News from the 10th: Pursuing COVID Relief
It's been another bitterly cold week in Illinois, and I hope you are staying warm and safe. Across our country, it's heart wrenching seeing so many people facing the cold without power and heat. Once more, we are facing unprecedented weather extremes making it even more abundantly clear that we need to urgently address climate change and invest in making our national infrastructure more resilient. Most press, however, is getting federal emergency assistance to those most severely affected the storms and their immediate impact.
Looking back to last week, the country was focused on watching the impeachment. Meanwhile, in the House, our energies were focused on speeding up vaccine distribution and getting relief to struggling Americans and their communities. Over the course of more than 18 hours of hearings, my colleagues and I on the Ways & Means Committee worked on the significant parts of the package assigned to our committee. Among other items, our word addressed the $1400 stimulus checks, extended unemployment insurance and enhancements to the earned income and the child tax credits.
Combined with the work of the other House committees, I am confident that we will soon be able to send the full American Rescue Plan to the Senate and ultimately to the President for his signature.
This week, the House continues with committee work, not just the COVID relief but also many other important bills as well. I am particularly focused on advancing the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (H.R. 350), which would strengthen federal law enforcement's ability to identify threats and prevent acts of domestic terrorism.
Returning to the impeachment, while not surprised by the outcome, I was disappointed that a sufficient number of Senators (all Republicans) were unwilling or incapable of standing up to a President who inspired an attack on our Constitution and our democratic republic. Nevertheless, a significant majority of Senators, 57%, voted to convict Mr. Trump. It was by far the most bipartisan indictment of a United States President. I think the House Impeachment Managers did an extraordinary job presenting the case that Mr. Trump was guilty of organizing and inciting a violent mob to besiege and ransack our nation's Capitol.
We must now take the necessary steps to fully understand the events that preceded and precipitated the Capitol attack and ensure nothing like it ever happens again. I personally support the idea of an independent commission to conduct a compete assessment of the events leading up to and including the insurrection on January 6, 2021.
Finally, we are getting a lot of calls about COVID-19 vaccines and I appreciate that many of you are anxious about when you can get your shot. We are seeing some progress as vaccine numbers continue to rise, but there are gaps, bottlenecks and other challenges that need to be addressed. I will continue to look for opportunities and do all I can to improve both the effectiveness and speed of our vaccination programs. More information on how to get your vaccine is below.
VACCINE INFORMATION
The good news is that Illinois' vaccine numbers are starting to get better, as is the outreach. Still, we have much work to improve the speed and effectiveness of our vaccination programs. I've been on the phones with mayors, health department officials, and pharmacy leaders to try to help speed up distribution.
You can find more information, reference data regarding COVID and various assistance programs on my website.
How to get vaccinated:
Currently only people in Phase 1A and Phase 1B are eligible to receive the vaccine. Please understand that demand far exceeds supply and it could be weeks before an appointment opens.
You can register for a vaccine appointment with the government here:
- Cook County: https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov/
- Hotline: 833-308-1988 (answered M-F 7am – 7pm)
- Lake County: https://allvax.lakecohealth.org/
- Hotline: 847-377-8130
You can register for a vaccine appointment with a pharmacy at these locations:
- CVS
- Jewel-Osco
- Mariano's
- Meijer
- Walgreens
- Walmart Pharmacy
- Please also reach out to your hospital health system to inquire about their vaccination appointment process.
Veterans: If you are a veteran and receive your medical care from the VA, register here:
- Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center
- Hotline: 224-610-3899
North Chicago and Waukegan: Seniors age 65+ who are residents of North Chicago or Waukegan can register for a vaccine appointment
- Location: Greenbelt Community Center; 1215 Green Bay Rd, North Chicago, IL 60064
- Dates: Opens February 15. Open Monday-Friday, from 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Registration: Email vaccine@northchicagocommunitypartners.org with your full name, phone number and birthdate. If you have any questions, please call (847) 582-1362.
Waukegan seniors 65+ who reside within a 10-mile radius of Oak Street Health Clinic can now also make vaccination appointments at:
- Location: Oak Street Health Clinic, 3210 Grand Avenue, Waukegan, IL 60085
- Dates: Open now
- Registration: Call 847-244-9242 with your name, address, phone number, and date of birth to make an appointment.
You can find more information, reference data regarding COVID and various assistance programs on my website.
HEALTHCARE.GOV OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT
In case you missed it, President Biden announced Healthcare.gov is now open for enrollment through May 15. Everyone should have access to affordable health care, especially during a pandemic. President Biden opened this special enrollment period to help people explore their options for health insurance and secure some peace of mind as we work to beat back this virus.
ACTIVITY ACROSS THE TENTH
Valentines for Veterans
On Monday I delivered more 1200 Valentines for Veterans submitted by constituents across the district to Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center. It's always important to recognize the sacrifices that our brave veterans have made for this country, but especially so during this time of isolation and loneliness. These handwritten cards will go a long way in helping our veterans feel loved and appreciated. Thank you to everyone who sent in a Valentine!
North Chicago Opens COVID-19 Vaccine Site
Had a great visit with Ms. Bea and Mayor Leon Rockingham at the new COVID-19 vaccination site at Greenbelt Cultural Center on Monday. The site will remain open for two months to serve the 1700 seniors in the area eligible for the vaccine.
Residents 65 and older who live in Waukegan or North Chicago can make a vaccination appointment at Greenbelt by emailing their full name, birthday, email address and phone number to vaccine@northchicagocommunitypartners.org. You can also call 847-582-1362 for assistance. No insurance required.
Supporting Our Libraries During the Pandemic
Every year on Presidents Day I look forward to the Illinois Library Association Legislative Breakfast. This year we met via Zoom. It was still great to hear about their legislative priorities, but I missed the pancakes and scrambled eggs. (I miss seeing everyone in person more though.).
Reducing Substance Abuse in the Pandemic
I had a wonderful conversation with Live4Lali, an organization founded by Chelsea Laliberte Barnes to honor the memory of her brother Alex: a young, bright student who grew up in Buffalo Grove and last his battle with addiction. Alex loved sports, hip-hop and his family.
THE WEEK IN WASHINGTON
Passing Bold COVID Relief
Last Thursday, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. struck deals for 200 million more COVID-19 vaccine doses, which means that we soon have enough vaccines to inoculate every American adult. While this is great news, President Biden also warned that further logistical hurdles remain, and most Americans will not likely be vaccinated until the end of the summer.
My colleagues and I on the Ways & Means Committee marked up our portion of the bill last week. The Ways and Means Committee is responsible for directing nearly half of the $1.9 trillion package, including the parameters of the $1400 direct payments, extended unemployment insurance, the $3000 refundable child tax credit, assistance for nursing homes, resources to make child care more affordable for working families, and strengthening the Affordable Care Act. I am proud of the product that we are sending to the full House.
Restoring Integrity in Government
Last week I introduced a series of bills to restore integrity in government, root out government corruption, and strengthen democracy. Serving in Congress is a great honor, and the American people expect their representatives and their government to be held to a higher standard. These common-sense reforms will help our democracy function more effectively.
The bills I introduced as part of this package include:
- The Real-Time Transparency Act would require disclosure within 48 hours of donations to candidates and committees, rather than once a quarter
- The Prohibiting Perks and Privileges Act would hold members of Congress more accountable by curbing corrupt lobbying practices, requiring members' annual financial disclosure statements be posted on their websites, and prohibiting the use of taxpayer funds to pay for congressional spouse travel
- The Ethics in Public Service Act would enact an ethics pledge for senior Executive Branch officials and establish a two-year "cooling-off" period before former lobbyists can join an executive agency they previously lobbied
Helping State and Local Governments Respond to the Pandemic
Our states and local communities are the leaders in our fight against coronavirus, and they are being stretched to the breaking point. To better support them during this pandemic, I introduced a bipartisan bill last week with Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and John Katko (R-NY) to help state and local governments provide paid leave to public employees who can't work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Allowing public employers such as state and local governments and public schools, utilities, and transit agencies to access the same payroll tax credits available to private businesses is a straightforward and bipartisan way to help our communities during this time of need.
Addressing the PPE Shortage
To help boost our domestic supple of Personal. Protective Equipment (PPE) and diagnostic testing supply, I introduced bipartisan legislation with Rep. David McKinley (R-WV. Our. bill also promotes a more sustainable supply chain by ensuring more predictable funding to American manufacturers who make the applicable medical supplies.
IN CLOSING
I am excited to announce that we have welcomed our next class of interns! In my DC office, our interns help us by answering constituent inquiries, staying on top of phone messages, and helping my staff with other tasks as necessary. In the district office, our interns help track COVID numbers and keep up with constituent correspondence.
Thank you to Victor, Hussain, John, Luke, and Charlotte for joining the team. We are lucky to have you!
Stay strong, stay safe, stay healthy.
Sincerely,
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress