Brad's Newsletter

Last week, President Trump appeared before a joint session of Congress to present the annual State of the Union address.

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.

Today, our nation recognizes Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We honor Dr. King’s memory as well as the legacy of all those who struggled during the Civil Rights Movement to end racial segregation and discrimination, and build a more just and equal nation.

With the start of a new week, I return to Washington today and hopefully the weather returns to normal. While I am anxious to get back to work on the important issues facing our nation, I enjoyed a busy and productive week at home in Illinois.

Happy New Year! I hope you and your family had a relaxing holiday and that 2018 will be a year filled with the blessings of peace, good health and happiness.

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 we approach the end of the year, Congress has an extraordinarily long to-do list, including funding the government, setting spending levels for next year, reauthorizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and finally passing the DREAM Act.

I hope everyone had a happy and restful Thanksgiving filled with family and friends. As Congress returns to work this week, much remains to be done before the end of the year, including funding the government beyond December 8, approving spending levels for 2018, reauthorizing the expired Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and at last passing the DREAM Act.