Brad's Newsletter
Regular readers of this newsletter know that I talk a lot about bipartisanship. Not only because I think it’s good politics, but because I believe that the only way to create sustainable solutions to the greatest challenges we face is by bringing people together across differing perspectives to work together towards common ground.
I want to begin by wishing everyone a Happy New Year! May 2023 by filled with health, happiness, and prosperity for our communities, our state and our country.
It’s hard to believe 2022 is coming to an end. Our office will be closed next week for the holidays, so this is my final newsletter of the year. That is assuming Congress passes legislation funding the government this week.
I am back in Washington this week, hopefully able to make progress towards passing several end of year priorities. The top issue for Congress is funding the government for Fiscal Year 2023 before the current funding extension expires on Friday.
I hope you had a good Thanksgiving and holiday weekend, whether here at home, or, like millions of other Americans, traveling around the country. I had a very nice, mostly quiet weekend at home with family. I did make time on Wednesday to visit with seniors in Waukegan and sailors at Naval Station Great Lakes to enjoy an early Thanksgiving meal.
After Members spent the past six weeks in our home districts, the House was back in session this week. We were joined in the Capitol by the more than 70 new Members-Elect who won their election last week. Their presence brings a certain kind of energy to this place, and a fair bit of intrigue as Democrats and Republicans select their leaders for the 118th Congress.
I, for one, and I suspect you will agree, am happy to have the 2022 election behind us. Some may be happy with some of the results, others will be happy with other results. But the important takeaway from Tuesday’s election is that American democracy is resilient, the American people are strong, and we have a long list of challenges—and opportunities—before us.
While I normally use this space to talk about my work in the Tenth District, today I want to shine a light on the work of one of the great organizations in our community.
Of the many extraordinary duties that I have as your Representative, few compare to the privilege of attending and speaking at a naturalization ceremony where immigrants take the oath to become citizens of the United States of America.