Media

It's finally August, which means I will be working here in the district all month. I am excited to be home and looking forward to seeing people across our different communities. Over the next several weeks, I am sitting down with our local mayors and village presidents to better understand the specific issues they are focused on. I will be visiting local business and various social and civic service groups as well. And of course, with the new school year starting, I and excited to talk with students of all ages.

Better late than never, and hopefully well worth the wait, the 2020 Olympics are finally happening! These Games will likely always be remembered as the Pandemic Olympics with the year's long delay, empty stadiums and the images of too many athletes missing their chance to compete after testing positive for COVID-19. But beyond the hardships, we should focus on the stories of sportsmanship, the near superhuman discipline and perseverance and the competitors, and the honor of every athlete competing their hearts out on behalf of their country.

Last Wednesday the first round of monthly Child Tax Credit payments started hitting bank accounts. The newly refundable credit is part of the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress in March. The annual credit is $3,000 for children under 17 and $3,600 for children under 6, with half the annual credit paid in monthly installments, July through December. The second half of the credit will be claimed on individuals 2021 tax return.