Newsletter: Responding to Flooding
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As the waters begin to recede, I want to thank all the first responders, government workers and volunteers who have worked around the clock on behalf of our communities.
In Washington last week, I was excited that my amendment to address opioid abuse in the military passed the House as part of the annual Defense Authorization Act.
Please read on for more details, as well as an invite to our next Congress on Your Corner this Saturday in Highland Park.
RESPONDING TO FLOODING
I am extremely grateful for the first responders, our local leaders, and aid organizations like the Red Cross and Salvation Army that have stepped up to care for our communities in the wake of this disaster, as well as the countless volunteers who have worked tirelessly to help neighbors fight off the flood waters.
This weekend, Lake County Chairman Aaron Lawlor briefed me, alongside U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14), and other local leaders at the Emergency Operations Center in Libertyville on the extent of the flooding, actions underway to mitigate further damage, and efforts to clean-up.
As affected communities begin to recover, my team and I stand ready to help in any way we can, and we will continue to closely coordinate with local leaders to ensure our communities have access to all available federal resources.
If you've been affected by flooding, information and resources are available on our website.
PASSING LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS MILITARY OPIOID ABUSE
Last week, I was very happy to see the House pass my amendment to help prevent overprescribing of opioids by military physicians and better equip Department of Defense medical personnel to identify and treat opioid misuse disorders. The amendment was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018, which passed the House by a vote of 344-81.
This amendment requires medical professionals in the Department of Defense who prescribe opioids for pain management to undertake 12 hours of continuing education training every 3 years to ensure they are up-to-date on the latest best practices in preventing overprescribing and treating misuse.
Our brave men and women in uniform are unfortunately more susceptible to the epidemic of opioid addiction and abuse that is ravaging our country. They have earned our gratitude and deserve the highest-quality of health care. This commonsense amendment makes sure our military doctors are equipped with the latest knowledge and best practices to help fight back against this horrible addiction.
Learn more about this amendment on our website.
CONGRESS ON YOUR CORNER
This Saturday, I'll be in Highland Park for our next Congress on Your Corner event. I'm looking forward to hearing from you and answering any questions you may have. Hope you can join us!
Saturday, July 22, 2017
11:00am – 12:00pm
Highland Park High School (enter through the "H" entrance)
433 Vine Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035
DISCUSSING HEALTH CARE
This weekend, I spoke with Richard Lui of MSNBC to discuss our recent health care forum and share stories I'm hearing from constituents. Watch the video below.
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 Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Highwood, Waukegan, and Lake Bluff. Check out the full schedule on our website and come meet with us when we're in your community!
WEEKLY WRAP-UP
Thanking some of the volunteers helping to fill sandbags in Fox Lake.
Getting ready to speak with CNN International about the latest developments concerning the Trump campaign's interactions with Russia. Watch the clip here.
Speaking at the USO BBQ to support services for troops and their families at Ray Chevrolet.
Continuing our Brad At Your Business series, meeting with the team at Lincolnshire Marriott Resort and touring the renovation underway. Hotels support more than 280,000 hospitality jobs in Illinois.
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!
Sincerely,
Brad Schneider
Member of Congress