10th News: Hard Work Pays Off

Today marks one month since the heinous shooting at the Highland Park Independence Day parade. We carry the memories of Katherine Goldstein, Irina and Kevin McCarthy, Stephen Straus, Jacki Sundheim, Nicolas Toledo and Eduardo Uvaldo in our hearts. We are lifted by news of the continued recovery of the dozens wounded, including Cooper Roberts. And we are thankful for the continued outpouring of love, care and support for friends, neighboring communities, indeed the entire nation. Highland Park is healing, the community is united, strong and resolved to honor the victims with action.

Speaking of action, with the help of people from Highland Park and around our district coming to the Capitol to advocate for legislation reducing the chance of another deranged young man buying a weapon of war and devastating his community, last week Congress passed the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 for the first time in almost 20 years. It's now up to the Senate. You can see my speech before the vote here.

Before finishing the summer legislative session, Congress also passed a number of other important bills, including the CHIPS and Science Act that will invest more than $52 billion to lower the cost of computer chips for American consumers while laying the foundation to rebuild America's semiconductor manufacturing. We also passed bills protecting rights threatened by the Supreme Court's recent Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, specifically the Right to Contraception Act and the Respect for MarriageAct. As well, during the month of July, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act—including my amendment to monitor and report to Congress on extremist activities in the military—and 6 various government funding bills for fiscal year 2023.

Particularly noteworthy in the spending bills is that all 15 of the Community Project Funding Requests I submitted on behalf of the Tenth District were included in the package. You can read more about these projects here.

Last but for sure not least, we continue to focus on addressing the challenges of inflation while working to strengthen our economy for the future. As I've noted before, in June I helped craft and release the New Democrat Coalition's Inflation Action Plan. Since then Congress has passed the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act and the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, as well as the above mentioned CHIPS act. Of course, the big news was the announcement of the Inflation Reduction Act which is currently being debated in the Senate and will hopefully come to the House in the weeks ahead.

I am now working back in the district meeting with constituents and visiting communities. Already this week I've toured the Business Recovery Center set up by the Small Business Administration (SBA), recognized seven North Chicago Police officers for their work capturing the Highland Park shooter, joined North Chicago, Vernon Hills and Highland Park in celebrating National Night Out with their local police departments, and hosted a town hall in Gurnee. I am looking forward to spending much more time this month out and about and hopefully we will have the chance to connect.

Please keep reading for more about what's happening in our district and in Washington.

AROUND THE DISTRICT

SBA Sets Up Business Recovery Center In Highland Park

In D.C. I have been working to ensure that Highland Park is taken care of after experiencing the unimaginable. I was therefore very happy to join SBA Region 5 Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman and Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering on Monday at the First Bank of Highland Park where the SBA has set up an emergency Business Recovery Center (BRC). People at the center are available to help local businesses and nonprofit organizations, as well as from the surrounding areas, adversely affected by the aftermath of the Independence Day shooting. Not only was the immediate area of the shooting closed for almost a week, but the social and emotional impact of that day will reverberate for a long time.

The SBA is offering low interest, long term Emergency Impact Disaster Loans (EIDL), up to $2 million for any business or nonprofit organization suffering a lost from the tragedy. The program will remain open through April of next year, but this week, until August 11, SBA staff are available at the BRC. And beyond the SBA, groups like SCORE can assist you with completing any necessary paperwork. If you are interested in learning more about applying for a loan, click here. Or check the resources section of this newsletter.

You can watch my remarks with the Mayor and SBA administrator here.

Congress on Your Corner Town Hall in Gurnee

On Tuesday, I hosted a Congress on Your Corner Town Hall where we discussed a wide range of issues, from the environment to gun violence to the Inflation Reduction Act. It was a great conversation with thoughtful questions and good sharing of diverse opinions. I will be hosting several more town halls this month, including Saturday, July 13 in Northbrook, and later this month in Grayslake and Fox Lake. I hope you will take the time to come out and join one and, you can always check my events page for the latest information on my events and registration.

You can also watch Tuesday's call by clicking here.

Telephone Town Halls

If you can't join us in person, maybe you can listen in on one of my telephone town halls. Last Wednesday, I hosted the second call of the summer and it was also very well subscribed. While it's always nice to see peoples faces, these telephone meetings are a close second. If you are interested in joining a future call, please call our office at 847-383-4870 and we will sign you up.

Also, if you missed last week's call you can listen to it here.

National Night Out

Tuesday was National Night Out; a national event where local police departments join with their communities to raise awareness and build relationships. I joined North Chicago, Vernon Hills, and Highland Park for their celebrations. Our police work hard every day, putting their lives to keep us safe.

Jewish United Fund's Youth Leadership

Last week, I had the honored to join Jewish Federation's Young Leadership Division, a group of dedicated young leaders working to build a stronger community at home and the around the world. I had the opportunity to share with them my work in Congress to combat antisemitism. Besides making me feel old knowing that I was in their seats 30 years ago, it was wonderful to see the next generation continuing to believe in service to the community.

AJC Latino - Jewish Relations Panel

Last month I was pleased to join the American Jewish Committee and the Consul General of Mexico in Chicago to discuss Jewish - Latino relations from a local perspective. We touched on how the strong presence of our two communities strengthens our district and how the two communities remained united during and after the tragedy in Highland Park. I'm proud to be able to represent everyone in our diverse and vibrant district at home and in Washington.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON

Passage of the CHIPS Act

One of the key solutions to combat the inflation Americans are experiencing is alleviating our shortage of semiconductors - which power everything from smartphones to cars – and powering American economic independence from China. Last week, every Democrat and 25 House Republicans came together to pass the CHIPS and Science Act to address our supply chain issues and bolster American manufacturing of semiconductors. This legislation will strengthen our economy, create good paying American jobs, and increase U.S. global competitiveness. For years, I have advocated that supply chain resiliency is a critical issue for Congress to address. Moving the CHIPS and Science Act to the President's desk is great news for Americans looking for bipartisan, common sense progress in D.C. this fall.

The CHIPS and Science Act will achieve the following:

• Lowers costs for American consumers – by making more critical semiconductor components in America, helping end the shortage of chips that have driven up the price of everything from cars to consumer goods.
• Creates 100,000 new good-paying jobs – creates strong Davis-Bacon jobs building hi-tech manufacturing facilities here in America.
• Ends our dangerous dependence on foreign manufacturers – bringing critical semiconductor manufacturing back to America instead of overseas where it can be threatened by our adversaries.
• Turbocharges American R&D – powering America's preeminence in both basic research and next-generation technologies and ensuring that the technologies of the future are made here in America.
• Diversifies and expands the innovation workforce – broadening the pool of brainpower and talent so that we are embracing the full potential from all our communities, helping to diversify our STEM workforce, and advancing regional technology hubs to ensure communities across the country can help in American research and development.

This legislation also includes strong guardrails. The CHIPS and Science Act will:

• Prohibit companies from using chips funding for stock buybacks or dividend payments.
• Bar funding recipients from expanding semiconductor manufacturing in countries of concern.
• Require strong oversight and tight Congressional control over the use of federal funds.

Having President Biden sign this bill into law will show Americans that we can continue to take bipartisan, common-sense actions in Washington for the benefit of everyone in this county.

You can learn more about the bill here.

Inflation Reduction Act

Congress is now working on passing the Inflation Reduction Act, landmark legislation that will lower the deficit, lower the cost of health care, and lower the cost of energy. It's built specifically to address the high prices that Americans across the country are experiencing. I happy to share with everyone that my Sustainable Skies Act was included in the Inflation Reduction Act. This legislation represents the only way to effectively decarbonize aviation, which is 2% of the global emissions stack. I'm proud this legislation earned the support of both Illinois-based companies, like United and LanzaJet, and climate change champions, like the Environmental Defense Fund and the World Wildlife Fund. This bill is a big win for the climate!

You can read more about it here.

32 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act

In 1990 President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. Now, we celebrate our progress toward ensuring fairness, justice, and compassion for all Americans. I look forward to the many more actions we will take in the future that will improve the lives of Americans everywhere.

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY

Assistance for Businesses Impacted by the Highland Park Parade Shooting

The SBA is offering disaster assistance in the form of low interest loans to businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners located in regions affected by declared disasters. SBA also provides eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations with working capital to help overcome the economic injury of a declared disaster.

My team will be happy to provide information and assistance to those who submit applications to the SBA. Don't hesitate to contact my office at (847) 383-4870 or contact my office online for help finding the status of an application or troubleshooting issues in the approval process.

Where to Apply:

In Person at the Business Recovery Center (BRC):

First Bank of Highland Park
1835 First Street
Highland Park, IL 60035

OPENS: Thursday, July 28 at 11 a.m.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed: Sunday
CLOSES PERMANENTLY: Thursday, Aug. 11 at 4 p.m.

Online at: Click Here

Contact Information:

Email: DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov

For questions or assistance, call (800) 659 2955, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. 7 p.m.

Credit Requirements:

Credit History – Applicants must have a credit history acceptable to SBA.
Repayment – Applicants must show the ability to repay the loan
Collateral – Collateral is required for all EIDL loans over $25,000. SBA takes real estate as collateral when it is available. SBA will not decline a loan for lack of collateral, but SBA will require the borrower to pledge collateral that is available.

9-8-8 Suicide Prevention Lifeline is Live

After becoming law with bipartisan support in 2020, we now have a new nationwide number to call for suicide prevention, mental health and substance use crises: 9-8-8. You can call or text to be connected to trained crisis counselors who can help you or someone you know.

How will 9-8-8 and 911 work together?

Law enforcement officers agree that they're often not the best equipped to respond to a mental health emergency. In most cases, a call to 988 doesn't involve law enforcement – if available, a mobile crisis team may be dispatched to help an individual in need of further support.

9-8-8 for Veterans

If you a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one. You're not alone — the Veterans Crisis Line is here for you. You don't have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to call 9-8-8 for free and confidential support through the Veterans Crisis Line, 24/7, 365 days a year.

Maternal Mental Health Hotline

The Health Resources and Services Administration has launched a new National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. This new service provides 24/7, free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy.

Callers can expect to receive:

• Phone or text access to professional counselors
• Real-time support and information
• Response within a few minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Resources
• Referrals to local and telehealth providers and support groups
• Culturally sensitive support
• Counselors who speak English and Spanish
• Interpreter services in 60 languages

For additional information visit the HRSA website.

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.

Introducing Ride Lake County!

Lake County, Pace Suburban Bus, and the Lake County Coordinated Transportation Services Committee (LCCTSC) came together with members of the community to launch Ride Lake County, a borderless, countywide paratransit service that provides transportation to anywhere in Lake County for seniors ages 60+ and people with disabilities.

For additional information about Ride Lake County, visit their website.

Uniting for Ukraine

Applications are open for a new streamlined process for Ukrainians seeking asylum in the United States. This represents a key step toward fulfilling the President's commitment to welcome Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Uniting for Ukraine builds on the robust humanitarian assistance the U.S. government is providing as we complement the generosity of countries throughout Europe that are hosting millions of Ukrainian citizens and others who have been displaced. You can learn more here.

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 Summer Break. Passports last for 5 or 10 years depending on what age you were issued your first passport.

In Closing –

Summer seems to be sprinting to a finish and the school year is right around the corner. Wishing everyone a wonderful wrap up to your Summer. I hope to see you around, whether at a festival, a town hall, or even just standing in line for an ice cream cone.

Best,

Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress