10th News: Honoring Our Fallen Heroes and Paying Our Nations Debts
I hope you had a nice holiday weekend and a meaningful Memorial Day. I know we are all happy to welcome the unofficial start to summer!
I was honored to have the opportunity to mark the holiday and honor those who laid their lives on the line in service of our country at two special events: the first at Fort Sheridan National Cemetery on Sunday; and then, as I have for now more than a decade, in Grayslake for their annual Memorial Day Ceremony.
Of course the big news of the weekend was the announced agreement between President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy to prevent a first ever default on the nation’s debt. Congress comes back into session tonight to begin the process of passing the compromise legislation and sending it to the President’s desk before the projected June 5th “X Date” when Treasury would no longer be able to pay our obligations.
Had it been up to me, we would have responsibly addressed this issue months ago and avoided the unnecessary costs and anxieties caused by the political brinkmanship of the most extreme Republicans. There is no question we need to find bipartisan ways to bring down our deficits and lower the debt burden we are passing to the next generations. But I do not believe it wise nor productive to threaten the good faith and credit of the United States. Rather, we should be working through “regular order,” reaching across the aisle to develop fully considered, truly sustainable solutions.
Nevertheless, President Biden fought hard to protect the many achievements realized in the last Congress, including the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Chips and Science Act and the PACT Act. The agreement he negotiated protects several key priorities that the Republican majority initially tried to take away. The bill protects veterans’ health care, including increasing funding for the PACT Act. It protects Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, and avoids the most devastating changes sought to SNAP and TANF. Most importantly, the agreement keeps America moving forward to meet the challenges ahead of us.
Compromise requires give and take and both sides made difficult concessions to achieve this agreement. I wish we had a better option. I wish we didn’t have to go through the absurd process in the first place. But my choice this week is between supporting this legislation or letting our country default on its obligations. I will vote “Yes” for the bill.
Please keep reading to learn more about happenings in Washington and here at home.
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON
Committee Work
Ways and Means Tackles Health Care Price Transparency
Earlier this month, the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing discussing how patients need price transparency to lower healthcare costs. I’ve been focused on this issue since joining the Ways and Means Committee in 2019 and I'm ready to work with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle on the various challenges in bringing down the cost of healthcare and improving its quality. You can watch my full remarks here.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Considers Several Important Bills
The House Foreign Affairs Committee held a markup on eight different bills, where both Republicans and Democrats were able to find common ground on issues ranging from calling for the immediate release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, to establishing a Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords. You can watch the full markup, including my remarks, and read about all the bills discussed here.
USAID and Influence Abroad
The Foreign Affairs Committee welcomed USAID Administrator Samantha Power to discuss our country's global influence. Through our dialogue, Administrator Powers made it clear that projecting our nation's soft power through development programs such as USAID helps multiply our nation's hard power. As the administrator said, it's a privilege for our country to assist others abroad by eliminating poverty, providing housing, and tackling food insecurity. You can watch my questions here.
Health Care Affordability
More Americans than ever have health insurance, and thanks to Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare can now negotiate the price of prescription drugs. Yet too many still find healthcare unaffordable. I joined the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing to make clear that we need to pull back the curtain on the true costs being paid for prescription drugs. You can watch my questions at the hearing here.
Meeting with Constituents and Other Friends
Youth Build
I was proud to welcome Tameka Wilson, director of Youth Build Lake County, and members of here team to discuss their good work in our community. I am proud to be a champion of Youth Build, a national program which provides education, counseling, and job skills to young adults. Thanks to Tameka, Jennifer, Carlos, and Aaliayah for coming to DC and advocating for this great cause.
Tree Nut and Peanut Association
Craig Leva, owner of Long Grove Confectionery, and a Tree Nut and Peanut Association member, stopped by to discuss how Congress can support businesses like his through the 2023 Farm Bill. The Tree Nut and Peanut Association supports multiple industries that rely on and benefit from the nut industry.
Independent Community Bankers of America
I stepped out of a Ways and Means hearing to meet with representatives of the Independent Community Bankers of America. We discussed the importance of federal legislation on retirement security, and in particular the SECURE Act, and how Congress can enhance retirement savings for all Americans.
Illinois Regional Transportation
I met with the Northeastern Illinois Regional Transportation Authority to talk about their recently completed five-year strategic plan, Transit is the Answer. The group included representatives from Metra, Pace, and CTA to help us get where we are going faster and smarter.
US Army War College Visits Capitol Hill
The US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is one of our nation's oldest military installations. Since 1757 they have trained and prepared those who served to face challenges worldwide. I welcomed several students—officers from all branches and even the UAE and Georgia— to my office to discuss today's global challenges and opportunities.
Director General for the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
I was proud to host members of the Abraham Accords Caucus for a informal conversation with Ronen Levi, the recently appointed Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In a wide ranging conversation, we talked about his hopes and concerns for the region and how Congress can help support the Accords and promote security, peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.
Other Events Around Town
Illinois Insurers
The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) brought members from around the country to Washington and I was honored to speak about what is happening in Congress. I was a proud NAIFA member when I worked in the insurance industry so it was great reflect on my own memories as well as talk about the future.
Family Business Caucus
Before running for Congress, I spent many years consulting for family businesses. Now, I am proud to be a founder of the Family Business Caucus and to represent those family businesses in Congress. Family businesses are critical to our economy and a cornerstone of our communities.
You never know who you might bump into
Lastly, I met a young Cubs fan named Connor while getting coffee last week. He was visiting Washington with his family. Noticing the shirt, I asked him if he was from Chicago. Not only was Connor from Chicago, he was from our district! After talking about his visit to the White House, I made sure to arrange a Capitol tour (thanks to Avi in our DC office).
If your summer plans include visiting Washington, DC, don’t leave anything up to chance, and call us for assistance. My staff will be happy to help with arranging tours of popular sites in Washington, such as the Captiol, White House, Library of Congress and many more.
AROUND THE DISTRICT
Big News for Waukegan
Every community in America deserves clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. The Environmental Protection Agency released proposed regulations to protect communities and local water sources from coal ash. This announcement is a huge victory for Waukegan, which has been left to bear the burden of coal ash contamination from the NRG Energy coal plant that closed last June. Families in Waukegan deserve to be assured that they will not suffer the long-term impact of this coal ash pollution.
The proposed regulation would require inactive power plants with coal ash ponds to monitor, control, and clean up all contamination created by coal ash. Coal ash pond site owners, including NRG Energy in Waukegan, will be held accountable for coal pollution.
In June I joined State Rep. Rita Mayfield, State Senator Adriane Johnson, and Mayor Ann Taylor to call on NRG to protect Waukegan by removing these ponds. Now, I am proud to report this progress on the issue, and I will continue to do what I can in Washington to help Waukegan protect its environment.
Ending the Stigma of Addiction
I was glad to visit Nirco – the Northern Illinois Recovery Community Organization – at a two day seminar they hosted to help address the stigma of addiction. The program included people affected by addiction in various ways, and explored strategies for talking about the disease and its impacts on individuals, their families and the community. We need to end the negative stigma associated with addiction and recognize that it is truly a disease, and the a “village” working together can make a positive difference.
Visiting Palombi Middle School
I had a great time visiting Palombi Middle School and speaking with students in the Lighthouse Student Leadership program. Palombi students meet twice monthly to learn about the 7 Habits of Leadership (based on Steven Covey’s 7 Habits material). Similar to the ideas taught in businesses across the world, the student learn: 1) be proactive, 2) begin with the end in mind, 3) put first things first, 4) think win-win, 5) seek first to understand, then to be understood, 6) synergize, 7) sharpen the saw.
Look Before You Book!
Remember to check your passport expiration before booking an international trip. Renewals are taking longer than usual, so plan ahead. Expedited processing can take 7-9 weeks, and regular processing can take up to 10-13 weeks from submission to receipt.
Due to high demand, the Chicago passport agency has a 4–5-day delay in processing passport requests. Same or next-day appointments are rare unless there is an emergency, proven with documentation. Don't hesitate to call my Lincolnshire office at (847) 383-4870 for additional assistance and information.
Neighborhood Office Hours Update
I want to share updates my office has made to our Neighborhood Office Hours. Whether you need assistance with Social Security, Medicare, IRS, or the VA, know that my staff is available near you to help. As of this week: you can meet with my team at the following times at these locations:
Deerfield Public Library
-9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
-Upcoming Dates: June 1st
Johnsburg Public Library
-11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
-Upcoming Dates: June 9th
Lake Villa District Library
-2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
-Upcoming Dates: June 9th
Avon Township Center
-9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
-Every Wednesday
Waukegan Township Office
-9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
-Every Monday
Indian Trails Public Library District
-9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
-Upcoming Dates: June 8th
Winnetka Public Library
-9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
-Upcoming Dates: June 5th
Zion-Benton Public Library
-9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
-Currently closed due to construction – Re-opening in June
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 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—Celebrating Beverly Sussman’s Service to Buffalo Grove
Beverly Sussman retired this month after serving eight years as Buffalo Grove Village President, and nearly 30 years of service in other roles. During her tenure, Beverly focused on revitalizing Buffalo Grove and creating a welcoming community with civic engagement and youth development.
I was privileged to honor Beverly’s service in remarks on the House floor. You can watch my message here.
Sincerely,
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress