Newsletter: Small Business Committee Comes to Tenth District
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I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. Wishing Happy Hanukkah to everyone celebrating the Festival of Lights and a Merry Christmas to all those preparing to welcome the holiday next week!
As 2017 comes to a rapid close, Congressional Republican leadership remains focused on passing their tax bill. The final conference text that merges the House and Senate bills was released late Friday. While I remain committed to true, sensible tax reform, I will oppose this plan because it restricts the state and local tax deduction, will undermine health insurance markets, and will add approximately $5,000 of additional debt to the burden of every man, woman and child in our country. Far too many aspects of the tax scheme will hurt my constituents and our communities for years to come.
To share your thoughts with me on the tax bill or any other issue, send me an email or call our office at (847) 383-4870.
Additionally, beginning on Wednesday and through the March 20, 2018 primary, Illinois's congressional offices enter a "blackout" period that prevents us from proactively communicating with constituents unless they are already e-newsletter subscribers. During this period, we are not allowed to conduct telephone town halls or widely advertise upcoming events throughout the district. The good news is, if you're receiving this email, you're on our newsletter list and will continue to stay up to date! If you have friends or family that are not signed-up, encourage them to subscribe here.
SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE COMES TO TENTH DISTRICT
Last Monday, I had the pleasure to host a bipartisan hearing of the House Small Business Committee in Deerfield. This was an opportunity for me and my colleague Congressman Rod Blum (R-IA) to hear from local entrepreneurs in our community about the challenges and opportunities of starting a new small business.
Learn more about what we discussed and see additional photos on our Facebook page.
PROMOTING ELECTION SECURITY
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Last week, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appeared before the House Judiciary Committee for questioning. As with Attorney General Sessions and FBI Director Wray, I asked him about our efforts to prevent the kinds of interference we witnessed in 2016 and protect our next elections in 2018.
Earlier this month, I led a letter urging a briefing for Members of Congress on the Department of Justice's actions to address this threat. This issue is fundamental to our democracy, and I'll continue asking until we get answers.
HOLIDAY CARDS FOR HEROES
Our Lincolnshire office received more than 100 holiday cards over the past few weeks for military servicemembers stationed overseas. My thanks to all the constituents and schools that participated. These cards will be appreciated by the men and women who will spend these holidays serving their country far from friends and family.
HOLDING IRAN TO ACCOUNT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
This week, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan amendment I introduced to help prevent human rights abuses by the Iranian regime. The amendment modifies the Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act, which shines a light on assets held by top Iranian officials, including the Supreme Leader, Members of the Council of Guardians, Members of the Expediency Council and the high-ranking military leaders. The bill requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report to Congress information on the assets held by senior Iranian leaders, as well as offer recommendations to improve U.S. sanctions to prevent these assets and funding from being used by Iranian officials to further develop Iran's ballistic missile program.
My amendment expands this requirement to include human rights abuses, helping ensure that funds held by senior Iranian leaders do not contribute to these abuses and that U.S. sanctions are best positioned to improve the human rights situation in Iran.
We should be using every tool in our toolbox to make clear to Iran that its human rights abuses are unacceptable and hold the regime accountable.
NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE HOURS
My team will be in Mt. Prospect and Wheeling this Tuesday for our last Neighborhood Office Hours of 2017. We've held more than 125 Neighborhood Office Hours events this year, and look forward continuing our outreach in 2018. If you need help with a federal agency – from Social Security to Medicare to immigration or the VA – please come out and meet with us when we're in your community! And you can always reach us in our central office in Lincolnshire. Check the full schedule online.
WEEKLY WRAP-UP
Saturday was a great conclusion to our 2017 Congress On Your Corner series in Glenview. Thank you to the more than 2,500 people who joined us at these 17 town hall sessions this year. And stay tuned for more town halls in 2018!
Discussing building a more Dementia Friendly Lake County at event in North Chicago with the Northeastern Illinois Agency on Aging.
Talking with the more than 5,000 constituents who joined me on our tenth telephone town hall of 2017 last Wednesday. These calls have engaged more than 30,000 people! I look forward to our next one in the spring.
The growing national debt is a threat to the future we pass on to our children. But my GOP colleague's tax hike bill explodes our deficit while simultaneously raising taxes on middle class families. In the Blue Dog Coalition, we're ready to work across aisle for tax reform that is bipartisan and fiscally-responsible.