10th News: Flood Management (and more) Funded!
Here at home, and around the world, we all still watch with horror as Vladimir Putin continues his unprovoked, genocidal assault on Ukraine. Over the weekend I attended two local vigils in solitarily with Ukraine, and everywhere I went, people asked me how we can help the Ukrainian people resist the Russian onslaught. Congress and the Biden Administration have been working nonstop to provide assistance to Ukrainian defense forces and humanitarian support to the Ukrainian people. Tomorrow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the full U.S. Congress in a video session.
Meanwhile in other news from Washington, last week Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Funding bill. The bipartisan legislation provides the annual funding for everything from our military to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and also includes emergency funding for security and humanitarian needs for Ukraine. The investments made through this bill will lower costs for families, invest in our communities, and help us continue our efforts to beat back the pandemic to keep our economy strong and our schools open.
Importantly, the bipartisan bill includes funding for high-priority community projects in the Tenth District for which I have been actively advocating since last summer. My team and I carefully identified these projects, which reflect immediate needs and represent practical solutions to some of the district's most pressing challenges. I am very grateful for the input and guidance from our local leaders in helping identify and advocate for these important initiatives. More information on the specific projects is below.
I was also pleased, and proud, that the House and Senate passed my bill supporting the Abraham Accords—the normalization agreements the United States help facilitate two years about between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. My legislation, The Israel Relations Normalization Act, will help both deepen the ties between the initial signatories to the accords, and promote expansion to new partners in the Arab world and beyond. I look forward to the President signing the bill soon.
Looking ahead, this week the House will continue to work on ways to pressure Putin to end his attack on Ukraine, including voting on legislation to revoke permanent normal trade relations with Russia. I expect that this legislation will receive a strong, bipartisan vote.
Finally, please save the date for two upcoming events.
Please join me on Saturday, March 26th for an in person Congress on Your Corner town hall in Round Lake Beach. We will be offering simultaneous interpretation for Spanish speakers. Register at schneider.house.gov/events.
I also invite you participate in a special Women's History Month Round Table Discussion at the Northbrook Library about how COVID-19 has specifically affected women. The panel will be on Monday, March 21st from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm at the Northbrook Public Library. I will be joined by SBA Regional Administrator Geri Algipay, Libertyville Mayor Donna Johnson, Social Worker Karin Peterson and business owner Sherri Cawn. Learn more and register at schneider.house.gov/events.
Keep reading for more information about what's happening in Washington and around the district.
Around the District
All 10 Schneider Community Project Requests Funded
As part of the omnibus legislation passed by Congress last week, several high priority projects across Illinois' Tenth District will receive support to move forward—helping make our communities stronger. These projects run the gamut from providing struggling families with food, to training workers for better-paying jobs, to preventing flooding in our streets and homes. I look forward to President Biden signing the bill into law so this funding can quickly get to work transforming our communities and generating economic growth.
Among the project receiving funds from the Omnibus bill are the following investments in our district:
- Expanding the distribution center for the Northern Illinois Food Bank
- Creating a new manufacturing workforce development initiative at College of Lake County in Grayslake
- Doubling the existing behavioral health services capacity at Lake County Health Department & Community Health Center in Waukegan
- Establishing a pedestrian mall on Park Street in Mundelein to promote economic development in a historically underserved area of town
- Building a sidewalk along a busy section of Wolf Road in Prospect Heights, safely connecting 6000 residents to their local Metra station
- Developing the Lake County Combined Emergency Operations Center
- Completing a Stormwater Management Project in Zion to prevent street flooding
- Restoring the Dady Slough Flood Storage and Wetland on the border of Park City and Waukegan to manage stormwater, prevent flooding, AND provide a living outdoor class room for local students
- Redirecting the North Chicago Storm Sewer to manage stormwater and prevent flooding along Route 41 and adjacent communities
- Advancing the Waukegan Park District's Carnegie Library Project that is a key part of the ongoing revitalization of downtown Waukegan
Standing with Ukraine in the Tenth District
I was moved to join a candlelight vigil this weekend in Highland Park in support of the people of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin's attack on Russia is a humanitarian crisis, and we must do whatever we can to help the people of Ukraine. Read more about the vigil from the Lake County News Sun.
What's Happening in Washington
Priorities Included in Bipartisan Funding Bill, Including Israel Normalizations Act
Last week the House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Omnibus Funding Bill. The bill includes emergency funding for security and humanitarian needs for Ukraine, funding that will lower costs for families, and major bipartisan legislation. All ten of the Congressman's Community Project Funding (CPF) submissions were included in the legislation, as well as the Israel Relations Normalization Act.
This bill makes clear this Congress's values: lowering costs for American families, protecting democracy in Ukraine against Russia, and promoting peace through normalization in the Middle East. I am hopeful that we will quickly see this funding signed into law and we can get to work transforming our communities and generating economic growth.
Meeting with Community Organizations
Also, as things begin to open up, including at the Capitol, I had a number of meetings, both in person and virtual. I was pleased to talk with local leaders from the Illinois Credit Union League, the National Convenience Store association, the Illinois Municipal Utilities Association, Americas Shortline and Regional Railroad Association, and Jewish United Fund/JFNA.
I was particularly excited to meet with Sydney Kirages, who not only is a member of this year's STEAM Scholars program, but she is also one of the only 14 people selected for the American Battlefield Trust Youth Leadership Team. It was wonderful learning about the Trust's work protect our historical battle field sites for future generations.
COVID-19 Update
Governor JB Pritzker has lifted the mandatory mask mandate in most public settings in Illinois. Masks are still required in spaces like public transportation, airports and congregant living facilities. Masks are now optional in schools. While this is good news and a sign of how far we've come in beating back the virus, we must remain vigilant by getting vaccinated and testing frequently to keep case numbers low.
- We are moving forward safely: Over 200 million people are vaccinated and 2 out of 3 eligible Americans are boosted. As a result, nearly 70% of Americans now live in an area where the CDC no longer recommends universal masking.
- Every American is now eligible to receive free, at-home COVID-19 tests. Eligible Americans can order up to 4 free tests at covidtests.gov. Tests are expected to ship in 7-12 days.
- The vaccine is safe and effective. If you are unvaccinated, you are 17 times more likely to be hospitalized and 20 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those who are vaccinated.
- All Americans ages 12 and up are eligible for COVID-19 booster shots. As long as you are six months past your last Pfizer or Moderna shot, you can now get a booster by visiting your local doctor's office or pharmacy.
- The vaccine is saving lives. So again, tell your loved ones, your friends, neighbors and coworkers, join the fight and get your shot!
Resources
Tax Season Runs from January 24 - April 18, 2022
This year's tax filing season will open on January 24 and close on April 18 – starting earlier than last year in order to give Americans more time to file their returns. The IRS recommends filing your taxes electronically as soon as possible and opting for direct deposit. You can prepare your federal income tax returns online for free using the IRS partner site, Free File.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in IRS office closures and staffing issues, which are expected to continue into the 2022 season. As a result, the IRS is still processing a significant backlog of 2020 returns as we begin this next filing season. You can still file your 2021 returns even if you are waiting for 2020 returns to be processed.
Unincorporated Residents Eligible for Flood Insurance Premium Discounts
If you live in unincorporated Lake County, you may be eligible for up to $297 in savings per year on flood insurance policies. Through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Community Rating System (CRS) program, residents within unincorporated Lake County – who meet certain requirements – are eligible for up to 20 percent savings on flood insurance premiums
Contact your insurance agent for coverage information, pricing and CRS flood insurance discount information. You can also visit Lake County's flood coverage website for more information.
LONG WAITS FOR PASSPORTS: Look Before You Book
As more and more people get vaccinated, travel is starting to pick back up again. My office has received a major uptick in calls asking to expedite passport renewals lately. If you plan to travel internationally, remember to check the expiration date on your passport before you book your trip. It is taking much longer than normal to renew a passport, so make sure to plan ahead.
Check the passport website to get an idea of processing time -- expedited processing is now taking 5-7 weeks from submission to receipt, with regular processing taking 8-11 weeks.
At this point, expedited exceptions are only being made in case of emergency travel. In other words, apply now for that passport you will need for the trip you might take over Winter Break. Passports last for 5 or 10 years depending on what age you were issued your first passport.
Lake County: COVID Rental Assistance Programs Open Now
Lake County is offering rental assistance programs for those who face financial hardships related to COVID-19 and are struggling to pay rent. The deadline to apply for rental assistance in Cook County has passed.
Learn more and apply here for the Lake County Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
In Closing
Even during dark times of war, there are countless signs of the better angels of humanity and reason to hope. If you haven't seen it already, this welcome of Ukrainian students at a school in Italy will for sure make you smile (and maybe cry).
I also read another story in Newsweek about a Ukrainian family that hid a young girl during the Holocaust. That young girl moved to Israel after World War II, and now her grandchildren are are helping that same Ukrainian family resettle and start anew after fleeing Putin's War. You never know how selfless acts of kindness and humanity may come around in the end. Or put another way, in the end we are all one family.
Onward,
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress