10th News: Highland Park Strong One Year Later
Wishing everyone a very Happy Independence Day. Whether you are participating in communal events or celebrating with family and friends, I hope it is a day worthy of our nation’s 247th birthday. If you have a free moment, spend some time with the remarkable document, the “unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America," signed on July 4, 1776, that gave rise not only to this great holiday, but to this extraordinary experiment in democracy and the country we all love.
I also want to recognize that this year Independence Day will have a very different feeling in my hometown of Highland Park as we mark the anniversary of last year’s tragic shooting. We will solemnly remember the lives of the seven beautiful people murdered that day: Katie Goldstein, Irina McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Stephen Strauss, Jacquelyn Sundheim, Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, and Eduardo Uvaldo. We will extend our love and support for the more than 40 people wounded and the countless others affected that day. And we will again give thanks to the hundreds of heroes: people attending the parade who jumped into action to help friends and strangers alike; local police officers and fire fighters who rushed to the scene; first responders from across the region who came to assist our community; and mental health professionals who offered their services in our time of greatest need.
Separately, last week President Biden visited Chicago to share some good news about the economy. Since 2021, our economic growth has created more than 13 million jobs, a record number for any similar period. Unemployment is at the lowest sustained level in 50 years. Manufacturing investment in the country is standing up new factories in almost every state. And inflation, though still too high, has dropped from almost 9% last year to 4% today. We still have work ahead of us to bring it back to the target of 2%, but we are nevertheless making real progress while building an economy that is working for everyone, and especially for those most often left behind.
Meanwhile, as the President was visiting Chicago, I was in Brussels, Belgium participating in a summit of the Interparliamentary Task Force Combatting Online Antisemitism at the European Parliament. I joined fellow representatives from the U.S., Canada, U.K, Europe and Israel for a series of informative meetings culminating in a hearing with witnesses from META, Twitter and Google.
Please keep reading to learn more about happenings in here at home and in Washington, D.C.
Around the District
Fox Lake Lakefront Park Groundbreaking
On Monday I joined the Village of Fox Lake for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Lake Front Park redevelopment project with Mayor Donny Schmit. When complete, the new park will be a gathering place for the entire Fox Lake region and a center for recreation and entertainment. I was pleased to help advance this project with $750,000 in federal Community Project Funding.
Islamic Cultural Center of Greater Chicago
I was honored to be warmly received at the Islamic Cultural Center of Greater Chicago in Northbrook for a tour and lunch conversation. The Center recently celebrated its 50th anniversary serving the community. I very much appreciated seeing the center and enjoyed breaking bread with both old and new friends. I look forward to watching the community grow over the next 50 years.
Champion Now
I was pleased to welcome Britt Iverson, the Executive Director of ChampionNow to our office in Lincolnshire. For more than a decade, I’ve followed the work of Britt’s father Terry as he developed the ChampionNow program to promote careers in manufacturing. It was wonderful to see Britt continuing the mission.
Camille and Marcus Johnson of Lotus Home Improvement
Since 2017 Camille and Marcus Johnson have been the proud owners of their home improvement business in Grayslake. They dropped by the office to discuss the role of diversity in their industry, and how policy crafted in Washington can continue to support businesses like theirs.
Lake County Partners
Kevin Considine, President of Lake County Partners, and Bethany Williams, Director of Strategy, and Intelligence stopped by to share some of the great work LCP is doing to promote economic development throughout the county. Lake County has always been a magnet for companies large and small, and is proud of it many different industries from life sciences to manufacturing to hospitality. We had a very productive discussion about LCP’s key priorities for economic development in Lake County and creating even more opportunities for local businesses.
What's Happening In Washington
Congress is on a break for the holiday giving members a chance to work in our districts and recharge our batteries for what will be a busy July. On the docket for next week is the National Defense Authorization Act and continued negotiations on funding the government for fiscal year 2024 which begins October 1. I will keep you posted on any progress.
Summit to Combat Rising Tide of Online Antisemitism
As I mentioned in my introduction, I proudly joined my friend Debbie Wasserman Schultz in representing the United States at the Interparliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism in Brussels, Belgium. This was the second summit of the Task Force since its formation in 2020. We were joined by technology experts, social media companies, and government representatives from across the globe. Sadly antisemitism is on the rise not just in the U.S. but around the world. A recent ADL reports noted more than 3,600 documented antisemitic events list year in this country, a new record. (The previous high was last year with 2,700 incidents).
As I said in my remarks at the hearing, social media is not the cause of antisemitism, but it acts as an amplifier and accelerator of antisemitism and other forms of hate. As many have observed, “the Holocaust did not start with the gas chambers it started with words.” It is important that the social media companies must do more to address the growing problem of antisemitism and other forms of hate spreading on their platforms. Every parliamentarian at the hearing asked the representatives of the companies for more cooperation and transparency.
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, various help lines, and even help Ukrainians refugees fleeing the war.
Constituent Services: More than Just Passports
Casework is a significant component of my office’s constituent services. It is the process by which my staff can advocate for you when dealing with issues at several federal agencies. Whether you’re having problems with the VA, Social Security, the IRS, USCIS, or getting a passport in time for a trip, my team is ready to help you navigate federal agency bureaucracy.
I want to remind everyone that the summer travel season is in full gear. So, if your plans include international travel, please check your passport. My team has processed more than 586 urgent passport requests already this year. Although we have resolved several cases, the number of requests has resulted in some travelers having to cancel their trips due to expired passports.
In addition to handling passport-related cases, my team has processed more than 575 cases related to federal agencies, including the IRS, VA, Social Security, and more. In total, my team has opened and processed more than 1160 constituent cases this year alone. And just this month, my team has returned $144, 629 owed to constituents., Year to date we have helped constituents recover $2,784,581.
We’re only a little more than halfway through the year, and my team is always available to assist many more constituents in resolving their issues with the federal government. If you need assistance with a federal agency, please call us at (847) 383-4870 to speak with a caseworker. You can also meet with a member of our team at one of our many Neighborhood Office Hour Locations. To see when we’ll be in your neighborhood, click here.
Constituent Success Stories
I want to share with you another constituent casework success story. Navigating the federal agency bureaucracy can be challenging, but my excellent casework team in Lincolnshire is ready to help you. If you need help with a federal agency, fill out a Privacy Release Form or call my Lincolnshire office at (847) 383-4870 so my casework team can assist you.
In Closing -
I again wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July. As we observe this special holiday, let’s all celebrate the growth and progress we've achieved as a nation. Despite our many differences, we all have so much more in common, including the uniquely American experience. When we join together, we strengthen our communities and our country. I am optimistic we can continue to be the same strong, resilient nation we were at our founding and that created these United States of America.
With hope for a bright and prosperous future for our children and our nation.
Sincerely,
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress