Bustos, Cheri, 1961-

Cheryl Lea "Cheri" Bustos (née Callahan, born October 17, 1961) is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served as the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 17th congressional district since 2013. Bustos has served in multiple leadership roles within the Democratic Party, notably serving as Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2019 to 2021. On April 30, 2021, she announced that she would retire at the end of the 117th Congress.

Born in Springfield, Illinois, she graduated from Springfield High School there before attending Illinois College and earning a B.A. from the University of Maryland, College Park and an M.A. from the University of Illinois at Springfield. In 1985, Bustos moved to the Quad Cities to work as a night-shift police reporter for the Quad-City Times. She worked there for 17 years, first as a reporter and then as an editor. From 2001 to 2007, Bustos worked as senior director of corporate communications for Trinity Regional Health Systems. From 2008 to 2011, she worked as vice president of corporate communications for Iowa Health System. In 2007, Bustos ran for the East Moline City Council from that city's 4th Ward. Winning the Democratic primary, she was elected unopposed. Bustos was re-elected in 2011.

In 2012, Bustos defeated Republican incumbent Bobby Schilling in Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Shortly after taking office, Bustos joined the bipartisan No Labels group. In the first session of the 115th United States Congress, she was ranked the 28th most bipartisan member of the House. At a time when many hardworking families are tightening their belts, she’s relentlessly worked across the aisle to ensure Illinoisans’ hard-earned tax dollars are put to good use. Her efforts have resulted in legislation decreasing improper payments from Federal agencies, strengthening the oversight of government charge cards and ensuring Federal agencies maximize their space and manufacturing capacity before outsourcing work. Bustos has said she wants to create a "manufacturing triangle" connecting Peoria, the Quad Cities, and Rockford and anchored by Caterpillar, John Deere, and the aerospace industry, respectively. She supports putting in place job-training programs at area community colleges to better prepare workers for skilled jobs in manufacturing. Responding in 2016 to People v. Turner, Bustos said that there is a need for more women in Congress in order to bring greater attention to the issue of sexual assault.