Illinois REALTORS® hosted four Let’s Talk Real Estate events during the past week so members could talk exclusively with their U.S. representatives.

On Thursday, 17^th Congressional District REALTORS® gathered in Moline with U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos of East Moline, while 16^th District REALTORS® gathered in Rockford with U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Channahon. Tuesday, nearly 30 REALTORS® from the 9^th District met with U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston in Glenview. Monday, REALTORS® of the 10^th Congressional District gathered in Lincolnshire to talk to U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Deerfield.

At each event, the federal political coordinator for each legislator helped facilitate discussion with assistance from local governmental affairs directors and Neil Malone, Illinois REALTORS® director of grassroots and political programs. Topics of conversation ranged from the powers of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), reform for the National Flood Insurance Program, proposals for national health insurance, tax reform and transportation.

Marilyn Glazer, Illinois REALTORS® federal political coordinator for U.S. Representative Jan Shakowski described the gathering in Glenview. “Congresswoman Shakowsky said she usually agrees with REALTORS® on issues in the district. Also, she looks to us to keep her informed and finds our perspective invaluable. She told the group of her early advocacy and success in getting expiration dates on grocery items.

“We also talked about poverty and the lack of affordable housing,” Glazer said. “The Congresswoman and I pledged to reconvene an affordable housing group that we co-founded and try to find solutions.”

In September, REALTORS® are hoping to meet with U.S. Reps. Bill Foster, Bobby Rush and Darin LaHood.