10th News: Holidays and History
I am back in Washington this week, hopefully able to make progress towards passing several end of year priorities. The top issue for Congress is funding the government for Fiscal Year 2023 before the current funding extension expires on Friday.
Ideally, the Senate would have completed its work before the 2022 fiscal year ended in September. Instead Congress again relied on a costly Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government operating. The conventional wisdom is that there will be another CR before Friday, but expectations are a compromise with the Senate can be reached before the end of the month.
Looking back to last week, the big news was the passing of the Respect for Marriage Act, which President Biden will sign tomorrow. This bill repeals the unconstitutional, so called “Defense of Marriage Act,” and formally establishes marriage equality under federal law—requiring all states to recognize any marriage as long as it is valid in the state where it was performed.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi proudly wrote in the Washington Post that she was “overjoyed” to have this bill as one of her last acts as Speaker of the House. She also rightly noted that: “our nation is forever grateful for the many extraordinary contributions that LGBTQ Americans have made in the arts and sciences, health care and human rights, business and nonprofits, and as leaders in our communities. To our LGBTQ friends, family and neighbors, we see you, we stand with you and we will never rest until you can enjoy the respect, dignity and safety you deserve.”
The House also passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2023, giving our military personnel a much needed 4.6% raise, and increased housing allowance, and raising the threshold for Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) to 150% of the federal poverty line. Our men and women in the military make incredible sacrifices every day to protect us and our country. We need to make sure that they are also able to provide for their families.
On a related note, last week I welcomed eighteen exceptional candidates to my office to be interviewed as part of the application process to our five Service Academies (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine). I am grateful to an amazing selection committee (above from left to right, front row: Debra Lewis, Navy Veteran 1990-2010, Kim Vander Yacht, Parent USMA Grad 2017; Colette Asmussen, USAFA 1994; CDR Fred Weber (Ret), USNA 1975; Ryan Kuo, USMA 2000; back row: Marine Col. David Joseforsky, USNA 1997; Joe Mislinski, USMA 1978; Capt. Jason Williamson, CO Naval Station Great Lakes; Capt. James Hawkins (Ret), former CO Naval Station Great Lakes). We all agree that after talking with these candidates, we feel good about the future of our nation and the next generation of our leaders.
Finally, here at home and in the nation’s capital, folks are getting ready for the holidays. Last weekend I was honored to join friends and neighbors in Waukegan to light the community Christmas tree in Jack Benny Plaza. As you do your holiday shopping and make your holiday plans, please take a moment to embrace the spirit of the season and share a smile with those around you.
Please keep reading for more information about what is happening in here at home and in Washington
AROUND THE TENTH DISTRICT
School Superintendents Roundtable
Earlier this month, I spent a very productive hour meeting with superintendents from school districts across our region hearing about their priorities and challenges in making sure every one of our children get a quality education and are prepared to succeed. A special thank you to Lincolnshire-Prairie View School District 103 for hosting us in their beautiful offices.
Lake County Superintendents Legislative Breakfast
A week after our Superintendents Roundtable, I was honored to speak to the Lake County Superintendents Legislative Breakfast. We met at the newly reopened Neal Math and Science Academy in North Chicago.
The amazing reimagination of Neal was made possible by a $40 million donation from Abbvie, headquartered in North Chicago. The new building is designed around STEM and offers inviting classrooms, open space, and areas for collaboration.
Highwood Library Groundbreaking
I was thrilled to congratulate the Highwood Library on breaking ground on a $4.3 million-dollar renovation and expansion. Under Executive Director Carmen Patlan’s leadership, the Highwood Public Library has transformed into a vital support hub for local families and the growing immigrant population in Highwood. The Highwood Library’s technology and education services help ensure that local children and families of all backgrounds have the tools they need to succeed.
Lake County Deflection and Diversion Summit
Thank you to Live for Lali and Lake County Opioid Initiative’s Chelsea Laliberte Barnes and Lake County States Attorney Eric Rinehart for inviting me to address the Lake County Deflection and Diversion Summit. This event brought together the legal community, first responders, and behavioral health experts to discuss ways to improve current strategies and new pathways to serving the most vulnerable in our community.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON
Abraham Accords: N7 Conference in Morocco
Last Wednesday I was honored to address the N7 Conference on Education and Coexistence in Rabat, Morocco, albeit by prerecorded video. The N7 Initiative, sponsored by the Atlantic Council and the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation, is a program to build on the Abraham Accords and foster further normalization between Israel and Arab and Muslim countries. The gathering in Rabat, with the support of the Kingdom of Morocco, brought together government officials, NGOs and subject-matter experts from around the region.
Welcoming Foreign Dignitaries
As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I am frequently visited by ambassadors and other officials from countries around the world. Last week I welcomed guest from Sri Lanka, Romania, Lithuania and South Korea.
Leadership Transitions
The House Democratic Caucus continues its transition to a new generation of leadership. Speaker Pelosi, after her decades of public service, leaves a huge legacy for the new generation of leadership to pick up and run with. Our new Democratic Leader Congressman Hakeem Jeffries from New York will be tasked with keeping our party focused on delivering common sense legislation for American families. With his team of Congresswoman Katherine Clark serving as whip and Pete Aguilar serving as caucus chair, I am hopeful that in the next Congress, Democrats will continue to fight for expanded, affordable access to health care, women’s health care freedom, common sense gun violence prevention, and so much more.
New Democrat Coalition Leadership
I am proud to one of four New Democrat Coalition Vice Chairs elected for the 118th Congress. Here’s my quote from the press release announcing our election:
“For more than 25 years, The New Democrat Coalition has been a driving force for crafting smart legislation and advancing the interests of the American People,” said NDC Vice Chair-elect for Communications Brad Schneider. “As Vice Chair, I am excited to help lead the New Dems as we continue our work to grow our economy, tackle climate change, and move our country forward by reaching across our Democratic Caucus and across the aisle. As we continue to deliver for the American people, I’m confident that the New Dems will help shape the future of both our party and our country.”
You can learn more about the New Dems here.
REAL ID Extension
The Department of Homeland Security has announced it is extending the REAL ID full enforcement date by 24 months, from May 3, 2023, to May 7, 2025. States will now have additional time to ensure their residents have driver’s licenses and identification cards that meet the security standards established by the REAL ID Act. Once we reach the new REAL ID deadline, federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will be prohibited from accepting driver’s licenses and identification cards that do not meet federal standards.
To learn more about getting a real ID in Illinois click here.
Averting a Rail Strike
Last week the House passed legislation to adopt the tentative agreement between unions and railroads reached in September to avert a national rail strike. In the House, we voted to provide railroad workers seven days of paid sick leave because no one should need to choose between getting paid and caring for their health. I am relieved that a railroad strike has been avoided and American businesses and jobs are busy as a result.
Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022
I am happy that the House has finally passed legislation to help families in the 10th District and across the country receive critical health services. The Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act — named to honor Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02), who passed away tragically in August — would double funding for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program over the next five years. In Illinois alone, about 17,000 families benefit from home visiting programs. I am proud to have voted for this meaningful legislation.
You can read the full text here
One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act of 2021.
The House also passed legislation to provide grants supporting community-based reentry resources for previously incarcerated individuals who return to their communities. We should equip inmates and communities with the support they need to thrive during reentry. That is why ten million dollars each year is being authorized for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants for community-based nonprofit organizations to create community reentry centers.
You can read the full text here.
Pregnant Women in Custody Act
Pregnant and postpartum women and their babies deserve appropriate healthcare, whether incarcerated or not. The House passed legislation to create a national standard of care to address pregnancy-related needs of incarcerated women during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum periods.
You can read the full text here.
Veteran Service Recognition Act
I helped pass this legislation to establish and codify several procedures to help expedite the naturalization process for non-U.S. citizens serving in the U.S. military. This bill is an important step toward ensuring eligible immigrants serving in the U.S. Armed Forces can take advantage of their legal rights to apply for U.S. citizenship.
You can read the full text of the bill here.
UPCOMING VOTES
Equal Access to Green cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act
I am supporting legislation that would allow U.S. employers to focus on hiring immigrants based on merit, not their birthplace. The EAGLE Act would eliminate the 7% per-country cap on employment-based immigration visas and raise the 7% per-country cap on family-sponsored visas to 15%. Additionally, this legislation will reduce wait times for employment-based green card applications and address immigration backlogs for highly skilled workers who want to work in the United States.
You can read the full text of the bill here.
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY
Please visit my website to find resources for the following services, and more:
- Affordable Internet Connectivity Program
- Smart 9-1-1
- 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 9-8-8 for Veterans
- Maternal Mental Health Hotline
- Uniting for Ukraine
- Unincorporated Residents Eligible for Flood Insurance Premium Discounts
- Ride Lake County
CONTACT MY OFFICE
As always, I want to hear from you. Please Email Me on my website or call my DC office at (202) 225-4835 if you’d like to share your thoughts on any matter. And 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 want to close out this week by announcing a change in my District offices' staff. Longtime district staffer Sarah Duby has left our office following her husband Patrick for an exciting opportunity overseas. While Sarah's presence in the office is undoubtedly missed, we are also excited to welcome our new Outreach Manager, Ari Botbol.
Ari is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a BA in History. She also has an MA in Political Science from Marquette University. A native of Wisconsin, she has made Deerfield her home along with husband Sam her 2-year-old son Albert and her basset hound Maurice.
We are very excited to see our team continue to grow with the addition of another great teammate.
Sincerely,
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress