10TH NEWS: CONGRESS IS BACK IN SESSION – FOR NOW!
Dear Friend,
I hope you had a wonderful summer. Personally, I had a wonderful August Work Period visiting communities across the district, rehabbing my foot and ankle following surgery in the spring, and even finding some time to celebrate my birthday with family and friends. Among the summer highlights was my son getting engaged in July (we are looking forward to his wedding next summer). Thanks again to everyone who sent such nice wishes for both my birthday and our family’s happy news.
Speaking of birthdays, last month also marked the 91st anniversary of President Roosevelt signing the Social Security Act on August 14, 1935. I had a great town hall discussion with the residents at Sedgebrook in Lincolnshire where we talked about a wide range of issues and then shared a birthday cake.
August Work Period Part II
August was truly a jam-packed month back home in Illinois. I enjoyed meeting with folks from Deerfield to Johnsburg. Since my last newsletter, I had the opportunity to hear from healthcare providers, childcare providers and parents, small business owners, and many more. We talked about issues that keep hardworking families up at night – the cost of housing, healthcare, family care, groceries, and gas. I’m grateful for the time spent with everyone and will be bringing your conversations and insights back to Washington to continue working on commonsense solutions that lower your costs and ensure every single American has the opportunity to thrive and chase the American Dream.
An Uncertain September
I am back in Washington this week for what should be the start of a four-week sprint to finalize funding for Fiscal Year 2027, which starts on October 1st. Sadly, instead of rolling up their sleeves and making a final push to finish our work, the only solution that has been put forward is another temporary spending bill, known as a Continuing Resolution or CR. While I wish Congress could work together to fully fund the government, our local governments, federal agencies, and hardworking American families should not have to suffer due to Congressional chaos. I will continue working to drive down costs and ensure families in Illinois and nationwide receive the support and services they depend on.
There are also rumors that Speaker Johnson is considering canceling the remaining three weeks of session after passing the CR this week. Evidently, he’s fearful that his Republican colleagues are so out of control, he would rather send everyone home early than take on the many challenges facing our nation—including but certainly not limited to stubbornly high inflation, family farmers facing financial ruin, over-zealous data center expansion across the country, millions of Americans losing access to healthcare, and ICE and CBP officers terrorizing our communities.
Trump’s “Stupid” Trade War
The Wall Street Journal recently called President Trump’s decision to place onerous tariffs on Canada “the stupidest trade war in history.” I agree. That’s why last week, with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Peter Welch of Vermont, I introduced the BAD DEAL Act to repeal Section 338 that President Trump used to impose these tariffs and refund American families for the tariffs paid. Congress must reassert our authority over trade and grant Americans the relief they need.
Please keep reading for more about my time at home and what’s happening in Washington, DC. And read to the end for a beautiful tribute to a young teacher who lost her life to COVID in 2023.
OUT AND ABOUT IN THE 10TH
Giving Working Families a Fair Shot
A key goal of my August Work Period was to better understand the impact Trump’s economy is having on families throughout the district and how Congress can help make life better. I hosted conversations with constituents, local leaders, and advocates on the cost of living, on healthcare, on access to childcare, and more. I am grateful that so many people were not just willing but eager to meet and share their experiences, their concerns, and their ideas for lifting up our communities and our nation.
One comment from these meetings stood out for me. A young mother was talking about her work, but also the challenges she and her husband are facing raising two kids in the current economy. She wrapped up her remarks stating, “We’re fine... but it’s really hard.”
Those six words captured for me both the challenges people are facing as well as the perseverance and optimism that will get us through this moment. I fundamentally believe that every American deserves a fair shot to set themselves and their families up for success. That’s what drives me, and it is at the core of the New Dems' American Promise — the governing agenda of the coalition I am privileged to lead. If you haven’t had a chance to review it, you can follow this link to the website.
Cost-of-Living Roundtable
I was joined by a diverse group of community leaders at the Highwood Library to talk about the impact of the high cost of living on Illinois families. Our group included elected officials, service providers, and small business owners. Everyone shared how hard it is to simply make ends meet, whether it’s families paying household bills, small businesses trying to keep the doors open, or agencies working to ensure no one falls through the gaps.
I'm grateful to everyone who joined the conversation. What I heard will help shape the work I'm doing with my colleagues to find commonsense solutions that lower costs and make life easier for families across the 10th District.
Ensuring Access to Quality, Affordable Healthcare
I appreciated hearing from the leadership team at Erie Family Health Centers in Waukegan about the challenges they are facing in their work expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare. Erie Healthcare provides primary care, women's healthcare, and behavioral health services to patients from across Lake County. President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA) passed last year will cut $1 trillion ($1,000 billion) from Medicaid over the next decade, putting incredible strain on providers like Erie, as well as smaller hospitals in rural communities.
One of my priorities is reversing these misguided cuts and ensuring that every American has quality, affordable healthcare, from providers they know and trust, when and where they need it. I think an idea we can all unite around is “Better Care for All.”
Bring Health Care Closer to Home
I met with the team at Rosalind Franklin University’s Community Care Connection (CCC) mobile clinic during their visit to the Waukegan Public Library. This remarkable mobile clinic travels throughout Lake County delivering a wide variety of services to people where they live — from blood sugar screenings to strep tests — all at no-cost to the patient.
This important initiative fills an unmet need in our community, and I enjoyed learning more about their work. I will continue working to ensure everyone has access to quality, affordable care when and where they need it.
Expanding Access to Housing
Thank you to FHLBank Chicago for hosting an important roundtable discussion about expanding access to housing and economic opportunity across Illinois’ 10th District and throughout the region. In Congress, we recently passed the bipartisan 21st Century Road to Housing Act and saw it become law. This is a critical step toward making homeownership a reality for more Americans while driving down costs.
I will continue working with local partners on commonsense solutions that support economic growth and long-term stability that allows our communities to thrive!
Affordable Housing for Seniors
I enjoyed touring the recently opened Deerfield Supportive Living. Communities like this allow seniors to age in place while receiving the care and support they need, and they would not be possible without the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. I was proud to advocate for this tax credit in Congress and then see the impact come to life here at home. I will continue to support efforts to expand access to quality, affordable housing for our seniors.
Local Response to the Cost-of-Living Crisis
Ensuring Access to Nutritious Food
I spent time at the Northbrook Farmers Market – recognized as one of the top 15 markets in Chicagoland! I enjoyed hearing directly from vendors and patrons, learning more about the produce and products available each week throughout the summer.
This summer, we were glad to work with Farmers Market President Dale Duda to ensure the market could continue to accept SNAP benefits that allow participants to double their spending power for fresh fruits and vegetables from local growers.
As cuts to SNAP continue to impact Illinois families, I am working to restore SNAP funding and ensure everyone has access to the nutritious food they deserve.
Ensuring People Can Get to Work
I had a productive meeting with Waukegan Township Supervisor Marc Jones to discuss how we can work together to address the cost-of-living crisis. Everywhere families look, costs are rising. From healthcare and housing to groceries and gas, it’s getting harder to pay the bills each month.
One thing Marc highlighted was the Township’s help for community members struggling to afford the gas necessary to get to work. Imagine someone traveling 30 miles to work each way, 60 miles a day, 300 miles a week. It’s easy to imagine someone spending more than $60/week on gas, while also spending more on all the other essentials of life.
Immigration Roundtable
I convened a roundtable at the College of Lake County’s Waukegan campus with local leaders and immigration advocates to discuss immigration enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policies and processes, and how Democrats can hold the Administration accountable for the chaotic and dehumanizing environment they have created at Homeland Security. (I hosted a similar conversation at CLC last year as well.)
I will continue working to keep our communities safe and ensure Dreamers and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services applicants are not penalized for doing everything they can to follow the rule of law and navigate the U.S.’s immigration system.
Protecting Women’s Access to Healthcare and Reproductive Freedom
The team at Planned Parenthood of Illinois’ Waukegan health center was incredibly gracious during my visit to learn more about the vital services they provide to women and their families in Illinois, and increasingly from Wisconsin. It’s imperative we ensure access to comprehensive healthcare for all women, including reproductive healthcare.
Standing Against Hate
I was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with faith leaders and community members at Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook after an antisemitic incident occurred on the property last month. It was a much appreciated reminder that good people must remain united in the fight against bigotry and hate, including antisemitism.
More than 60% of the 2,408 religion-based hate crimes reported nationwide in 2025 targeted Jews or Jewish institutions. (Source: ADL Audit of Antisemitic Incidents 2025)
Supporting Science and Medical Research
We had a robust conversation at the Winnetka Cultural Arts Center talking about the Trump Administration’s attacks on science and attempts to drastically cut funding for the National Institutes of Health. I was joined by physicians, researchers, medical device experts, advocates, and patients to hear their stories and perspectives.
Standing Tall Against Parkinson’s
I was grateful to join more than twenty people living with Parkinson’s for an in-depth, and sometimes emotional, conversation about their experiences and what more Congress can do to improve lives and advance research. I am proud to strongly support access to research and treatment for Parkinson's, as well as other conditions that affect millions of our family, friends, and neighbors.
Supporting Individuals with Substance Use Disorder
I appreciated the chance to meet with the team behind Lighthouse Residences, a men’s sober living home that has helped 25 men achieve long‑term sobriety and rebuild their lives.
I heard from founder Skip Hughes about their mission and plans to expand. This important work reflects the importance of compassion, dignity, and community for individuals in recovery. I will continue to work with local organizations to ensure more Americans have access to the care and support they need to address substance use disorder.
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY
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.
My website offers a range of resources designed to help constituents navigate everyday challenges. So far this year, my office has helped constituents save $4,793,910 including $132,348 just this week alone through casework and assistance efforts.
My office is here for you. If you have an issue with a federal agency, please reach out to my office at (847) 383-4870, and we will be happy to assist you.
Since January of this year, my office has helped resolve the following:
146 Social Security cases with $814,535 recovered
137 IRS cases with $3,436,178 recovered
51 Veterans Affairs cases with $348,520 recovered
30 Passport cases
18 DACA applications
IN CLOSING
Kaitlin Renee Schaumberger was a dedicated second grade teacher at Oakdale Elementary School in Waukegan when she tragically died at age 24 from COVID in 2023. In her memory and in recognition of her love for both young people and cooking, Kaitlin’s family, with broad community support, created Kaitlin’s Kitchen at John Lewis Middle School in Waukegan. Kaitlin’s Kitchen supports her belief in the benefit of hands-on learning. I was glad to tour this new space and learn about the fun experiences students and community members will be able to have. May Kaitlin’s memory forever be a blessing.
Stay strong, stay safe, stay healthy.
Sincerely,