10th News: Moving America Forward
Let me start with sharing my solidarity with, and profound respect and sympathy for, the people of Ukraine. America and the world stand with the people of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine is not just an unprovoked, illegal invasion of a sovereign country, but a blatant attack on the world order—an affront to every nation that respects international law and national self-determination. Additional sanctions must directly target Vladimir Putin, Russian elites, the Russian military and the country's financial institutions.
The global community must stand together to support the President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine in their heroic fight for their nation. We must also work in unison to mitigate the impact Putin's war will have on the global economy. We will continue to assist with the resources necessary to fight the Russian onslaught, and humanitarian assistance to feed and provide for Ukraine's citizens.
Tonight, President Biden will deliver his first formal State of the Union address. I have no doubt he will talk about Ukraine, but his focus will be here at home. As he gives his address tonight, the President will be speaking against the backdrop of historic progress in America. Under new guidance from the CDC, 70% of Americans now live in areas where masks are optional (including Illinois). This milestone is possible, in part, thanks to high vaccination rates and improved testing capabilities made possible through last year's American Rescue Plan passed by Congress. I suspect the President will talk about this tonight.
I am excited to watch tonight's address with my virtual guest, Pete Olson, the president of the Lake County Building and Trades Union (LCBTU). From plumbers to electricians, carpenters to laborers and man more trades professionals, Lake County Building Trades' members lead projects throughout the county that create good paying jobs, support our communities and improve our infrastructure. If you missed it, Pete and I hosted a Facebook Live yesterday about what we hope to hear in President Biden's speech tonight.
In addition to progress on COVID-19, I know the President will talk about about the economy. The United States is experiencing a booming economy, with record-breaking job creation (6.7 million last year) and historic GDP growth. At the same time, with increasing demand and the impact the pandemic has had on supply chains here at home and around the world, we are also experiencing rising inflation. Inflation is adversely affecting virtually every sector of the economy and affecting every family. There are no easy answers to reversing rising prices, but there are actions we can and must take to ease the burden.
Finally, I recently got back from a bipartisan congressional delegation trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories. While there are more details on my trip below, I want to invite you to a post-trip briefing tomorrow, Wednesday March 2nd, at 7:00pm. I will share highlights from my trip and answer any questions you have. Please register here.
Keep reading for more information about what's happening in Washington and around the district.
What's Happening in Washington
Notes From My Congressional Delegation Trip to Israel
I just returned from a congressional delegation trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories. We met with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, which was remarkable in light of the diverse government coalition he leads. We travelled to Ramallah where we met with young Palestinian entrepreneurs, as well as PA Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyah. We also visited three of Israel's borders (Gaza, Lebanon and Syria) to better understand some of the strategic challenges the nation faces.
At the Lebanese border we saw the sophisticated tunnels Hezbollah had dug to infiltrate Israel. Fortunately the IDF found the tunnels before Hezbollah could execute their plane.
One of the most remarkable moments was a panel discussion on the Abraham Accords. I've participated in many briefings and conversations on the historic agreements between Israel and UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. What made this one so extraordinary is that the panel included the Ambassadors to Israel from UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, as well as former Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashenazi. The prospect for expanding the Abraham Accords to more Arab states, as well as other Muslims nations such as Indonesia, gives hope for all the people of the region. I am proud to be the sponsor of H.R. 2748, the Israel Relations Normalization Act, reflecting Congressional support for the Accords and honored to be a cochair of the newly created Abraham Accords caucus.
I also enjoyed meeting with emerging Israeli leader, Dr. Mansour Abbas, the leader of the Arab party. He invited us to his village in the Galilee for dinner with his family and leaders in his community.
With his 18 month old daughter, Miriam, sitting on his lap, he spoke to us about his hopes and aspirations for the new government and his commitment to improving the lives of the people he represents, in particular Israeli Arabs. He also told us that he celebrates the diversity of his country and the new Israeli government because through understanding our differences we can achieve great things together.
Register for my post-trip briefing here.
President Biden to Nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court
President Biden's nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is a historic moment for our country. I have no doubt that she will make a great Supreme Court Justice. Judge Jackson is a highly qualified and respected candidate with broad credentials as a judge, a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, an attorney in private practice, and a public defender. She has a sharp legal mind and a proven track record of making fair decisions. I am looking forward to her fair consideration and timely confirmation hearing in the Senate.
Honoring Our PACT Act: Caring for Veterans Exposed to Toxic Chemicals
This week the House will vote on the Honoring Our PACT Act, which aims to address veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals as a result of military service. Our men and women serving in the military made the ultimate sacrifice to fight for our freedom, and we have a responsibility to ensure their safety and long-term well-being. I am proud to vote for the PACT Act this week in the House.
COVID-19 Update
Governor JB Pritzker has lifted the mandatory mask mandate in most public settings in Illinois. Masks are still required in spaces like public transportation, airports and congregant living facilities. Masks are now optional in schools. While this is good news and a sign of how far we've come in beating back the virus, we must remain vigilant by getting vaccinated and testing frequently to keep case numbers low.
- We are moving forward safely: Over 200 million people are vaccinated and 2 out of 3 eligible Americans are boosted. As a result, nearly 70% of Americans now live in an area where the CDC no longer recommends universal masking.
- Every American is now eligible to receive free, at-home COVID-19 tests. Eligible Americans can order up to 4 free tests at covidtests.gov. Tests are expected to ship in 7-12 days.
- The vaccine is safe and effective. If you are unvaccinated, you are 17 times more likely to be hospitalized and 20 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those who are vaccinated.
- All Americans ages 12 and up are eligible for COVID-19 booster shots. As long as you are six months past your last Pfizer or Moderna shot, you can now get a booster by visiting your local doctor's office or pharmacy.
- The vaccine is saving lives. So again, tell your loved ones, your friends, neighbors and coworkers, join the fight and get your shot!
Resources
Tax Season Runs from January 24 - April 18, 2022
This year's tax filing season will open on January 24 and close on April 18 – starting earlier than last year in order to give Americans more time to file their returns. The IRS recommends filing your taxes electronically as soon as possible and opting for direct deposit. You can prepare your federal income tax returns online for free using the IRS partner site, Free File.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in IRS office closures and staffing issues, which are expected to continue into the 2022 season. As a result, the IRS is still processing a significant backlog of 2020 returns as we begin this next filing season. You can still file your 2021 returns even if you are waiting for 2020 returns to be processed.
Have questions about filing your taxes? Join me and representatives from the IRS for a webinar discussing tax assistance options available in the Tenth District next Tuesday, February 15th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Register here.
Unincorporated Residents Eligible for Flood Insurance Premium Discounts
If you live in unincorporated Lake County, you may be eligible for up to $297 in savings per year on flood insurance policies. Through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Community Rating System (CRS) program, residents within unincorporated Lake County – who meet certain requirements – are eligible for up to 20 percent savings on flood insurance premiums
Contact your insurance agent for coverage information, pricing and CRS flood insurance discount information. You can also visit Lake County's flood coverage website for more information.
LONG WAITS FOR PASSPORTS: Look Before You Book
As more and more people get vaccinated, travel is starting to pick back up again. My office has received a major uptick in calls asking to expedite passport renewals lately. If you plan to travel internationally, remember to check the expiration date on your passport before you book your trip. It is taking much longer than normal to renew a passport, so make sure to plan ahead.
Check the passport website to get an idea of processing time -- expedited processing is now taking 5-7 weeks from submission to receipt, with regular processing taking 8-11 weeks.
At this point, expedited exceptions are only being made in case of emergency travel. In other words, apply now for that passport you will need for the trip you might take over Winter Break. Passports last for 5 or 10 years depending on what age you were issued your first passport.
Lake County: COVID Rental Assistance Programs Open Now
Lake County is offering rental assistance programs for those who face financial hardships related to COVID-19 and are struggling to pay rent. The deadline to apply for rental assistance in Cook County has passed.
Learn more and apply here for the Lake County Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
In Closing
I wanted to share a video I filmed from Netiv Ha'asara, a community in southern Israel near the Gaza border, after my colleagues and I visited an Iron Dome battery. It was a remarkable experience seeing firsthand the importance of U.S. investment in technologies like the Iron Dome, which has saved countless lives on both sides of the border. Seeing this technology in person only underscored for me the importance of our friendship with Israel and the unique bond that our two countries share.
There is so much more I would like to tell you about the trip in this newsletter, but to capture it all would be enough to write a book. Suffice it to say that our trip reinforced the importance of Israel as our most important ally in a very dangerous region of the world, and gave us many reasons to hope for progress towards peace, security and growing prosperity for all peoples in the area. We also saw first hand that U.S. engagement and leadership in the Middle East is critically important, not just for realizing possibilities of the area, but for promoting and protecting American interests.
Onward,
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress