Jobs & Economy
Although our economy continues to rebound, too many people are still looking for work, worrying about their mortgage and uncertain about their ability to retire. Middle-class families in Tenth District and across the country have been hit hard by the economic downturn and continue to struggle, which is why bolstering our economy is my top priority in Congress.
Key to strengthening our economy and expanding job growth is helping our small businesses succeed, improving our education system and investing in infrastructure and research and development.
Small Businesses:
As a member of the House Committee on Small Business, I understand how, in an era of uncertainty in Washington, small businesses struggle to make long-term decisions, including whether or not they should hire new workers or invest in new technologies.
Still, in the last two decades, small businesses have created 60 percent of all new jobs and they are the driving force behind economic expansion and middle-class prosperity. We must work to provide both the regulatory environment and tools necessary for small businesses to thrive.
Education:
A quality education is critical to preparing our future generations to compete in a global, high-tech economy. Education should be our greatest competitive advantage. Our schools must emphasize Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs as well as broad liberal arts curricula. Additionally, we must offer simple, affordable paths for students who wish to attend college or job training, easing the crushing burden of student loan debt. Educating our children to compete in the 21st Century is one of the best ways to ensure our long-term economic growth.
Research and Development:
As we continue to look for ways to address our nation’s budget deficit, we cannot lose sight of the importance of sustained investment in research and development. American innovation changed the world and the next generation of breakthroughs in health care, energy and manufacturing will be the direct result of private ingenuity and public support. Continued investment in our infrastructure—our highways, bridges, ports and tunnels—is an investment in our future and will be critical to rebuilding our economy.
More on Jobs & Economy
In opposition to the House’s latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act entirely, U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) released the following statement:
Democrat Brad Schneider and Tea Party star Michele Bachmann are light years apart politically but the two found common ground on the issue of funding for air traffic control towers.
The Deerfield Democrat and Minnesota Republican were among 83 congressional representatives who wrote Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood asking the government to snap out of its indecision about the fate of 149 control towers at smaller airports, including Waukegan Regional Airport.
Citing concerns of inadequate protections for workers, U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) issued the following statement in opposition to the “Working Families Flexibility Act," a bill related to overtime compensation:
“Middle-class families work too hard, sacrifice too much for us to make it more difficult for them to earn a fair shake. This is simply a bad deal for American workers who rely on hard-earned overtime to make ends meet. They deserve safeguards for a fair day’s wage and a fair day's work. This bill includes neither.”
Senator Mark Kirk struggled physically during his first venture out in public Friday visiting a charter school in North Chicago and he doesn’t speak as clearly as before, but he declared he has made progress thanks to rehabilitation.
Kirk, along with Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider visited the LEARN public charter school in North Chicago Friday, May 3, and all lamented the fact that the sequestration is cutting indiscriminately and they also said the charter school was important for keeping Naval Station Great Lakes open.
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park) and Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Springfield) made their first joint public appearance in Illinois since Kirk returned full time duty in the Senate in January at a Great Lakes charter school they helped create which is now being hurt by the Sequester.
Today, U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) helped introduce the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would extend the current workplace protections based on gender, race and religion to sexual orientation and identity. The bill would prohibit employers from firing, refusing to hire or discriminating against an employee or job applicant based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) joined Minority Whip Steny Hoyer at the unveiling of the new Make It In America package, which focuses on strengthening our manufacturing sector and creating jobs. The plan includes Schneider’s bill—the AMERICA Works Act.
U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) will officially begin his “Brad at Your Business” tour on Monday, April 8 at Auto Parts City, a Gurnee-based leader in both green practices and auto recycling.
Silt clogging the mouth of Waukegan Harbor dumped by remnants of Hurricane Sandy will be dredged with nearly $1 million in federal funding, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Congressman Brad Schneider, D-Deerfeld, said Friday.
The pair announced the Army Corps of Engineers has awarded $990,000 in funding for dredging the harbor to clean up shoaling caused by Hurricane Sandy and allow the harbor to reopen to navigation for Great Lakes freighters.
Waukegan Harbor--one of the most underused assets in the Chicago area--will get a boost, some $990,000 in federal funding for dredging to clean up damage caused last year by Hurricane Sandy, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) announced on Friday.
Where the money comes from and background, according to Durbin and Schneider release: "The funding was awarded as part of the $821 million approved for the Army Corps of Engineers in the supplemental appropriations bill to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy and to rebuild the areas that were impacted.