10th NEWS: America Is Better Than This
It’s pretty simple. Alex Pretti should be alive today and taking care of his patients at the VA hospital. Renee Good should be alive today and taking care of her children. ICE should not be terrorizing our cities and making us all less secure.
The abuses of ICE, CBP, and DHS under Secretary Noem in general, need to stop. That’s why I voted last week against the Homeland Security funding bill, and it’s why I’ve long been calling for the resignation or removal of Secretary Noem. If President Trump will not fire her, Congress must act, up to and including initiating impeachment proceedings.
The American people deserve, and justice demands, a full, independent, and transparent investigation into the recent shootings in Minneapolis. The officers involved must be held to account for their actions. Separately, ICE and CBP need to immediately leave Minneapolis, we need to change the way DHS is conducting its enforcement activities across the country to align with the law and protect civil liberties, we need to ensure there are guardrails put in place to prevent tragedies like what we witnessed this weekend in Minneapolis, and we need to restore proper Congressional oversight of DHS policies and actions.
Remembering Alex Pretti
Alex was a 37-year-old ICU nurse needlessly shot and killed by ICE agents while protesting in Minneapolis. In the days since his death, Alex’s family, coworkers, and patients have shared memories of an incredibly kind and caring person. Alex was a devoted family man, an avid outdoorsman, and a dedicated caretaker to our nation’s veterans.
It seems that in the devastation and outcry over Alex’s death, the Trump Administration is taking some action to lower the temperature in Minneapolis, namely by removing Greg Bovino, Kristi Noem’s chief thug, from overseeing ICE operations in the city. This is a small but notable step that is likely happening because the American people’s frustration and disgust is finally affecting President Trump’s popularity.
May Alex’s memory be a blessing.
All Gas, No Breaks – 2026 Has Already Been a Wild Ride!
The first few weeks of 2026 have been eventful both at home and abroad, with no signs of momentum slowing. While the President has been focused on running Venezuela and conquering Greenland rather than lowering the cost of groceries, here at home I’ve kept my attention on affordability, healthcare, and quelling the chaos that the Trump Administration continues to sow across the nation.
Around the district, I’ve heard from constituents while honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day at stops in Highland Park, Waukegan, North Chicago, Winnetka, and Wilmette. I’ve hosted roundtables on healthcare and the impact of HHS budget cuts in Highland Park, Wheeling, and Libertyville. I’ve spoken with educators at the Education Research & Development (ED-Red) dinner in Lincolnshire. And I’ve welcomed groups like Hanul to our office to learn about the current challenges they are facing as they work to serve our communities.
Back in Washington, much of January was focused on funding our government before the end of the current funding extension on Friday. As noted above, I opposed the bill to fund DHS until changes are made to ICE and CBP enforcement operations. But I was proud to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass the other 11 bills through honest negotiations and fair compromise. Importantly, several of the bills that are headed to the President’s desk include federal funding for projects in Illinois’s 10th district for which I have been aggressively advocating, some for more than two years. Once the President signs the bills into law, look for an announcement from me about these projects.
Also last week I was privileged to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Maria Corina Machado. Later that same day I joined several colleagues to show support for the people of Iran as they seek to free themselves from shackles of 47 years of oppression by the Mullahs and call on Speaker Johnson to bring our bipartisan resolution to a vote. In the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I worked to advance my bipartisan Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act to the full House for consideration. Meanwhile, the Ways & Means Committee held a hearing with the CEOs from major health insurance companies, including UnitedHealthcare, CVS Health, Elevance, Cigna, and others.
Two Bills I Lead Pass Out of Committee
While Congress is certainly slow-moving, unproductive, and purely partisan much of the time, there are still meaningful moments of bipartisan progress. I’m pleased that two bills I lead advanced in their committees of jurisdiction in the past two weeks – the BARCODE Efficiency Act and the Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act.
My BARCODE Efficiency Act (which was passed by the committee 42-0) would require scannable barcodes to be added to paper tax returns, helping speed up services for taxpayers and reduce errors by the IRS when they process tax returns. It unanimously passed the House Ways and Means Committee and I’m hopeful Speaker Johnson will bring it to the floor for a full vote by the House soon.
Similarly, my Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act was passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee with a 45 – 2 yes vote. This bill strengthens the Eastern Mediterranean’s role as a strategic bridge linking the U.S., India, the Middle East, and Europe under the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, known as IMEC. If it becomes law, it will help shore up global energy supply chains and bolster defense cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
You can tune into my remarks on each bill here: BARCODE Efficiency Act | Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act.
Keep reading for updates in Washington and around the district.
OUT AND ABOUT IN THE 10TH
Lake County Municipal League Annual Breakfast
Thank you to Zion Mayor Billy McKinney, President of the Lake County Municipal League for welcoming me at the League’s annual breakfast in Mundelein. It was an honor to join several of my state colleagues who represent Lake County and to share an update on what’s happening in Washington.
I was especially proud to share some good news. The initial 2026 government funding bills passed earlier this month include millions of dollars in federal funding for Illinois’ 10th District for which I have been advocating, in some cases for more than two years. This funding will support projects across the district, including in McHenry County, Lake County, North Chicago, Fox Lake, Antioch, Round Lake Beach, Highland Park, and Vernon Hills.
I look forward to sharing more details once the President signs the bills into law and the funding is formally secured. I’m very proud to have helped move this funding closer to the finish line and get real dollars directly into our communities.
Waukegan Township MLK Dreamers Breakfast
As they do every year, Waukegan Township hosted a truly amazing MLK Dreamers Breakfast celebrating the life of Martin Luther King and honoring local stars who are carrying on Dr. King’s legacy through their work in our community. A big shoutout to my friend, Waukegan Supervisor Marc Jones for coordinating this wonderful morning.
Highland Park MLK Day Donation Drop Off
Despite the bitter cold, I was so glad to start my MLK day in Highland Park participating in the City’s donation drop-off drive-through. Really appreciate the City for organizing this and for all the volunteers who showed up and pitched in despite the arctic-like conditions.
STEAM Scholars at Abbott
Thanks again to the wonderful people at Abbott in North Chicago for hosting the 2026 cohort STEAM Scholars. We had an inspiring day that showed just how bright the future is here in IL-10. 30 of our district's brightest students participated in a thoughtful panel discussion with Abbott's Women in STEM, toured the Global Security Headquarters, and even took part in a protein shake taste test.
We are incredibly lucky to have Abbott in our district and the thriving life-sciences eco-system of which they are a key part. Their commitment to our young people and to nurturing curiosity and passion for science truly makes a difference. And through programs like STEAM Scholars, we are hopeful to inspire our best and brightest to return home after college, to build meaningful careers, raise families, and strengthen our community.
It's always amazing to spend time with these incredible students and see these experiences through their eyes.
Discussing State of Healthcare with Local Hospital Leaders
I organized a healthcare roundtable at Advocate Condell Hospital in Libertyville with hospital leaders from Condell, Highland Park, Glenbrook, Lake Forest, and regional hospital associations. We had a candid discussion about the current state of healthcare, and the serious workforce shortages hospitals are facing.
We discussed the need to build a stronger pipeline from high school into entry-level hospital jobs. Staffing gaps are pushing more work onto physicians, which prevents them from practicing at the top of their license and puts strain on the entire healthcare system.
Hospital leaders also emphasized the importance of expanding telehealth. Limited access to care, especially emergency care, is creating real challenges.
Overall, it was a really productive meeting. I am looking forward to our follow-up conversations to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep our community safe and healthy.
Speaking with ED-RED Members
Really proud to be at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire speaking with ED-RED members, an organization that advocates for strong public education on behalf of suburban school districts in Cook and Lake Counties.
It was great to be with Senators Mary Edly-Allen and Adriane Johnson, Superintendent Karner, and so many other education leaders to talk about the state of play in public education, why this work is so near and dear to my heart, and why this moment demands that we push back forcefully against efforts by this administration to undermine the Department of Education.
HHS Funding Freeze Roundtable in Wheeling
I hosted a roundtable at the Wheeling Library to hear directly from community leaders about the real consequences of the Administration’s illegal Department of Health and Human Services funding freeze targeting blue states.
I’m grateful to everyone who joined us, including Birth to Five Lake County, the Lake County Health Department, Head Start, YWCA, Start Early, and Illinois CCAP, and who shared how this reckless action would impact the critical work they do every day to serve our communities. Budgets are already stretched thin. Providers have been asked to do more with less for far too long. Now we’re seeing this Administration try to punish our state. That is unacceptable, and I will not stand for it.
I’m encouraged that a Temporary Restraining Order is now in place and hopeful that the five-state lawsuit challenging this illegal freeze will succeed. But I won’t stop fighting until we win. We cannot let our guard down, especially as the President continues to threaten even broader funding cuts to Democratic states.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON
Staying Close to Home Even When in Washington
I hosted two wonderful telephone town halls from Washington this month, taking questions and addressing recent events. Thank you to everyone who tuned in with questions and concerns. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. These town halls are an important way for me to hear directly from you, to better understand your priorities, and to help me continue working on your behalf every day. If you missed the town halls, you can listen to them back here and here.
Standing Up for Reproductive Freedom
Crisis pregnancy centers frequently use deceptive tactics to coerce, mislead, and intimidate women. When it comes to health care in any other area for any other population, fraud is unacceptable. For these centers -- that do more harm than good -- the same level of outrage should be applied.
I spoke on the House Floor and in the Ways and Means Committee in opposition to H.R. 6945, legislation that would redirect funding intended for assistance for families in need to so-called “pregnancy centers.” These centers are not legitimate medical clinics. They spread dangerous misinformation and coerce and deceive women simply trying to seek care.
This bill is a blatant attempt to advance the Republican agenda toward a nationwide abortion ban, and it must not pass. Women deserve honest information, real medical care, and the fundamental right to make their own reproductive health decisions.
Promoting U.S. Global Leadership in Innovation and Technology
The Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on American innovation and technology leadership. I highlighted what truly powers our economy: the ingenuity of our people, including from the minds of those born here and those who come here seeking new opportunities.
Tech innovation is built on generations of creators and problem-solvers, including those who chose America as their home. To stay competitive, we must keep digital services at the center of trade policy -- they are a driving force behind U.S. economic leadership and global technological strength. Watch my remarks here.
Meeting with Venezuela’s Opposition Leader and Nobel Prize Recipient Maria Corina Machado
Maria Corina Machado is the leader of Venezuela’s democratic opposition and a steadfast advocate for democratic governance. Her unwavering commitment to a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy, and her dedication to the Venezuelan people, serve as a powerful example of courage and resolve.
I was honored to share a few words with her and to commend her continued work toward a democratic transition and a freer future for her country. Her leadership and commitment to peaceful democratic change should serve as inspiration to us all.
Supporting Iranian Protesters and Their Quest for Freedom
I stood with my colleagues to commend the bravery of the Iranian people in their fight against the brutal Islamic Republic, which has used violent and deadly force to suppress civilian voices and break up protests. I continue to be inspired by the Iranians standing up for freedom in the face of this regime after 47 years of oppression.
I am also proud to join with my colleague Yasamin Ansari, one of only two Iranian-Americans ever elected to Congress, in leading a bipartisan resolution calling for the immediate expansion of unrestricted internet access which has cut Iranians off completely from the outside world, and demand the regime cease its onslaught of violence and intimidation towards peaceful protestors. The stakes of this moment cannot be overstated: the United States and our allies must stand firmly with the Iranian people.
UPCOMING IN THE DISTRICT
Our annual Brad’s Bookworms Program encourages K-5 readers to read 10 books and discover new worlds — while also bringing the community together to help their students reach their reading goals. Learn more and submit your reading log here.
Valentines for Veterans
A small gesture like a Valentine's card is a wonderful way to let our district's veterans know they are loved and appreciated. I am pleased to once again invite you to participate in my "Valentines for Vets" program to thank those who have selflessly served our country. You can drop off or mail a card to my district office by February 11th, 2026. To schedule a drop off please call: (847) 383-4870
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY
Please visit my website to find resources available for everything from saving money on your internet bill to locating your local food bank, and various help lines.
And, as always, I’m happy to meet constituents in my Lincolnshire office to share ideas, discuss legislation, or catch up on what’s happening in our community. If you want to schedule a meeting with me, you can do so here.
IN CLOSING
It may be winter outside, but it’s never too cold for ice cream and there’s no better way to close out a meaningful MLK Day last week. Rumor has it that Martin Luther King Jr. was a fan of strawberry ice cream too.
Ice cream also holds a powerful place in civil rights history. The 1957 Royal Ice Cream Parlor sit-in in Durham, North Carolina helped spark actions that pushed our country closer to justice and equality. Honoring Dr. King means continuing the work: fighting for our district, standing up for our values, and striving every day to make the United States a more perfect union.
Stay strong, stay safe, stay healthy.
Sincerely,
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress