Newsletter: Medicare Enrollment Help Available for Seniors

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Once again we are broken hearted by senseless gun violence. Our nation is mourning for the victims of the horrific shooting in Sutherland Springs, TX and praying for their loved ones. Sadly, both the frequency and deadliness of mass shootings are accelerating. It's long past due for Congress to take action. Enough is enough.

Today, I return to Congress committed as ever to finding common ground and making progress wherever possible to reduce the gun violence claiming lives daily across our country.

Separately, the focus in Congress this week is likely to be tax reform. We need to fix our outdated and overly complex tax code, but we need to do so in a responsible and sustainable way. The current Republican plan falls short. I hope we can work towards a path of bipartisan tax reform.

Please read on in this issue for information about upcoming information sessions I'm hosting for seniors to learn more about the Medicare coverage options available, as well as my thoughts on the recently released GOP tax reform proposal and more.

MEDICARE ENROLLMENT HELP AVAILABLE FOR SENIORS

I'm excited to announce four upcoming Medicare Open Enrollment events throughout our district. Hosted in partnership with the Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) and North Shore Senior Center, these events are intended to assist area seniors better understand their Medicare options, and help as they compare and select the best Medicare Part D plan for them. This year's Medicare Open Enrollment period began on October 15 and ends on December 7, 2017.

All four events follow the below agenda:

• 9:30am – 10:00am
  Open informational education session
  
• 10:00am – 2:00pm
  Personal consultations available with SHIP counselors (by appointment only, RSVP is required)

Tuesday, November 14
Des Plaines Library
1501 Ellinwood Ave., Des Plaines, IL
To RSVP and schedule personal consultation: call (847) 784-6040

Wednesday, November 15
Fremont Public Library
1170 N. Midlothian Rd., Mundelein, IL
To RSVP and schedule personal consultation: call (847) 383-4870

Monday, November 20
Glenview Senior Center
2400 Chestnut Ave., Glenview IL
To RSVP and schedule personal consultation: call (847) 784-6040

Thursday, November 30
North Chicago Public Library
2100 Argonne Drive, North Chicago, IL
To RSVP and schedule personal consultation: call (847) 383-4870

Attendees should bring their prescriptions or a pharmacy printout of their medications to the event to better compare coverage plans.

PUSHING FOR TRUE BIPARTISAN TAX REFORM

We need to reform our outdated tax code, but it must be done in a bipartisan and fiscally-responsible way that encourages growth and supports our middle class.

Last week, the House Republican leadership released their tax reform bill. On first review, I'm disappointed and concerned. In no small part because the plan saddles future generations with trillions more in debt to pay for tax cuts for the most fortunate Americans. Furthermore, restricting provisions depended on by the middle class, including the state and local tax (SALT) deduction and property tax deductions, hurts working families – particularly in Illinois.

In the days ahead, I hope my Republican colleagues will open the process in a bipartisan way. I remain ready and willing to sit down and work across the aisle to achieve responsible tax reform.

I also spoke on the House floor about the tax reform proposal, which you can watch here.

YOU'RE INVITED: VETERANS BREAKFAST

We're still accepting RSVPs for the breakfast I'm hosting this Friday to honor those in our communities who served, and share some of the ways my office and local veteran organizations can be of assistance.

The breakfast, which is free and open to all veterans in Illinois's Tenth Congressional District, is organized in cooperation with the Student Veterans Club of CLC.Representatives from the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, and other local veteran assistance and employment organizations will also be on-site to meet with attendees and discuss the services they provide.

Learn more and RSVP to attend the breakfast here.

NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE HOURS

Our office 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. We're here to help if you have issues with Medicare, Social Security, the Veterans Administration, immigration and more.

This week, we'll be in Lindenhurst, Zion, North Chicago, Waukegan, and Mundelein. Check out the full schedule on our website and come meet with us when we're in your community!

WEEKLY WRAP-UP

On Tuesday, I followed up with a constituent in Waukegan that our office worked with to recover years' worth of back benefits owed by the Social Security Administration – more than $63,000 in total. The team in our Lincolnshire Office is available to help with any federal issue – get in touch with us at (847) 383-4870.

I spoke at the Waukegan Township Veterans Lunch on Saturday, an annual event to honor and thank the many members of our community who have served in the armed forces.

I sat down with my friend Rep. Robin Kelly to answer some of the common questions we've heard about Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment – watch it on Facebook Live.

I was proud to stand with Representative Sean Patrick Maloney and my colleagues in Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus announcing an anti-discrimination amicus brief. The case before the Supreme Court is about more than a bakery - it's about whether a business can legally discriminate against customers based on sexual orientation, race, religion and ability, among others. The Supreme Court must uphold our civil rights laws to keep businesses open for all, no matter who you are or who you love.

I was glad to join the Vernon Hills Indian Association for their Diwali Gala Dinner over the weekend.

Visit our Facebook and Twitter pages for more photos and updates.

As always, please continue to stay in touch and share your thoughts, either by calling our DC office at (202) 225-4835 or emailing via our website.

Thanks for reading!