10TH NEWS: HELLO, JUNE
As we welcome June, I hope everyone had a nice May and was able to enjoy the beautiful weather this past weekend (unless you were waiting for rain for your garden or fields!)
June is Pride Month, honoring our LGBTQ+ community—family, friends, and neighbors. June was selected for Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall uprising in New York City in June 1969, a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. In the years that followed, annual marches and celebrations grew into Pride Month. I am most proud to see so many of our local communities hosting events marking Pride Month and continuing to advocate for dignity, inclusion, and civil rights for all.
I was honored to spend part of this past Sunday with some of the 13 remarkable young men and women who will be heading off later this month to begin their military careers at one of our service academies. Congratulations to each of these students and their families.
United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO)
- Noah Colson, Zion-Benton Township High School
- Oliver Davies, Grayslake North High School
- Christian Slago, Libertyville High School
United States Military Academy (West Point, NY)
- Kael Burger, Stevenson High School
- Thomas Ghislandi, Loyola Academy
- Schuyler Lee, Vernon Hills High School
- Rhett VanBoening, Libertyville High School
- Gavin Vradenburg, Loyola Academy
- Maxim Djits, Glenbrook North High School
United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD)
- James Elliot, Lake Forest High School
- Connor Haydysch, Grayslake Central High School
- Avery Maddux, Libertyville High School
- Myles Wagner, McHenry Community High School
Speaking of fields and drought, I had a highly informative visit with folks from the McHenry County Farm Bureau at the Hogan Farm near Wonder Lake. We shared a great meal and discussed how the planting season is progressing. While there, we spoke about the recent passage of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act (H.R. 1346) that would allow for year-round sales of E15 gasoline (containing 15% ethanol), which I was proud to support. We also discussed ways to support young people entering agriculture while preserving family farms.
A big thank you to everyone for the warm welcome and all our farmers and their families for the hard work they put into feeding America and powering our economy.
Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacies
Back in Washington, I was proud to move forward legislation on which I have been working my colleague Adrian Smith (R-NE) for quite some time. The Main Street Pharmacy Access Act — formerly known as the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacies Act (ECAPS) — passed the House Committee on Ways and Means during a full markup and will now head to the full House for a vote.
This legislation recognizes pharmacists as essential frontline providers and strengthens access to timely, everyday care. The bill would create a pathway for pharmacists to test, treat, and vaccinate against illnesses including the flu, RSV, strep throat, and COVID-19 in states where they are already licensed to provide these services. By expanding access to care through trusted community pharmacies, we can help ensure patients receive the treatment they need when and where they need it most. Watch my remarks here.
Chatting with On NOTUS (News of the United States)
I enjoy speaking with Daniella Dias of NOTUS about the New Democrat Coalition’s Governing Agenda and our New American Promise, a commitment to restoring Americans’ confidence in government by putting the priorities of working families first. We discussed the need to lower everyday costs for families, from groceries and childcare to housing and energy, while also tackling major challenges like immigration, healthcare, and affordability. Americans deserve a government that delivers real results and works for the people it serves. You can see the full episode here.
Keep reading to learn more about what is happening in Washington and around the district.
HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:
As we enter a new legislative week and prepare to possibly vote on a War Powers Resolution that could help protect our troops, we must remember that Congress has a constitutional duty to provide oversight of military action. The power to declare war belongs to Congress, not the President. We cannot allow any Administration to draw the United States into another prolonged conflict without a clear strategy and an achievable end goal. Our service members deserve leadership that is accountable, deliberate, and committed to exhausting every avenue before placing them in harm's way. Assuming that we have the chance to vote on Mr. Meeks’s War Powers Resolution, I will most definitely support it.
Investing in All Americans
The Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee held a hearing on the impacts of the Republicans One Big Bill (H.R. 1) that cuts $1 trillion from Medicaid while adding a projected $4.5 trillion to our debt. $4,500,000,000.000 is a lot of money! Money that could be spent on the needs of communities, working families, children, and seniors. Instead, the vast majority of that money was given to the most fortunate, leaving those who need the most help with the least.
My frustration is immense. If Republicans wanted to actually make a difference, their tax bill would have invested in all Americans and their families for the future, not heap $4.5 trillion in debt onto the next generation. Watch my remarks from last week’s Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax here.
Ensuring Access to Pharmacies
For many communities, especially in rural and underserved areas, pharmacists are often the most accessible health care providers available. That is why I am pleased that the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act -- formerly known as the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacies Act (ECAPS) -- passed the House Committee on Ways and Means during a full markup.
Celebrating Jewish American History
May was Jewish American Heritage Month. Jewish Americans have helped shape the story of our nation from its very beginning through leadership, service, innovation, and an enduring commitment to justice and community. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Jewish Caucus, I was honored to co-host the Jewish American Heritage Month Reception to celebrate those contributions as well as this year’s theme highlighting the legacy of Jewish American service and leadership.
OUT AND ABOUT IN THE 10TH
As I have in years past, I marked Memorial Day in Grayslake to remember Americans from every generation who answered the call to serve—from the Revolutionary War to the present day. It was a special event, and I was honored to spend time with current and retired service members from across the district as we paid tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation.
I spoke on the sacrifices our brave service members have made for this country and how we can best honor their memory by ensuring that future generations are not sent into unnecessary wars. Now, that responsibility feels even more urgent. The ranks of the fallen now include 13 more American service members lost amid the escalating conflict with Iran.
Celebrating Aptakisic’s Titans Robotics Team
Aptakisic's Titans robotics team made school history as the first team to qualify for the inaugural World Festival Championships in Houston. Led by their head coach, Tony Cho, they place among the top 30 teams worldwide. They shared with me what they learned during their experience and how they are preparing to further their robotics at Stevenson High School. Congratulations, this achievement is well earned!
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.
If you’re looking for ways to save money or access support services, my website offers a range of resources designed to help constituents navigate everyday challenges. So far this year, my office has helped constituents save $1,857,407, including $652,551 just this week alone through casework and assistance efforts.
One of the most meaningful parts of my work is helping constituents navigate challenges and find real solutions. This week, we were especially grateful to hear from a constituent who wrote in to share how our casework team was able to help. Stories like this are a powerful reminder of why responsive, people-centered service matters.
IN CLOSING
Last weekend, the city of Waukegan hosted its annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Veterans Plaza to honor the brave members of the U.S. Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. The Plaza bears the names of 270 Waukegan residents killed in action, from the Civil War through the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, etched across 10 memorial plaques. Memorial Day reminds us of our duty to ensure these heroes are never forgotten, that their courage lives on in our collective memory and that their families know this community will always honor and remember their sacrifice.
Stay strong, stay safe, stay healthy.
Sincerely,
Brad