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Newsletter: Responsibly Funding Our Government

January 29, 2018
Brad's Newsletter

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Congress's continued reliance on short-term fixes, known as continuing resolutions, to fund our government should be of concern to every American because it harms both our military's and non-defense agencies' ability to effectively operate and plan for the long-term. The decade-long reliance on short-term, stopgap measures creates unnecessary and costly uncertainty across the federal government. The Secretary of the Navy described these continuing resolutions as if "we have put $4 billion in a trash can, put lighter fluid on top of it and burned it."

Last week, I voted for the latest bill to fund the government, based on a commitment for good-faith negotiations to address our nation's long-term funding needs. We now have ten days to reach a responsible year-long funding bill, and address other urgent priorities including supporting Community Health Centers, protecting the DREAMers in our communities, and passing desperately needed disaster relief for victims of last fall's storms and fires.

At tomorrow's State of the Union speech, I'll be listening for realistic, bipartisan proposals that accomplish these goals, which I remain committed to working across the aisle to achieve.

Do you plan to watch the State of the Union? What are you hoping to hear? Let me know by sending an email through our website.

During the government shutdown, I said I would refuse my salary until funding was restored because Members of Congress should not get paid until they do their job. Last week, I fulfilled that pledge and wrote a check to the U.S. Treasury returning three days of my pay.

MY GUEST TO STATE OF UNION – HIGHLIGHTING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC

I'm very pleased that Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim will be accompanying me as guest to tomorrow's State of the Union. Mike has been a leader on tackling the opioid epidemic in Lake County, promoting drug treatment solutions and bringing together law enforcement, medical professionals, community leaders, and elected officials to address the crisis.

Lake County is home to the pioneering "A Way Out" program, which allows community members to seek substance abuse help and treatment at any participating police station without fear of arrest or criminal charges, and has helped more than 307 individuals to date.

This is a problem affecting communities across the country and opioid addiction does not discriminate based on geography, economics, race, or party affiliation. I hope Congress can learn from Lake County's bipartisan example as we seek solutions to address this crisis.

Learn more on our website.

TAKING ACTION TO ADDRESS ELECTION SECURITY

Our intelligence community is unanimous that the Russian government engaged in a focused campaign at the direction of Vladimir Putin to interfere in the 2016 elections. With fewer than ten months to our next national election and mere weeks before the first state primaries, the clock is ticking. Unless we act now, we will be increasingly vulnerable to the Russians' next attacks.

Last week, I partnered with Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) to introduce H.R. 4884, the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act. This is the House companion legislation to the bill introduced in the Senate by Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL)

This important legislation sends a clear message to Moscow that there will be severe consequences to any future interference, while also taking steps to improve our defenses against meddling by other foreign powers.

Learn more on our website.

VALENTINES FOR VETERANS

Cards created for Valentines for Veterans by students at Hawthorn Middle School South in 2017.

Once again this year, our Lincolnshire Office is collecting and distributing cards to local veterans this Valentine's Day. In 2017, we received more than 1,000 cards from constituents and area schoolchildren, which I distributed to veterans at Lovell Federal Health Care Center and a breakfast of the Lake County Honor Flight. We're accepting submissions until Friday, February 9 at 111 Barclay Blvd, Suite 200, Lincolnshire, IL 60069. This is a great way to give back to those who have given so much for our country.

Learn more on our website.

CONSTITUENT CASEWORK: RECOVERING MEDALS FOR A VIETNAM VETERAN

Did you know our constituent service representatives can help veterans recover medals that were earned but never received?

Last week, I was honored to present replacement medals to Wigberto Clas, a Vietnam Veteran who lives in Grayslake, and thank him for his service. Wigberto never received his medals after his discharge, and our office was able to work with the National Archives and Army to supply new ones. Wigberto told me he plans to pass the medals on to his grandchildren to help them understand the importance of service.

My team and I would love the opportunity to help you if you have an issue with the VA or any other federal agency. Contact our Lincolnshire Office at (847) 383-4870 for help.

WEEKLY WRAP-UP

Helping deliver breakfast as part of the "Breakfast After the Bell" program at Mark Twain Elementary in Wheeling. I'm committed to protecting school nutrition programs like these to ensure all our children start the day ready to learn.

Bringing together local clergy and law enforcement for a briefing by Department of Homeland Security on security procedures for Houses of Worship. Thank you to Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church for hosting the briefing and Lake County IL Sheriff's Office for participating.

Thank you to the Teen & Single Mother Resource Center in Waukegan for welcoming me last week and for all you do caring, promoting education, and creating opportunity for moms and kids in our community.

Catching up with Tenth District Mayors at a breakfast we convened in Waukegan. Good discussion on the local effects of the GOP tax plan, need for infrastructure investment, and improving mass transit.

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!