On Monday, I had the pleasure of presenting Wood Dale Park District with $324,475 in federal funding I secured for the city’s Central Park Re-Development Project, which will complete Phase Two of Wood Dale’s efforts to construct a new playground and adult fitness stations for Central Park, located at the intersection of Central Avenue and Elmhurst Street. As a father of three children myself, I understand how rewarding and critical it is for a child’s social and physical development to have a safe and expansive outdoor space to explore and grow. By re-developing Central Park, Wood Dale will provide the community with more space to gather and allow kids to play and socialize with others.

Last week, the Wagner Group, a mercenary company led by Russian oligarch and paramilitary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, marched unimpeded toward Moscow, calling for the leaders of Russia’s Ministry of Defense to be removed from power. Though the mercenaries subsequently reversed course following an agreement between their leaders and Putin’s government, this short-lived revolt was the first open act of militant defiance and rebellion against Russian President Vladimir Putin since the start of his invasion of Ukraine last February. The Wagner Group has been arguably President Putin’s strongest military force since the war began, and has been deployed to counter numerous Ukrainian military advances in recent months while also targeting Ukrainian civilians, prolonging the war and helping Putin maintain his grip on the eastern regions of Ukraine.

Over the weekend, I joined CNN’s Abby Phillips and MSNBC’s Ayman Mohyeldin to discuss how this challenge to President Putin’s power could impact the war in Ukraine, the broader region, and Putin’s support from other powers, including the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). As Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the CCP, as well as a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I will continue to work with my colleagues in both parties to ensure the United States is fully prepared for any potential moves made by President Putin, his allies, and his enemies, as we continue to stand with the Ukrainian people.

If you are unable to make it to our district office in Schaumburg, our staff is available at mobile office hours throughout the district. Share your concerns, questions, issues and get help navigating federal agencies at convenient locations across the district.

Our Next Pingree Grove Office Hours: Tuesday, July 11th: 12:00pm – 4:00pm at the Pingree Grove Municipal Center at 555 Reinking Rd, Pingree Grove, IL RSVP HERE.

We will continue to hold additional office hours in Pingree Grove on the first Tuesday of each month: August 1st, September 5th, October 3rd, November 7th, and December 5^th.

Our Next Wood Dale Office Hours: Tuesday, July 18th: 10:00am – 1:00pm in the Wood Dale Public Library at 520 N Wood Dale Rd, Wood Dale, IL - RSVP HERE.

We will continue to hold additional office hours in Wood Dale on the third Tuesday of each month: August 15th, September 19th, October 13th, November 21st, and December 19^th.

Our Next Des Plaines Office Hours: Tuesday, August 15th: 9:30am – 11:30am in the Des Plaines Public Library at 1501 Ellinwood St, Des Plaines, IL RSVP HERE.

We will continue to hold additional office hours in Des Plaines on the second Tuesday of every other month: August 15th, October 10th, and December 12th.

The best way to stay up to date on these issues beyond our newsletter is through my social media accounts, which I update multiple times each day. You can follow my Twitter here, my Facebook page here, and my Instagram here. Thank you for staying engaged in our community.