The United States House of Representatives is blessed to have Missouri First Congressional District Representative Cori Bush among their ranks. Cori Bush deserves to win the August 6th Missouri Democratic primary and to be re-elected for office
Cori converses with constituents
Cori Bush, mother, nurse and pastor, works for everybody in her district. Starting with campaigning, she’s working with us. She and her campaign team knock on doors and converse with people across the district in extensive canvassing efforts coordinated with St Louis based Democratic Socialists of America. It doesn’t stop there. Cori meets constituents in person, as I know from joining other district residents when we recently met after receiving a text invitation. Given this invitation to me, an heretofore unknown participant in local politics with no previous contact with Cori Bush, it is apparent that her meetings are inclusive for all district residents.
As a representative, Cori still converses with us. Not only has Cori done in person town halls, she also does telephone town halls for thousands of constituents to attend.
Cori takes care of business
In DC, Cori Bush is in the House representing MO-01 with impactful legislation, funding, activities, and opportunities for the district.
Cori Bush is willing to sleep on the Capital steps to help Americans stay in their homes and help spur Marcia Fudge to became the first sitting US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to declare that housing is a human right. That conviction to represent for the less well off continues through 2024, as Cori Bush coauthored a letter to HUD Secretary Fudge in support of women, minor and black renters.
When she’s not out sleeping on the steps, Cori Bush is getting stuff done in the House.
Cori Bush secured $196 million to upgrade the St Louis regional transit system, as well as, $82 million for recovery from record flooding in 2022.
Her interest in bringing jobs to St. Louis shows through in Cori’s efforts to host a federal jobs fair to the region on July 13, 2024.
Representative Bush (MO-01) and United States Senators Ed Markey and Tammy Duckworth introduced and celebrated passage of Environmental Justice Mapping and Data Collection as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which Cori Bush proudly supported with a promise to keep working.
“To be crystal clear, there are provisions in this bill that I do not support, such as the dangerous expansion of fossil fuels, insufficient protections of environmental review, and inadequate investments in environmental justice communities. Despite these flaws, I believe that ultimately the good that this bill delivers, will have a profound effect on our ability to address the climate crisis with the urgency it demands. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House, as well as with movement leaders and advocates, to mitigate harm from any provisions that expand fossil fuels, and to ensure that the good provisions are equitably distributed.
“I will also keep up the pressure for measures that were excluded, including further climate funding, universal preschool and affordable childcare, national paid leave, investments in housing and transportation, immigration and disability justice, maternal health, Medicare expansion, and a permanent expanded Child Tax Credit, all while pushing for meaningful executive action to address the climate emergency.
Cori has detractors
Well financed national opponents are spending a lot to hold up Cori Bush’s vote against Biden’s infrastructure act as evidence of being against Biden, jobs and development. St Louisans are spreading the truth that Cori Bush supports just and clean development.
While it is true that Cori voted against this measure, it was because she did not trust the Senators Joe Manchin and Kristen Sinema to fulfill their end of the bargain, i.e. passing Biden's Build Back Better legislation. The two pieces of legislation were supposed move forward together. Cori turned out to be correct, as Manchin and Sinema reneged on the deal, and all the Republicans joined them in opposing Build Back Better. Note that Build Back Better was the legislation that included the bulk of clean energy investments.
Cori Bush is a big supporter of clean energy, public transit and infrastructure investments. The League of Conservation Voters gave her a 100% score for her votes in her first year in Congress.
Cori Bush also reaffirmed her support for Biden’s progressive agenda in her own statement on the infrastructure vote.
Warning, reporting on trauma that follows can be triggering.
With Israel’s American backed brutal, inhumane and apparently illegal response to Hamas unlawfully and ill-advisedly murdering, raping and kidnapping Israelis, Americans, Thais and others, Cori Bush has attempted to speak up for humanity and call out injustice fairly. Any statement questioning Cori’s morality, accuracy, or sensitivity, herself subjected to an American and St Louis history of racism and white supremacy, can be matched by numerous statements from Cori calling for humane and legal treatment for all Israelis and Palestinians.
(Bush delivered this speech on October 16)
We all are grieving at the profound loss of life that has occurred over the past ten days. At least 2,700 Palestinians, 1,400 Israelis, and many Americans have been killed. Tens of thousands of people have been injured. Nearly two hundred Israelis are being held hostage. Families have been destroyed, and Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Muslims, are facing unimaginable trauma as they navigate this horrific moment.
...
One of the constituent voicemails that plays over and over in my head is from a woman who said, “I’m calling as a Jewish person. Even though I know it’s probably futile, I urge you to continue to advocate for a cease-fire and to advocate for the lives of Gazans.” She then began to weep and hung up in tears. Our empathy and solidarity cannot be conditional. It must be universal.
As this is written, Hamas is reportedly negotiating for ceasefire with Israel based on an American proposal, which could be an opportunity for deescalation of conflict between Israel and Lebanon.
Representative Bush (MO-01) continues to talk about peace and humanity in person and from her House office.
“The people of our country do not want war. They want to live in a world that is safe, peaceful, and just. That is why our pro-peace, pro-humanity movement is stronger than ever, and it’s why, as recently as last week, dozens of my colleagues and I called for our government to stop arming Netanyahu’s maniacal, genocidal acts. We are pushing for the safety of all people, from Palestinians and Israelis abroad to Jewish, Arab, Muslim, and other communities who are being targeted here at home, to the release of all hostages and those arbitrarily detained, and ending the risk of a regional war that further entangles the United States and jeopardizes the safety of our people. We cannot let the warmongers win; our country and our world are calling for restraint, de-escalation, a lasting ceasefire, and diplomacy. Our government must listen. That is how we save lives.”
Cori has backers
Mayor Tishaura Jones endorsed U.S. Rep. Cori Bush for reelection.
House Democratic leadership endorses Cori Bush in her upcoming primary election.
Missouri Chapter of the Sierra Club endorsed Cori Bush for Congress in Missouri’s 1st District.
Cori Bush has a 98% lifetime score with the AFL-CIO.
More than 30 faith and social justice groups are supporting Cori Bush. including Progressive Jews of St. Louis
and Jewish Voice for Peace.
Cori still needs help
It is a tough primary. Recent polling reveals a tight primary race. We could use all the help that we can get.
If you are in the area, join Cori and her supporters for canvassing and writing postcards. Sign up with the Cori campaign for updates or to get a yard sign (St Louis area only).
Keep up at CoriBush.org to look for local meetings and telephone town halls to attend.
If you can afford to donate, please join Cori’s other financial supporters with a contribution on Cori Bush’s page at Act Blue.
If you are a registered voter in the first congressional district of Missouri, then please vote for Cori Bush for United States House of Representative in the Missouri Democratic primary on August 6th.