10th NEWS: Helping Local Communities Prosper and Thrive
I am excited to share big news: with the passage of 11 bipartisan funding bills for Fiscal Year 2026, my team and I have once again secured federal funds for 15 community projects across Cook, Lake, and McHenry counties! I was proud to partner with our wonderful local leaders on behalf of our communities as we advance opportunities to make a real difference for our shared constituents. These projects will improve the lives and wellbeing of people across our district—improving public safety, replacing lead service lines and aging water mains, restoring lake shores and wetlands, and much more. From Round Lake Beach to Wilmette, North Chicago to Antioch, Waukegan to Highland Park, communities throughout IL-10 will benefit from these crucial investments. Since 2020, I have been proud to work with local communities and leaders in securing more than $100 million in community project funding!
You can read more about the projects and the impact they will have here in the Lake County News Sun.
Keep reading for updates in Washington and around the district.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON
Not One Penny More to DHS Until We Change ICE and CBP
Last week, I was proud, as chair of the New Democrat Coalition, to join Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Adriano Espaillat and Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Chair Teresa Leger Fernandez, and many other Members of Congress outside DHS headquarters to call for the removal of Secretary Kristi Noem. We stood united with one message: Noem needs to be fired, resign, or else Congress must begin an impeachment inquiry.
Separately, last month my colleagues and I voted for five bipartisan funding bills to ensure 90% of our government continues working through the rest of Fiscal Year 2026. We also voted against giving the Department of Homeland Security another penny until real reforms — changes in policy, changes in behavior, accountability for actions, and real Congressional oversight — are implemented. Our vote to hold back funds from DHS was quickly and tragically validated when CBP officers killed a second American, Alex Pretti, on January 24th.
We again voted against giving another penny to DHS last week as it continues its reign of terror across our country.
Though the funding bill did pass the House and was signed into law by President Trump, it only funded DHS until this Friday, February 13th. Democrats and Republicans are now working to negotiate reforms that rein in ICE’s and CBP’s abhorrent behavior that has brought fear, chaos, and violence to communities in Illinois, Minnesota, and many others across the nation.
We need to get ICE and CBP out of our communities. We need to install real measures that hold federal officers accountable for their behavior. We need to take face masks off these agents and put body cameras on, end warrantless arrests, and stop the targeting of sensitive locations including courts, schools, hospitals, and churches. And we need an independent investigation into every DHS shooting and stop the deportation of U.S. citizens.
I promise to keep fighting until ICE and CBP are forced to respect the Constitution, uphold the rule of law, and stop terrorizing our communities.
Meeting Lake Forest College’s President
I was thrilled to meet with Mike Sosulski, President of Lake Forest College. We discussed continuing to build a strong relationship and the work Lake Forest College is doing to serve Lake County. We also discussed recent changes to federal student aid, and how we can continue to make sure students receive what they need to further their education. Looking forward to stopping by campus soon!
Supporting Universities and Critical Research Nationwide
I also had the chance to chat with Charles Isbell, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing research universities. Federal research funding has dropped considerably since the Trump Administration came into power, by roughly one third in both new and total grants. Universities have been hard hit by the Administration’s actions, but Charles and I had a great discussion on continuing the fight for important research funding for universities all over the nation, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Planning for Secure Retirement with Finseca
It was a pleasure to welcome my long-time friend and former business colleague Kristi Barens, and Brock Porter, both of M Financial Group, to discuss life insurance and retirement security. Everyone deserves a secure and dignified retirement, and I'm fighting in Congress to make that a reality for more and more Americans.
Partnering for Safer Communities with Christopher Sullivan
It was great to meet with Christopher Sullivan, a constituent from Vernon Hills and a Board Member of the Mid-State Organized Crime Information Center (MOCIC), to discuss RISS/MOCIC funding. Christopher brings nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience in Illinois. We had a productive conversation about the challenges facing communities across the state and the critical role MOCIC plays in supporting law enforcement and public safety statewide.
Building on the USMCA and Strengthening Trilateral Trade
I was honored to speak to a standing room only crowd at Citi’s 2026 USMCA Forum to discuss the importance of reauthorizing and strengthening the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, especially sections dealing with labor and environmental protections and digital trade.
The USMCA is a critical piece of our economic and national security framework – strengthening supply chains to expand manufacturing across North America and ensuring critical technologies do not fall into the hands of our adversaries. As a nation, we cannot afford to turn our backs on our largest trading partners or penalize those who have adhered to the terms of the agreement and made significant investments in their North American supply chains. The trilateral nature of the agreement is a defining feature of the successful, integrated North American economic relationship.
Discussing Eastern Mediterranean Support and Stability
As co-chairs of the Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance (CHIA), my colleague Gus Bilirakis and I were proud to welcome Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou, recently appointed Greek Ambassador to the U.S. Antonis Alexandridis, and former Congressman Ted Deutch for a bipartisan discussion on security and energy issues in the Eastern Mediterranean and the importance of U.S. cooperation with Greece and Israel to support stability in the region. I was also happy to be joined by two local leaders and dear friends, Endy Zeminides and Yanni Konstantinu.
A Conversation on the Future of Eastern Mediterranean Energy
I was honored to meet with H.E. Osama Mobarez, Secretary General (SG) of the Egyptian-based East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), to discuss EMGF’s work and initiatives. In the past decade, EMGF has transformed into an international intergovernmental organization based in Cairo that responds to the need for a regionally coordinated effort to unlock the full potential of Eastern Mediterranean offshore gas. Thank you to H.E. Osama Mobarez for stopping by.
Welcoming UAE Minister Lana Nusseibeh
It was an honor to welcome to my office H.E. Lana Nusseibeh, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs to the United Arab Emirates, as well as my friend, UAE Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba. We had a wide-ranging conversation about recent regional developments in the Gulf. We talked about emerging opportunities and risks in the region, prospects for the India Middle East Corridor (IMEC), and how we can work together to strengthen and expand the Abraham Accords, a project which has brought meaningful change and hopes for greater stability and peace to the Middle East and beyond.
Staying Up to Date on Iranian Protests
With Craig Goldman of Texas, a fellow co-chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Abraham Accords Caucus, I hosted a bipartisan, multi-Member briefing about the situation in Iran and how the U.S. can best support the protestors seeking to free themselves of 47 years of oppression by the mullahs. Our guest was Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for Peace, and a highly respected expert on Iran.
We must remain committed to helping the Iranian people break free from the shackles of their oppressive regime.
OUT AND ABOUT IN THE 10th
Kicking off the 2026 Community Project Funding Tour
I look forward to visiting each and every location that is receiving critical federal investment discussed above! I kicked off my tour at George B. Prindle Water Treatment Plant in Highland Park. The more than $1 million secured will go toward critical upgrades, including improvements to the Lake Michigan intake that help keep our drinking water safe. This facility supplies clean, reliable water to nearly 70,000 people!
You can find a summary here of all the projects receiving funding.
Welcoming our Spring District Interns
Very excited to welcome Jacqueline and Sam as part of our Spring intern class in our District Office. Jacqueline is a student at the College of Lake County, and Sam attends Lake Forest College.
You may see them at community events across the district with me or other members of our team. We love having them with us and are incredibly grateful they chose to spend this moment serving the public and giving back to their community.
Visit to Trustmark: A Pillar of the 10th District
I had a great visit to Trustmark in Lake Forest. Trustmark is a century-old, Illinois-based company and a major employer headquartered right here in the 10th District, helping businesses provide employee benefits and insurance solutions.
Thank you to the entire Trustmark team for the warm welcome and for sharing the meaningful work you do every day.
OVER THE AIRWAVES
Fox 32’s Chicago Report with Paris Schutz
I joined the Chicago Report to talk about DHS and ICE funding over the next 10 days. Until ICE and DHS are brought back under the constraints of the Constitution, I will not give another penny to the organization that is currently bringing chaos and terror to our communities.
CNN News Central
I joined CNN News Central to discuss how Democrats are united in demanding a change in ICE and DHS behavior. We must reestablish accountability standards for officers and insist that basic respect be restored. Until this happens, we won't give one more penny to ICE.
C-SPAN’s Washington Journal
Immigration reform has been a conversation for decades, and I’ve pushed for real action since my first year in Congress in 2013. Speaker Johnson’s accusation that Democrats won’t work across the aisle rings hollow when he refuses to even bring the issue to the table. We can find common ground on this issue, and I hope my Republican colleagues will join Democrats to finally take strides toward real immigration reform. I joined C-SPAN’s Washington Journal to talk about the debate in Congress over reining in DHS’s lawless behavior.
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.
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
In the spirit of the start of the Winter Olympics, I want to highlight Lake Forest firefighter Sam Hiller, who is heading to Milan to serve as a hockey referee for the 2026 Games. Sam has been refereeing hockey since age 12 and has built a professional career in the sport. She is one of only 10 American referees selected by the International Hockey Federation to officiate at the Olympics. Congratulations to Sam on this incredible honor.
Best of luck and go Team USA!
Stay strong, stay safe, stay healthy.
Sincerely,
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress