Welcome to my February wrap-up newsletter!

Dear friend,

Welcome to my February wrap-up newsletter. From meeting with constituents, hosting a town hall, honoring Tom Skilling, celebrating community investments, and again avoiding a government shutdown, it’s been quite a month! Here’s a look back at what I’ve been up to in February. At the bottom of this email, you will find information on upcoming events my office is hosting.

This month, I led a letter joined by 91 of my colleagues in Congress urging the Department of Education to fix a technical error in the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form that blocked students whose parents don’t have a Social Security (SSN) number from submitting their forms. This error left many of my constituents from mixed-status families without answers and no path forward as college financial aid deadlines crept up. After we sent our letter and weeks of advocacy, the Department issued new temporary guidelines for families. This is an important first step, and they must continue to rectify these errors in rollout so that no student is blocked from the aid they need.

You can read more about our letter here.

Honoring Tom Skilling

Many things have changed in Chicagoland over the past 45 years. We are grateful that Tom Skilling has been there for all that time to help us weather the storms and enjoy the good days.

I spoke on the House Floor to honor Tom and congratulate him on his retirement.

Hosting a Town Hall in Riverside

Thanks to Riverside President Douglas Pollock and Township Supervisor Vera A. Wilt for helping host my Riverside town hall along with special guests State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Commissioner Eira Corral Sepúlveda!

It was great to meet many constituents and have an opportunity to answer questions. I’ll be hosting more town halls soon, so stay tuned for future dates and locations.

Congressman speaks with town hall attendee

Standing with Flight Attendants

at O’Hare

Record numbers of Americans are flying and airline profits are soaring, yet flight attendants still lack adequate pay and safety in their workplace. In February, flight attendants across the country organized a day of action, and I was proud to stand by their side at O’Hare.

Breaking Ground in Brighton Park

It was a wonderful day as we broke ground on the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council Service Center, which will be a hub for youth programs, parent support, community health initiatives, and immigrant and refugee support.

I was proud to help secure more than $1 million in Community Project Funding for this site, and I will continue to advocate for investments that build stronger, healthier neighborhoods.

Joining the Proviso Municipal League

Our communities do better when leaders at all levels of government work together. I joined the Proviso Municipal League alongside local leaders serving IL-04 in the western suburbs to share our priorities.

I discussed the billions in funding I helped secure for Illinois from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), including investments in rail safety, flood mitigation, and more. I’m thankful to the League for honoring me with the Nautical Sextant Award for my leadership.

Participating in the

Raíces on the Road Panel

I joined the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation and the Great Cities Institute for a timely panel led by the Caucus Foundation Co-Chair Representative Norma Hernandez. We covered issues of concern for the Illinois Latino community, from immigrant justice to health equity and economic development. I shared what I’m fighting for at the federal level to expand opportunities for our communities.

Attending the Southwest Side

Small Business Feria

I attended the annual Southwest Side Small Business Feria hosted by Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya.

Our district is home to thousands of small businesses, and many are owned by immigrants, women, and families. I'll keep fighting in Congress so that entrepreneurs of all backgrounds have access to the resources they need to succeed.

Upcoming Events

March 6th: Leyden Township Satellite Office Hours
My team will be in Leyden Township (2501 N. Mannheim Road, Franklin Park, IL 60131) tomorrow, March 6th from 1:00pm to 3:30pm to help you navigate federal agencies and answer questions on Social Security, VA Benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, and much more.

March 16th: Citizenship Workshop
Ready to become a U.S. Citizen? Join us for our monthly Citizenship Workshop. This workshop is by appointment only. To register, call 773-475-0833 or 773-342-0774.

March 20th: Burbank Satellite Office Hours
My team will be in Burbank (6215 W. 79th Street, Suite 1A, Burbank, IL 60459) from 10:00am to 3:00pm to help you navigate federal agencies and answer questions on Social Security, VA Benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, and much more.

Need Help with a Federal Agency?

Our office has a dedicated team of caseworkers that assist constituents with many federal services. Some services we can help with:

Social Security claims
Medicare and Medicaid claims
Passport requests
SBA loans
Veterans benefits
Immigration case inquiries

Click here to request help.