10TH NEWS: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Tradition sets the first Thanksgiving in 1621 when the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony celebrated their successful fall harvest with the Wampanoag people. George Washington proclaimed the first national observance in 1789, and it only became an official holiday in 1861 when Abraham Lincoln established a National Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday in November. Franklin Roosevelt moved the observance to the fourth Thursday in 1941 to give more time for Christmas shopping (seriously, that was the reason).
What I love most about Thanksgiving is that it unites the entire country in expressing gratitude for all the blessings bestowed on our great nation. We are truly lucky to live in the United States.
Yet for all our national riches, what I think has made us a truly great country is the spirit of the American people who, whether they were born here or moved here from the far corners of the globe, have sought to create that “more perfect union” that uplifts all our people and is an example for the rest of the world. It’s the frontier spirit that built our nation, that invented the first airplane, that created the first computer chips, that put the Apollo astronauts on the moon, and that continue to lead the world in innovation and commitment to making life better.
Personally, I have much for which to be grateful—especially the love and support of my family, friends and community. I am also grateful for the privilege of serving you, the people I represent. I so appreciate your trust in me and willingness to share your stories, ideas, and opinions. Thank you for the opportunity to listen and learn from you, and to work for you every day.
Wishing you and your families a happy Thanksgiving, I hope it is a holiday full of health, happiness, and good food. (Watch here as some of my New Democrat Coalition colleagues share their favorite side dishes.)
Keep reading for more news about what is happening at home and in Washington.
Veterans Recognition - Special Edition
On Monday I kicked off Thanksgiving week with my annual Veterans Event which we had to reschedule from Veterans Day when I had to rush back to Washington for the vote to end the shutdown.
Every year we recognize the service and sacrifice of the many veterans from across our community. This year, however, we added a special recognition with the final “Pinning Ceremony” that was part of the national 50th anniversary commemoration. I was honored to recognize more than 40 Vietnam veterans, and present those in attendance with a Vietnam Veteran lapel pin. To these, and the nearly 500 other Vietnam-era veterans from across our district, I say “welcome home.”
Special thanks to Captain Steve Yargosz, Commanding Officer of Naval Station Great Lakes; Andrew Tangen, Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County; and Lalena Zoe Magnetta, veteran and Grayslake Village Trustee. Your words reminded all of us of what service truly means.
Last Week in Washington
Congress finally returned to regular business last week as Speaker Johnson ordered an extended five-day voting session after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. I wish I could tell you that Speaker Johnson used the extra time to catch up on the backlog of important work piled up while he kept his Republican colleagues home for effectively a two-month paid vacation. I wish I could tell you we considered meaningful legislation that brings down costs, prevents healthcare premiums from skyrocketing, and improves the lives of hardworking Americans. Unfortunately, that was not the case. As Ernest Hemingway would say, “never mistake motion for action.”
Instead, what the American people saw on the House Floor was a whole lot of showboating and grandstanding. Instead of voting to extend the tax credits that help 24 million Americans afford their healthcare or to help families cope with rising costs caused by President Trump’s tariff taxes, we voted on multiple partisan and unenforceable censure resolutions that do nothing to improve the lives of Americans. Tune in to the latest episode of Mailbag, where I talk more about what Congress was up to (or not up to) last week.
Epstein Victims Finally Get a Vote
Congress did advance one important piece of legislation last week – a bill to release the Epstein Files, a move that President Trump and Congressional Republicans had long opposed. This effort was important to help deliver justice for the victims abused by Jeffrey Epstein and his cronies and to hold the perpetrators to account. The House finally voted to release the files in a near-unanimous vote of 426 to 1. The Senate then almost immediately passed the resolution unanimously and the President, despite months of protestations and efforts to block the legislation from ever getting a vote, quietly signed the bill into law. Now, the Department of Justice has 30 days to release the files. You can read my statement on the vote to release the Epstein files above.
Following the vote, I stood alongside my colleagues and the Democratic Women’s Caucus in a candlelight vigil to honor the brave survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. Their strength and their stories must guide us. We owe it to them -- and to all survivors of sexual assault -- to keep fighting for truth, for accountability, and for the justice they deserve.
Celebrating Freedom with Former Hostages Released from Gaza
I joined with colleagues from the House Abraham Accords Caucus and the Congressional Task Force on American Hostages and Americans Wrongfully Detained Abroad to honor some the former hostages held by Hamas. It was an emotional night, and I am so grateful that, instead of holding posters and demanding their release, we can see their smiling faces in person and smile along with them.
Connecting with Constituents
Even on the busiest days in Washington, I always try to make time to connect with the people I serve. I called constituents all around the district who had written to me with thoughts and questions about the recent government shutdown, rising healthcare costs, and cuts to food assistance programs.
Out and About in the 10th
Sen. Johnson’s 30 Wonders of the 30th District
Congratulations to Senator Adriane Johnson on an incredible 30 Wonders of the 30th District celebration in Vernon Hills. It was an honor to join her in recognizing more than 30 outstanding businesses and organizations that truly represent the full strength of our district’s economic engine — from micro-enterprises and family-owned small businesses to midsize employers, large companies, nonprofits, and industrial innovators.
These honorees are the cornerstones of our local economy. They create jobs, invest in their people, and help keep our communities vibrant and growing. I’m grateful for the work they do every day, and I’ll continue working with my colleagues to make sure we are creating the conditions for these businesses to succeed and thrive.
Military Service Academy Interviews
One of my favorite afternoons every year is when we hold our military service academy interviews. This year we interviewed 30 remarkable students from across the 10th District, including McHenry, Cook, and Lake Counties. It was an inspiring group of young people, each demonstrating the character, commitment, and leadership that our nation depends on.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to our service academy panelists, made up of active and former military officers who graduated from our nation’s academies. Their time, expertise, and dedication help ensure a nomination process that is rigorous, fair, and truly well earned.
Rust-Oleum in Vernon Hills
Rust-Oleum is a household name that is headquartered right here in Vernon Hills. Companies like this are major components of our communities’ economic engine, and challenges such as unpredictable tariff policies don’t help. Thanks, Rust-Oleum, for welcoming me!
Stopping Antisemitism Here at Home
I joined a panel in Glencoe, hosted by JACPAC and Am Shalom, to address the alarming rise in antisemitism and to discuss the concrete steps our communities can take to push back. I was honored to be a featured panelist alongside Michael Simon from Northwestern Hillel, Rebecca Weininger from ADL Midwest, and Congresswoman Haley Stevens, with the conversation moderated by Oren Jacobson of Project Shema.
The symposium focused on equipping our community with tools for advocacy and education during a moment when vigilance and solidarity are essential.
Grateful to Hollis Wein of JAC for her leadership and to everyone who helped make this important conversation possible.
Pancakes with Wheeling Helping Hands
It was great to be in Wheeling for their annual pancake breakfast, saying hello to friends and learning about the great work Wheeling Helping Hands’ young leaders are doing for their community.
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. This year my office has saved constituents nearly $6 million!
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.
Our casework team is incredible, and I wanted to highlight a recent story from Jessica in Winnetka as a testament to how their hard work and determination help constituents all around the district:
“I contacted Brad Schneider’s office after multiple back-and-forths with IRS over a payment that I had sent in for our company and sent proof from our bank that they had deposited. The IRS kept insisting that they did not have a record of the payment. I received multiple notifications from the IRS that they needed the payment and would attempt to levy to get the payment plus interest. My accountant suggested I reach out to Brad Schneider’s office and without them I don't think this would have ever been resolved. Our company faced a significant issue with the IRS regarding the payment we made. Despite sending proof from our bank that the payment was deposited, the IRS repeatedly insisted they had no record of it. This led to multiple notifications demanding payment, threatening levy, and accruing interest. On the advice of my accountant, I contacted Brad Schneider’s office. I strongly believe that without their intervention, this pain-staking issue would never have been resolved.”
COMING UP IN IL-10
Holiday Cards for Heroes
Spread holiday cheer with service members at Naval Station Great Lakes by writing them holiday cards for our 10th annual "Holiday Cards For Heroes" program! To show our gratitude to servicemembers who may be far from their families this season, please drop off or mail a handwritten card at my Lincolnshire District Office by Tuesday, December 16th. Call us at 847-383-4870 to schedule a drop off.
IN CLOSING
I hope everyone has a restful Thanksgiving full of laughs, good food, and loved ones.
Stay strong, stay safe, stay healthy.
Sincerely,
Bradley S. Schneider