10th News: Welcoming Home Our Newest Citizens
Of the many extraordinary duties that I have as your Representative, few compare to the privilege of attending and speaking at a naturalization ceremony where immigrants take the oath to become citizens of the United States of America. And so, it was this past Monday at the Chicago Botanic Garden where 65 people hailing from 26 different countries—and with a remarkable diversity of life experiences, aspirations and dreams—made the incredible choice to officially become one of us.
After the ceremony, I enjoyed meeting some of the families in attendance and learning more about them. Each family had a different background but shared the same joy and pride of having accomplished this important milestone. Each person there consciously chose to make America their home and accepted the responsibilities of U.S. citizenship, and there’s nothing more American than that. I was incredibly honored to welcome them home, and I wish them the best as citizens of this great country.
This wonderful ceremony came together due to the hard work of Gloria from my office, USCIS Deputy District Director Carissa Sheffler, USCIS Congressional Lead Anita Goss-Fields, Honorable Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer, Clerk Thomas Bruton, Honor Guard Commander of VFW Post 8741 in Libertyville Tony Kenndy, and our wonderful host, the Chicago Botanic Garden. I would also like to thank Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Congressman Sean Casten for joining this celebration and sharing inspirational remarks with our new citizens. Naturalization ceremonies are some of my favorite events to attend, and I look forward to continuing to welcome new Americans who follow in their footsteps.
You can read my remarks to the new citizens here.
For many in our community, this week marks the Diwali holiday and I extend good wishes to all who celebrate in our community and worldwide. May we all remember that light always triumphs over darkness.
Please keep reading for more information about what is happening in Washington and at home.
AROUND THE DISTRICT
Israeli Consulate District Directors Breakfast
This week, Jake Kaplan, my District Director, had the privilege of attending a Congressional and Senatorial District Directors' briefing on US-Israel relations hosted by the Consul General of Israel to the Midwest, Yinam Cohen. At the event, Jake had the opportunity to connect with the consulate and staff from several regional offices regarding US-Israel relations, the Abraham Accords, and additional ways to collaborate with the consulate.
New Military Academy Nomination Deadline
My office is extending the deadline to November 11th at 5 pm CT to apply for a nomination to our nation’s military academies. Nominating students for military academy service is a great honor. If you or someone you know would like to enroll in a military academy, please click here to complete the form to request a military academy nomination. For more information, please review the Frequently Asked Questions for those seeking a Military Academy Nomination.
Veterans Day Breakfast
My office is hosting a breakfast to honor all veterans in the 10th district on Thursday, November 10th. The breakfast is free and open to all veterans throughout our community. My staff will be on hand to assist veterans with any issues they may be experiencing with federal agencies, including the VA, and connect veterans with additional community resources.
To register for the event, please click here.
Additional information:
Location: College of Lake County (RSVP for exact room location).
Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Questions? Contact my office at (847) 383-4870 or email my Casework Manager at Laura.hoyne@mail.house.gov.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON
Reintroducing the Keep Americans Safe Act
On July 4th at the crowded Highland Park Independence Day Parade, a deranged gunman used a semiautomatic rifle with high-capacity magazines to fire 83 rounds in under one minute—murdering 7 people, wounding more than 40 others, and traumatizing an entire community.
High-capacity magazines are designed to kill en masse–allowing a shooter to fire off dozens of bullets without having to reload. These weapons of war are all too often used in mass shootings across the country and are responsible for the deaths of countless innocent people.
That's why I helped reintroduce the Keep Americans Safe Act to ban high-capacity magazines, which would go a long way in reducing the lethality of mass shootings like the one in Highland Park and saving precious lives.
Delivering Half a Million Dollars in Federal Grants for Tenth District Fire Departments
I recently announced $676,264 in federal grants to the Lincolnshire, Grayslake, Winthrop Harbor, and Mount Prospect fire departments. These federal grant funds will help our local fire departments improve and replace personnel safety equipment, upgrade to the latest technology, purchase new fire trucks, and hire new firefighters.
I am grateful for the dedication and professionalism exemplified without hesitation by the men and women of fire departments every day, and I am proud that my team was able to help these departments secure the funding so that our first responders can continue to serve our communities.
The breakdown of the four grant recipients is as follows:
- Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District was awarded $50,241 to replace their 20-year-old air filling station, which is used to fill firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus and SCUBA bottles. The grant will also be used to purchase equipment to annually test breathing masks, hazardous materials masks, WMD masks, and other equipment. Lastly, the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District will replace all their out-of-date radios.
- Grayslake Fire Protection District was awarded $363,636 for the purchase of a new water pumper/tender to help transport water to a fire scene.
- Winthrop Harbor Fire Department was awarded $214,222 to fund the replacement of outdated portable and mobile radios.
- Mount Prospect Fire Department was awarded $48,163 to hire six new fighters, bringing the Village into compliance with National Fire Protection Association standards
Since the beginning of this 117th Congress in January 2021, we have helped more than 100 organizations (local governments, community groups, nonprofits, and others) receive federal grants totaling more than $200 million.
If you want to learn more about applying for a grant, please visit my website for additional details and assistance or contact my office with specific questions.
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY
Please visit my website at schneider.house.gov/local-resources 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 –
Finally, reflecting on the spirit of the 65 new citizens I met this week, I thought I would share the Emma Lazarus poem “The New Colossus” that is at the base of the Statue of Liberty. That imposing giant has watched over so many people as they first arrive in this country (including my grandparents and great grandparents more than a century ago).
“The New Colossus”
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Emma Lazarus
November 2, 1883
Stay strong, stay safe, stay healthy.
Sincerely,
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress