those who have fled Central America in recent years. Options such as, release on recognizance, community support programs, as well as formal monitoring programs allow DHS to better focus its detention resources on public safety and national security threats by expanding alternatives to detention and reducing overall detention costs. It also provides greater protections for those least able to represent themselves. This would also include funding for community support programs that would provide case management and referrals to legal and social services providers for non-detained individuals. Studies have found that such support helps people understand their legal obligations and improves court appearance rates and compliance with final case outcomes, while minimizing the damage to their mental and physical health and the disruption to their families and communities caused by institutional detention.

Increase ICE officers’ accountability and transparency

Andrea would support extending applicable provisions and policy from criminal justice reform measures to immigration enforcement officers, such as requirement that border officials wear body cameras.