10th News: Summer Wrap Up
One of the highlights of summer is that the Cubs, despite early season predictions, are very much in the playoff hunt. Meanwhile, across the Tenth district, schools rush to complete their summer construction projects as students return with high hopes for a great year ahead. I was honored to join North Chicago Community School District 187 for their annual school year kick-off.
I wish the Cubs and all our students great success.
While for many people, August is back-to-school month, for me, the extended district work period is also a chance to connect with communities and constituents. On Monday, my team and I hosted a Congress on Your Corner Town Hall in Northbrook with almost 100 people. We covered a wide range of topics, including climate change, Medicare, veterans affairs, and foreign policy. And last week, we were in Gurnee for another town hall. The News-Sun covered the Gurnee discussion, which you can read here.
Please keep reading to learn more about my activities during the August district work period.
AROUND THE DISTRICT
Community Project Funding Visits
I am proud to have secured federal funding for a number of community projects across the district. This month, I had the privilege of seeing the impact of these investments firsthand.
At the Northern Illinois Food Bank, I joined with volunteers from around Lake County to mark the one-year anniversary of their new distribution center in Green Oaks. This 28,000-square-foot facility is triple the size of the previous facility, enabling them to increase its capacity for volunteer engagement, food processing, distribution, and safe storage of cold, frozen, and dry food. The expanded space enabled the Food Bank to double the number of volunteer opportunities last year and helped the center serve more than 100,000 people with 13.3 million meals.
Almost everywhere I visit, people talk to me about mental health challenges throughout our country. That’s why I was so excited to support the Lake County Health Department’s plans to expand its facility in Libertyville to serve more people. Last week, I joined with Mark Pfister, Executive Director of the Lake County Health Department, Tim Sashko, President of the Lake County Board of Health, and Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart for the groundbreaking of the Lake County Health Department Behavioral Health Center Addition. The Health Department is using $1,000,000 in CPF funding to increase its space to serve another 600 residents with therapeutic services and 700 with psychiatric support.
Lastly, I had a wonderful meeting with newly appointed director Tierra Lemon and Steve Spagnolo to talk about developments with the Lake County Gun Violence Prevention Initiative (GVPI), a program built to interrupt the patterns of gun violence before they can escalate to trouble in our communities. I was pleased to help support the project with $750,000 in federal funds. I look forward to working with Director Lemon as a partner in our shared mission to curb gun violence and create safer communities for all.
Continuing my District Listening Tour with Wheeling Village President Patrick Horcher
It was great having lunch with Wheeling’s Village President Patrick Horcher and Village Manager John Sfondilis to talk about growth in the village, new opportunities, and some of the challenges they are facing.
Homelessness Roundtable
My team and I hosted an informative Roundtable discussion on Homelessness. I gathered with Nicasa, PADS, The Arch Program, A Safe Place, Home of the Sparrow, Avon Township, Community Partners for Affordable Housing, Lake County Housing, Alliance for Human Services, and representatives of Lake County and Lovell Health Care Center, to share ideas and concerns with one another.
Newmedical Technology
I met Mike Hanna, CEO of Northbrook-based Newmedical Technology, Inc., at a Northbrook Chamber of Commerce event. Mike invited me to visit and tour their facility to learn more about their business. Newmedical Technology is a global company that produces and distributes patented therapies for advanced wound care, scar management, skin care, and surgical solutions.
New Farm Foundation Innovation and Education Center
The expanded Tenth District includes a greater number of Illinois’s abundant farms. That’s why I am so excited to welcome the Farm Foundation’s Innovation and Education Center to our community. I joined Farm Foundation President and CEO Sherri Rogge-Fidler and Board Chair Dan Basse for the groundbreaking of their new center at what was formerly the Casey Family Farm for almost 150 years. This new center is major news for Lake County and expands on our opportunity to lead the way in agriculture through innovation in the 21st Century.
LanzaJet
Lanzajet in Deerfield is a global leader in the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), an emerging technology that promises to help address climate change by decarbonizing aviation. My legislation, the Sustainable Skies Act, which became law with the Inflation Reduction Act, helps create incentives for companies like Lanzajet to produce SAF towards President Biden’s goal of 3 billion gallons by 2030.
Just this week, we celebrated the one-year anniversary of its passage, which has already brought on a tremendous number of domestic investments and sparked confidence among the sustainable aviation fuel community.
8th Annual Swinging Fore the Vets Golf Outing
I was once again pleased to be able to join The Allen J Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Foundation for their 8th annual golf outing to raise funds to help veterans in need and their families.
Visiting the Command Tower at O’Hare
Earlier this year, I had the privilege to bring our STEAM Scholars to the Air Traffic Control operations at O’Hare. Unfortunately, I had to leave before they saw the control tower. So, on Monday, I returned to visit the tower and see the air traffic controllers at work, ensuring every plane departs and lands safely. While there, I heard concerns about the possibility of a government shutdown in October. As essential workers, controllers would be required to work through a shutdown but have their pay delayed until the end of the shutdown. I told them I am doing everything possible to make sure we pass a budget on time or, if not, pass a temporary funding measure until we reach a budget compromise. I call on my colleagues in the House Freedom Caucus to work with Speaker McCarthy in good faith to make sure government operations continue uninterrupted.
Office Meetings
I love welcoming people to our Lincolnshire office to talk policy, share ideas, or help tackle challenges people face in dealing with our federal agencies. Remember, if you would like to meet with me, you don’t have to travel to Washington; you can always request a meeting here at home.
Founder/CEO of Life Working Enterprise, Steve Whittington
I spoke with Steve Wilmington, a resident of Lake Forest and the Founder/CEO of LifeWorking Enterprise, about his application for an EDA Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Grant. Steve hopes that LifeWorking Enterprise will establish the first Innovation Center cluster in Lake County, featuring state-of-the-art tech-enabled workplaces in strategically located areas across our district. Innovation Centers support entrepreneurial communities and stimulate small business growth through technology advancement.
The Hinda Institute
For nearly forty years the staff and Jewish chaplains of the Hinda Institute have worked to assist families with incarcerated loved ones navigate the criminal justice system through services such as housing, employment, advocacy, and education. Vickie Block, Abigail Rabinowitz and Rabbi Binyomin Scheiman, stopped by to discuss Hinda’s work and the connections between incarceration and mental health, and how the federal government can continue to support community resources like theirs.
Connect Lake County
Candace Browdy and Peggy Talbot, Executives at Connect Lake County, came by the office to discuss broadband internet access. Connect Lake County supports quality, affordable broadband access and spoke about the importance of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
Drinkwater Family Services
Drinkwater Family Services was founded by Mechelle Hollins-Casey to provide a safe space for children in foster care, as well as non-custodial parents and biological parents to fulfill court-mandated supervised visitations. I appreciated learning about the work Drinkwater is doing and wish them best in their future.
Discussing Pediatric Cancer with Nick Grimm
Nick Grimm of Grayslake reached out to meet with me and discuss funding for pediatric cancer and treatment as well as other pediatric cancer focused issues. Nick’s daughter is currently in remission from pediatric cancer. I wish Nick’s daughter well in her remission and I will continue to support funding for the NIH and National Cancer Institute.
First Korean United Methodist Church
Members of the First Korean United Methodist Church are celebrating their 100th anniversary. In recognition of this milestone, I presented First Korean United Methodist Church a congratulatory letter, that was entered into the Congressional Record. Congratulations once more to First Korean United Methodist Church, and I wish them continued success.
The Illinois Chiropractic Society
Ben Schwarm, Dr. Carlos Boileve, Constituent and Chiropractic Physician, and Adrienne Hersch, General Counsel for the Illinois Chiropractic Society met with me with to discuss H.R. 1610, the Medicare Modernization Act, which seeks to ensures that Medicare patients have access to chiropractic care as a non-drug alternative for pain management.
Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Illinois
ANC of Illinois Chairman Ken Hachikian and ANC Member Anoush Bargamian joined me to discuss the dire situation in Artsakh (Ngorno Karabakh) and the importance of breaking the blockade of the Armenian community there by Azerbaijan. We also spoke about the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as well as several House Resolutions related to their advocacy work.
Citizen Action Illinois
Anusha Thotakura, Deputy Director of Citizen Action Illinois, and its members had a conversation with me about their goal of allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. As of now, the Inflation Reduction Act includes provisions that enable the HHS Secretary to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers for prices of prescription drugs on behalf of Medicare, starting with a selection of 10 high-cost Medicare Part D drugs.
LOOKING FORWARD
Bike The 10th!
Our district has many wonderful bike trails. I invite you to join me next month for a fun ride through a portion of the Des Plaines River trail. This ride is open to bike riders of all abilities to enjoy a beautiful day and meet new friends. We will begin our ride at Independence Grove and head north, and then return to Independence Grove for a total of 12 miles. I hope you can join me!
You can register for the ride and check out the route here.
Notes to riders: Helmets are required. Sign-in waiver for insurance purposes.
Bring hydration (water bottles).
School Year Programs
It's that time of year again; the back-to-school season has arrived.
As a student, little compares to the excitement of the first day of school, the chance to make new friends and learn new things. That's in addition to some great activities students participate in outside school.
I am pleased to share that my office is hosting some great programs this school year for students looking to add more to their learning experience. Once more, more my office is hosting Brad's Bookworms, STEAM Scholars, the Congressional App Challenge, and Military Academy Nominations. I encourage you to read through each program below and sign up.
Brad's Bookworms
Elementary school students (grades K-5) and their families are invited to the seventh annual "Brad's Bookworms" program to encourage reading and learning. Participating students are asked to read and log ten books with help from parents, grandparents, older siblings, or other family members.
Students are also invited to participate in a contest to design a bookmark. Our office will distribute copies of the winning bookmark to all children who complete the ten-book goal. Students who meet the goal of ten books will also be invited with their families to a recognition ceremony with Congressman Schneider in early 2024 to celebrate their achievement.
The deadline to participate is December 12th.
Parents and guardians can find more information, register students, and submit permission slips, completed log sheets, and bookmark contest entries online here.
STEAM Scholars
The STEAM Scholar Program is an exciting educational opportunity that I launched in 2018 for high school students in our community. The program aims to connect highly motivated students interested in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics with hands-on learning experiences throughout our district.
Students selected to participate in the STEAM Scholars program will have the opportunity to visit four STEAM-related businesses and facilities during the 2023-2024 school year. On these visits, students will have the chance to participate in discussions with local employees, business owners, and educators, and learn more about the STEAM career opportunities in our backyard.
This program is open to all rising Sophomores and Juniors who live in or attend high schools located within Illinois’s Tenth Congressional District. Due to space constraints, we will only be selecting two applicants per high school for participation in this competitive program.
How do I apply?
The application is available here.
The deadline to apply is September 16th.
The Congressional App Challenge
Launched in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition that encourages students to learn science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills by coding their own application or “app” for any digital device.
The Congressional App Challenge is open to all middle and high school students who live or attend school in the Tenth District, regardless of skill level. Students can choose to participate individually or as part of a team of up to four students, if two of the team members meet eligibility requirements.
To enter, participants must upload a video showcasing their app and an explanation of what they learned throughout the app-making process.
Deadline to register: November 1st.
Register here! (Registration indicates your intent to compete).
Military Academy Nominations
Every year, one of the great honors of my job is nominating Tenth District students for military academy service.
If you or your student is interested in military academy service, please join me on Tuesday, September 6th from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm for Service Academy Night. We will go over how to apply for military academies and what you need to know throughout the nomination process. Please register here to attend.
The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. For more information, please review the page of Frequently Asked Questions for those seeking a Military Academy Nomination.
Up to ten individuals may be nominated for each vacant academy slot allotted to our district. To request a Military Academy Nomination from our office, please complete the form online.
The deadline to apply is October 31st.
Click here to learn more and apply.
Fall 2023 District Office Internships
My office in Lincolnshire is looking for interns to join my team this fall. To be considered, prospective applicants must be currently enrolled in post-secondary education or be recent graduates. The application for this opportunity is available on my website.
Intern responsibilities include (but are not limited to) handling phone calls and inquiries, conducting research, assisting with casework, and drafting memos. The District Office offers a terrific learning environment for those considering a future in politics, and many past interns have gone on to work full time in the Capitol!
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.
Look Before You Book
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.
If you need help expediting a passport, please call my district office at 847-383-4870.
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—
Did you know our district is home to some of the best barbecue you can get in the Midwest?
Big Ed's BBQ in Waukegan has been recognized as one of the top 100 restaurants in the Midwest on Yelp. Founder and owner Eddie Nero opened his restaurant in 2008 and now works with his sons serving BBQ to customers every day. I love seeing small businesses like Big Ed’s succeed in our distinct, I hope I can stop by for some delicious BBQ at Bid Ed’s soon.
You can read more about Big Ed’s accomplishment here.
Stay strong, stay safe, stay healthy.
Sincerely,
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress