Newsletter: Announcing Tenth District STEM Scholars
First and most importantly, to the mothers and grandmothers reading today, I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing Mother's Day weekend!
In Washington, last week was active on the legislative front. On Thursday, my amendment to help communities dealing with stranded nuclear waste, such as Zion, IL, overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives. I also introduced new legislation to strengthen our efforts to counter foreign propaganda and secure our elections. More details on both of these items are included below.
Closer to home, I'm very excited to announce the launch of our Tenth District STEM Scholars program, a new educational opportunity for local high school students to learn about science, technology, education, and math through hands-on learning experiences and visits to area STEM facilities. I frequently visit businesses around the district and I look forward to bringing local students with me to explore some of the great STEM career opportunities being created right here in the 10th District. We're now accepting applications for the program, through June 29. Continue reading for more information.
LAUNCHING TENTH DISTRICT STEM SCHOLARS
Beginning this fall, selected high school students will join me on visits to four local STEM-related businesses and facilities during the 2018-2019 school year. On these visits, we'll participate in discussions with local employees, business owners, and educators, and learn more about the STEM 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, only two applicants from each high school will be selected for participation in this competitive program.
Students who are interested should submit an application online at /stemscholars by Friday, June 29, 2018.
The incoming class of STEM Scholars will be announced in August and our first program session will be held in September.
HELP FOR COMMUNITIES WITH STRANDED NUCLEAR WASTE
With Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Zion Mayor Al Hill during a visit to the decommissioned nuclear plant.
For too long, communities across the country have been saddled with housing our nation's stranded nuclear waste while the federal government has failed to meet its legal obligation to find a permanent repository. This is something we understand all too well: the former Zion Nuclear Power Station located on valuable lakefront property has housed more than 2 million pounds of spent nuclear fuel since the plant's closure in 1998. This waste, literally on the shores of Lake Michigan, is both an environmental hazard, and a burden on the quality of life of the residents of Zion – deterring economic investment, depressing home values and driving up property taxes to fill the local revenue void.
Last week, an amendment I introduced on this issue passed the House. It requires the Secretary of Energy to assemble a task force to work across all federal agencies to identify existing resources and funding opportunities that could assist communities with decommissioned plants where nuclear waste is being stored. In addition, the task force would work with communities in the decommissioning process to develop a transition plan to mitigate the economic damage when a plant closes
I appreciate the bipartisan support from my colleagues, and urge the Senate to take up this matter urgently. This bill is a step forward, but should be just the start of our work to help communities forced to store our nuclear waste the federal help they are owed.
Read more about the Schneider amendment on our website.
PROTECTING OUR ELECTIONS FROM FOREIGN PROPAGANDA
In March it became public that the Global Engagement Center (GEC), the State Department office tasked with countering foreign propaganda and disinformation, had yet to spend a penny of the money allocated by Congress, or hire even a single Russian-speaking analyst. There is universal acceptance that Russia tried to interfere in past elections, and our intelligence agencies warn that Russia views our 2018 elections as a target for further interference. The inaction of the GEC is unacceptable and must be addressed.
Last week, Rep. Ted Lieu and I introduced legislation to clarify responsibilities and increase Congressional oversight of the Global Engagement Center. We need to do everything we can to ensure our government is responding to this threat with the seriousness it deserves.
Learn more about our legislation on our website.
BAGELS WITH BRAD OPEN HOUSE – JOIN US THIS WEDNESDAY, MAY 16
Every week that Congress is in session, our DC office hosts an open house on Wednesday from 9:00 – 10:00 am. All visiting constituents are invited to drop by for coffee, bagels and a chance to say hello in person. Last week, I was joined by several Tenth District groups, including manufacturers, orthodontists, and students from George Washington University. If you're in Washington for business or vacation, I hope you'll join us at our next #BagelsWithBrad on Wednesday, May 16 at 1432 Longworth House Office Building. Call our office at (202) 225-4835 to RSVP!
NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE HOURS
Our office also hosts frequent Neighborhood Office Hours for constituents to more easily meet with caseworkers and staff to discuss any federal issues that they may have and learn more about services our office can provide. This week, we'll be in Deerfield, Mt. Prospect, andGlenview. Check out the full schedule on our website and come meet with us when we're in your community!
WEEKLY WRAP-UP
The Tenth District is proud to be the home of Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago through which all new Navy recruits pass for basic training. Friday, I was honored to attend the Change of Command ceremony. I've greatly enjoyed working with Captain James Hawkins (above), and thank him for his 27 years of service to our nation. I wish him and his family well as they write the next chapter. I also offer a warm welcome aboard to incoming Commanding Officer, Captain Raymond Leung (below), and his family.
Congratulations to seven of the Tenth District's newest Eagle Scouts! I was glad to join their Court of Honor ceremony over the weekend in Buffalo Grove.
I was honored to address a luncheon on Capitol Hill celebrating the contributions and accomplishments of Jewish-Americans during Jewish American Heritage Month.
Thanks for reading!