10th News: One Year of Progress
Cold air, snow on the ground and gray skies. It must be Chicago in winter. I hope you and your loved ones are staying warm despite the single-digit temperatures this week. At least there is good news that we may have started to turn the corner on omicron. But don't let down your guard. Remember the peak is the middle of the wave, not the end.
One of the ways to keep yourself and your loved ones safe during this phase of the pandemic is with frequent testing. As of last week, President Biden's program to provide every American with free home COVID tests kits is now up and running. Ordering is free and easy. Just go to covidtests.gov and order. Tests are expected to ship in 7-12 days but I am already hearing of many people receiving their kits sooner.
Of course, the most important thing you can do is get vaccinated, if you are eligible. The vaccines, with the booster shot, have shown to be approximately 90% effective at protecting people from serious illness, hospitalization and death. Put another way, according to the CDC, based on December data, an unvaccinated person age 18 or over was 16 times more likely to be hospitalized associated with COVID-19 than someone who was vaccinated.
On a different note, last Thursday we celebrated the one-year anniversary of President Biden and Vice President Harris taking office. While President Biden inherited a country in crisis, we have since achieved unprecedented progress for the American people. In President Biden's first year, we have:
- Vaccinated 210 million Americans
- Grown our economy at near record rates
- Added 6.4 million jobs
- Lowered the unemployment rate to a historically low 3.9%—the biggest 12 month decline in history
- Helped 5 million Americans gain health insurance
- Rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement and reestablished global U.S. leadership in tackling the climate crisis
- Made the largest investment in rebuilding American infrastructure ever
Thanks to the American Rescue Plan passed last year, the economy grew and unemployment fell faster than almost anyone expected as shown in the White House graph below:
We still have real challenges that must be urgently addressed, including worker shortages, supply chain disruptions and inflation. But working together, Congress and President Biden are positioned to get America through this pandemic stronger than when we went in.
Finally, this year's tax filing season has now started. Like every other organization, the IRS has been adversely affected by COVID. I have spoken directly with the IRS and the Treasury Department about how critical it is to clear up their backlog and speed up the process. In the meantime, you can still file your 2021 taxes even if you are waiting on 2020 returns to be processed. I urge you to submit your 2021 returns electronically as soon as possible in order to get your refund in a more timely manner. And make sure to check out this tip sheet from the IRS.
Keep reading for more information on what's going on in Washington and around the district.
What's Happening in Washington
Marking the 49th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
As we marked the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade on Sunday, we must recognize that the right to access safe and legal abortions is under attack. We cannot go back to a time when women did not have the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions. In Congress, I will continue to support codifying Roe into law and protecting women's reproductive freedom.
The Biden Boom
Democrats and President Biden have already achieved an extraordinary economic recovery that no one predicted.
Around the Tenth
Honoring Martin Luther King: MLK Day of Service
I took some time during MLK Day last week to stop by Deerfield Park District's MLK Day of Service Cradles to Crayons Donation Drive. A great way to serve and keep families warm this winter!
$1.4 Billion Coming to Repair Illinois Bridges
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the largest single federal investment in American history. Here's how the Tenth District will benefit.
COVID-19 Update
While Lake County and suburban Cook County have a high percentage of eligible adults vaccinated, cases continue to rise in the Tenth District and Illinois. The good news is that the booster shots are effective against the Omicron variant.
NEW: 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 16 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 now 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.
- Be wary of fake COVID-19 testing sites, which are popping up across the Chicagoland area. Use the Illinois Department of Health list of approved testing centers to verify that the site you are going to is legitimate.
- 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.
A Good Surprise: The No Surprises Act
The No Surprises Act is now providing Illinois families with enhanced protections to prevent surprise medical bills from out-of-network providers and more. Still have questions? Visit the No Surprises Act website run by CMS here, or call the Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059
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 want to take a quick moment to share a story that highlights how my team works to help constituents every day throughout the district. Often times we are working on important, but more mundane tasks like getting a passport renewed or checking on the status of a tax refund. But we also get calls in situations that are heart-wrenching and seemingly intractable.
One such case was when two young constituents got stuck in Russia following a tragic accident in which both parents were killed. As soon as we got word of the crisis, our team worked with the the school principal and federal agencies in order to find a way to get both kids safely back home. No one ever wants to be put in such a situation, but when challenging things happen, we are are ready and willing to do everything we can to help. (And thank you to Lyliana Chavez for the kind words on Twitter.)
If you or someone you know ever needs assistance with a federal agency, please don't hesitate to call our office at 847-383-4870.
Onward,
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress