For decades, U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky has conducted a whirlwind series of town hall-style meetings for constituents in January.
The longtime congressman from Gary held the first 2020 town hall meeting Friday, an annual event he hosts throughout the First Congressional District to discuss the work of Congress and answer questions from constituents.
Between Friday and Saturday, Visclosky had planned eight forums, likely his last since announcing in November that he would not run for reelection after 35 years.
About 35 people attended the forum at the United Steelworkers Local 1010 Union Hall, where Visclosky discussed the military, the economy and discrimination. Locally, Visclosky addressed the West Lake corridor of the South Shore train line and the Indiana Dunes National Park, two issues he has championed for years.
But Visclosky’s work in Congress hasn’t all been about local issues. Visclosky said he worked to pass a bill that increased federal spending toward environmental cleanup around military bases and improve military housing.
Also, to address military members’ child care, Visclosky said Congress added $110 million to begin to address “that huge backlog.”
“You think about being deployed in the military. You got a family back home, you’re desperate for child care. That is not having a good quality of life, and it’s not going to make you an effective person,” Visclosky said.
Growing up in the shadow of U.S. Steel in Gary, the industry has been near and dear to Visclosky’s heart his entire life. It has been on Visclosky’s plate from his first days in Washington.
The U.S. needs to expand its steel industry base, Visclosky said, drawing on the example of the recent commissioning of U.S.S Indianapolis in Burns Harbor.
Visclosky said he is “very happy” that almost all of the steel on the U.S.S Indianapolis was made in America and more than half of it was “made in this Congressional District.”
In a defense appropriations bill, Viscloksy said he introduced six “By America” provisions, some that dealt with super computing and some dealt with anchor chains.
“As we proceed in this session of Congress, please know that I will be looking for strict insurance to get those By America provisions, looking at how we can expand that manufacturing base and looking for opportunities to improve the quality of life for all of our troops,” Visclosky said.
When looking at the economy, Visclosky said there are two components to the issue: the high cost of medical care and access to “good paying jobs.”
Studies have shown that a third of Americans buy a partial prescription, skip prescriptions or won’t get a refill for a needed prescription “because of the cost involved,” Visclosky said.
“In the United States of America, that’s just not right,” he said.
The economy in Northwest Indiana will grow, Visclosky said, because he is “absolutely convinced” that construction on the West Lake Corridor of the South Shore train line will be completed by 2025.
Construction of the double tracking of the South Shore train line from Gary to Michigan City is expected to begin in 2021 and be completed by the end of 2024, Visclosky said.
The construction projects will increase investment “in the private economy” and create at least 6,000 new jobs in Northwest Indiana, Visclosky said.
“As we proceed this year, you can be assured that we’ll do everything possible to make sure we get those last, final federal approvals for this program,” Visclosky said.
Since the 2019 town forums, Visclosky said he is pleased the Dunes have been have been given national park status because that has led to an increase in visitors who in turn spend money in Northwest Indiana.
“That is not a bad thing,” Visclosky said.
But, “on a somber note,” Visclosky said a “profound problem” that the country has faced is racial discrimination.
As an example, in 2019, there were three instances of eighth grade classes posing to take a group photo on the Capitol steps in Washington and some of the students made “white supremacists’ hand gestures,” Visclosky said.
In the spring, Visclosky said he attended a church fish fry and a man “couldn’t stop using racial slurs when he was talking about immigrants coming in to the United States.”
“We have to acknowledge that discrimination exist. We certainly all have to be part of the solution,” Visclosky said.
Visclosky answered questions from the audience written on note cards. The first question asked about why the Democrats want to “waste time on the hunt.”
In response, Visclosky said he voted in favor of impeaching President Donald Trump because he has “a constitutional responsibility” to maintain the balance between the branches of government.
One person asked who he will endorse for his vacant seat.
“My seat is not yet vacant,” Visclosky said.
While he may still be in office, more than a dozen Democrats and Republicans have announced they will run for his seat. Sabrina Haake, of Gary, who attended the town hall, has filed to run in the Democratic primary.
Steve Wagner, United Steelworkers Local 1010 president and former member of Highland’s Town Council, along with other union members, thanked Visclosky for his time in office and supporting unions.
“We appreciate all the work you’ve done for the people of Northwest Indiana and certainly all the hard work you’ve done to help save our industry,” Wagner said.
Visclosky said it has been “an honor and privilege” to serve Northwest Indiana residents.
“I have never tried to take it for granted. I have worked as hard as possible and to the best of my ability, and certainly will continue to do that in 2020,” Visclosky said.
Saturday schedule:
11 a.m. Purdue University Northwest – Westville Campus – Library Student and Faculty Building, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville
1 p.m. Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road, Portage
3 p.m. Lake Station City Hall, 1969 Central Ave., Lake Station