10th News: Climate Alarm Bells Across the World
It’s going to be hot in the Chicago area this week. Forecasts have temperatures above 90 degrees every day, with cooler temperatures over the weekend. This is pretty much the weather we would expect here at the end of July, but not so much elsewhere around the country and around the world. In fact, June was the hottest month on Earth since at least 1850, when we started keeping records, and July and August are expected to be increasingly hotter!
There’s no question that the planet is flashing warning signals that climate change is an immediate threat to our modern way of life. It’s not just the unrelenting heat waves. Consider the ongoing drought in the Midwest, the atmospheric rivers that inundated California with torrential rains earlier this year, the floods that are devastating communities in New England this month, and the ongoing fires in Canada that are chocking U.S. cities with their smoke. The water temperature off Florida is above 90 degrees, and even the color of our oceans is changing.
There’s no question we are behind the curve in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but that doesn’t mean we give up. In fact, we need to double down on our commitment to address the causes and impacts of climate change and, at the same time, step up our commitment to lead the world to action. That’s why I am so proud to have helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) last year, which included the greatest climate action investment to date. Already, the investments committed to the IRA are having effects in states across the country.
One of the key investments of the IRA is in Sustainable Aviation Fuel or SAF. This is legislation that I introduced with my colleagues Julia Brownley of California and Dan Kildee of Michigan and worked to get included in the bill signed by President Biden. Approximately 2.5% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are from aviation. While we see existing pathways to electrifying ground transportation to reduce associated GHG emissions, the same cannot be said for aviation. (Would you board a battery-powered plane to Europe or Asia?) But we can dramatically reduce and theoretically eliminate GHG emissions with SAF.
I wish there were an easy, one-size-fits-all solution for reducing rising global temperatures and protecting our environment. Of course, if there were, we would have already acted. Securing our children’s and grandchildren’s future will require lots of steps and many difficult choices. I am committed to working with my colleagues to ensure the United States continues to lead the rest of the world in achieving our climate goals.
BUSY JULY IN WASHINGTON
Fixing Airport Delays
Recently, airline delays have been crushing travelers, and last week both Republicans and Democrats worked together to fix delays and move America on time. Every five years, Congress has to fund our airports and the agencies that keep our sky-highways safe. The House passed legislation to set standards for our pilots, our airports, and our airlines. The bill works to shorten delays that have been plaguing travelers, while improving safety, accessibility, and environmental impact. Illinois families will be proud to know that the Illinois delegation worked together unanimously to defeat one amendment that would have undercut O’Hare’s position as a top-tier hub and taken flight options away from our area.
Historically Bipartisan National Defense Authorization Bill Knocked Off Its Rails
In my district, I get to see the fullness of America’s diversity in the marching lines and dining halls at the Recruit Training Center at Naval Station Great Lakes. In my travels, I see the strength of our diversity and the power of our unity in the brave men and women serving in uniform worldwide. I know our military works best when every servicemember – regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity – is trusted and empowered to reflect the values and protect the security and interests of our great nation.
A photo from the February 2022 Graduation Ceremony at Naval Station Great Lakes
I have always voted for the defense spending bill and expect to support again the bipartisan package the House Armed Services Committee passed overwhelmingly, 58-1 this year. The sweeping legislation would give our service members the raises they deserve and send a strong message to our allies and competitors, guaranteeing America’s national defense and security.
Since I last wrote to you, Speaker McCarthy decided to capitulate to the most extreme elements of his party and made that original bipartisan bill unrecognizable in the course of passing it through the House along deeply partisan lines. McCarthy’s amended bill attacks the health care of our service members, denigrates huge swaths of our country’s citizens, and will make our military less ready and less capable for the future. As the representative for every Navy recruit and Vice-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition, I could not in good conscience vote for such a dreadful, disingenuous, and dangerous bill.
You can learn more about the bill and why I voted against it by watching my interview on MSNBC here.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog
It was my great privilege to join a standing room only audience to hear Israeli President Isaac Herzog deliver remarks to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. I was particularly honored to be selected for the team to escort President Herzog into the House Chamber for his speech. Following his remarks, I gathered with colleagues and community leaders with the President to celebrate his speech and the 75-year special relationship between the United States and Israel. Lastly, I was proud to join my fellow co-chairs of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Abraham Accords Caucus in a meeting with President Herzog to talk about the importance of the Accords and the possibilities they open.
President Herzog began his historic remarks reflecting that his late father, Chaim Herzog, Israel’s 6th president, stood in the exact same spot to address congress on November 10, 1987. Almost thirty-six years later, Israel’s 11th president offered a sweeping vision that was a tremendous celebration of Israel’s historic and ironclad relationship with the United States. His representation of his country before the U.S. Congress is a remarkable symbol of the enduring and unshakable friendship of our two nations.
Today, Israel is a vibrant democracy. As President Herzog pointed out, Israel is a state founded on the ‘complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex.’ Diverse citizens are represented in every facet of Israeli society, from the Knesset to the international U-20 soccer team.
I share President Herzog’s concerns about Iran and his assessment that any capitulation to Iran in their pursuit of nuclear capabilities would be ‘an inexcusable moral collapse.’ Together, the United States and Israel must continue to work to ensure that Iran never succeeds in acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Throughout my life, I have prayed for a just and lasting peace for Israel and all the people of the region. I have joyously celebrated Israel’s peace agreements with Egypt, Jordan, and the Abraham Accords countries—the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco. And, like President Herzog, I yearn for the conditions that will one day open the pathway for peace with the Palestinians through a directly negotiated two-state solution, resulting in a Jewish, democratic Israel living side-by-side a viable, vibrant Palestinian state in peace, security and prosperity.
Israel remains the only vibrant, progressive, and inclusive democracy in the region. Arab parties serve in the Knesset, women serve at the highest levels of the military, and the country remains an oasis for LGBTQ+ people in a region hostile toward the community. Pluralism flourishes in Israel.
At the same time, I am deeply saddened and profoundly concerned by the decision of the coalition government in Israel yesterday to unilaterally move forward with dramatic and controversial changes to its judicial system.
The deep divide in Israeli society is only exacerbated by this move that unnecessarily puts Israel’s democracy and international standing in a precarious position. While the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad, the actions of the current government will undoubtedly strain Israel’s critical relationships with the diaspora Jewish community and the nations in which they all live.
As always, I stand resolutely with the Jewish, democratic state of Israel, and with the majority of Israelis, and their allies around the world, committed to advancing the fundamental Zionist ideal articulated 75 years ago in Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
Closing the Ghost Guns Loophole
One of the top issues police chiefs brought up at our roundtable last week was ghost guns. As a leader with the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I've been working on The Ghost Guns Are Guns Act that would close the "ghost guns" loophole.
Untraceable guns evade background checks and threaten public safety. This is not a partisan issue; we must do our job and pass this and other commonsense legislation to keep our communities safe.
You can watch my full floor speech here.
The “She-boom”
An Axios article I recently read recalled a prediction made during the pandemic that we would see a "She-cession" where women would lose many of the gains they have made in the labor force as they left to take care of children and loved ones as the pandemic changed our everyday lives.
Fortunately, instead of a "She-cession," it appears we are in the midst of a "She-boom." According to Axios, women have been responsible for the decades' high employment rate, as 75% of women 25–54 years old are employed. In even more good news, the pay gap between men and women appears to be narrower than ever. While it's still troubling to know that women earn 15.5% less than their male counterparts, the trend is encouraging.
I'm proud that in Congress, during the pandemic, we were able to support women in the workforce and their families through legislation such as the American Rescue Plan, to provide parents monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit of up to $300 per month to offset increased childcare costs during the COVID-19 pandemic and help lift thousands of children out of poverty.
WELCOMING FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO OUR OFFICE
Leadership Initiative's Advanced Law & Trial Internship Program
I welcomed Varnika Maram, a resident of Vernon Hills, to my Washington office last week. Varnika is spending her summer as an intern with the Leadership Initiatives' Advanced Law & Trial Internship Programs that partners with Georgetown University to give outstanding high school students (pictured) internship opportunities in Law & Advocacy, Medicine, and Business. And I will share that it made my day when Damarius told me I was “cooler than he expected.”
Dr. Kevin Rubenstein, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services at Elmhurst Community Unit School District
Dr. Kevin Rubenstein, a Gurnee resident and the Assistant Superintendent for Student Services at Elmhurst Community Unit School District, visited with colleagues to talk about a variety of pressing issues impacting our community’s schools, including mental health, recruiting teachers, and the role the federal government can play in supporting education.
Edgar Kelly of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
I was happy to welcome Edgar Kelly of Lake Bluff and Teagan. to share their story about dealing with Type 1 Diabetes. Edgar and Teagan were selected out of hundreds of applicants to meet with Senator Duckworth and me to discuss Congress’s support for type 1 diabetes and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s (JDRF) work in pushing for a cure. You can read more about Edgar and his story here.
Environmentally Friendly Farming
I welcomed Impossible Foods CEO Pat Brown (left) and other members of Agriculture Fairness Alliance to discuss how we can support their farmers and the benefits of making our food sources more local.
Writing a “New Story” for the future
New Story Leadership is dedicated to developing a community of leaders and influencers in Israel and the West Bank by having young Palestinians and Israelis spend the summer in Washington, live with American host families, and work on Capitol Hill. I am especially proud to have Benaya Cherlow working with our team this summer.
Last week, I had the privilege of spending extended time with the New Story Leadership team to talk about their own personal stories and share their individual perspectives and aspirations. We also explored ideas for improving conditions and bringing peace between Israelis and Palestinians closer.
Juan Calderón, COO of The Chicago Puerto Rican Cultural Center
For more than fifty years, the Chicago Puerto Rican Cultural Center has been addressing the fundamental needs in Chicago's Puerto Rican/Latino communities. Juan Calderón, the center’s COO, stopped by to update me on the work they are doing.
Internship Position are Now Open
My offices in Washington and Lincolnshire are looking for interns to join my team this fall. To be considered, prospective applicants must be currently enrolled in post-secondary education or be recent graduates. The application for this opportunity is available on my website and closes on 7/31/2023.
Intern responsibilities include (but are not limited to) handling phone calls and inquiries, conducting research and drafting memos on hearings and briefings for the legislative team, and leading tours and greeting visitors. Capitol Hill and the District Office offer a terrific learning environment for those considering a future in politics, and many past interns have gone on to work here in DC or elsewhere!
AROUND THE DISTRICT
NIRCO 2nd Annual Gala
The Northern Illinois Recovery Community Organization (NIRCO) held its 2nd Annual Gala. I was pleased to have the opportunity to attend on Saturday and support NIRCO’s mission of reducing the stigma of substance use disorder and mental health and helping those in need to recover. I’m proud to serve on The Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, working on the best ways to address substance use disorder.
International Franchise Association
I attended a roundtable hosted by the International Franchise Association (IFA) at McDonald’s Corporate Headquarters in Chicago. We held a great discussion on how franchising businesses have and could continue to help many Americans achieve their goals of owning a business. We especially touched upon how federal programs such as Boots to Business can help grow and maintain diversity in the industry.
Highwood Days Taco Fest
Last Friday, I stopped by Highwood’s Taco Fest, a part of our 4-day Highwood Days celebration. It's a time when the whole community gets together to enjoy the warm summer weather and create a happy and welcoming atmosphere. During my visit, I met Waukegan resident Gustavo who just opened his restaurant in Waukegan. I also met Gia, a Highland Park Wayfair Theatre intern and a rising sophomore at Howard University.
Glencoe Art Fair
I visited the Glencoe Art Fair, and annual tradition. It was great to see my friend Mark Hersch who merges historic photos of Chicago with modern images of how our area appears today.
Look Before You Book
We continue to hear from constituents experiencing long wait times to get new or renewed passports. If you plan to travel internationally, remember to check the expiration date on your passport before you book your trip. And if you need help expediting a passport, please call my district office at 847-383-4870.
CONSTITUENT SUCCESS STORIES
I am happy to share with you another constituent casework success story. Navigating the federal agency bureaucracy can be challenging, but my excellent casework team in Lincolnshire is ready to help you. If you need help with a federal agency, fill out a Privacy Release Form or call my Lincolnshire office at (847) 383-4870 so my casework team can assist you.
In Closing—You Can Now Find Me on Threads
I suspect you’ve likely heard on the news or from a friend about Threads; it’s one of the newest social media platforms to launch, and within its first week had 100 million sign-ups.
So, to keep in touch with everyone and everywhere, I am happy to share that I now have a Threads profile you can follow. To follow me on Threads click here.
Sincerely,
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress