On Saturday, President Joe Biden signed into law a six-bill minibus spending package passed by the House and Senate last week that funds part of the federal government for the rest of Fiscal Year 2024 and averts a partial government shutdown. Included in that package was $14,490,287 in federal funding I was proud to secure for 15 local community projects located throughout the Eighth Congressional District. These new projects include, among others, a new fire station in Itasca, a community hall and children’s center at Poplar Creek Public Library, lead service line replacements in Elgin, and millions more for local and state organizations to transform and improve our communities for decades to come. As a member of Congress, one of my main priorities is improving the lives of my constituents and enriching our local communities, and I am thankful to all the organizations and community leaders who worked with my staff and I to get these projects approved and funded. You can see the full list of funded projects here. |
Congressman Krishnamoorthi, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and human rights leaders address reporters on the importance of passing the Congressman's legislation to force TikTok’s parent company to divest.
On Wednesday, the House overwhelmingly passed my bipartisan Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, legislation I led with Chairman Mike Gallagher of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the US and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This bill forces TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, which is controlled by the CCP under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, to divest from the popular social media company, thus removing the TikTok app from CCP control while keeping it available to American users.
Over the past week, TikTok has run an aggressive, sophisticated propaganda campaign using user’s geo-location data and urging them to call their members of Congress and lobby Congress on behalf of TikTok and ByteDance, encouraging minors who oftentimes do not have parental consent to call our offices before accessing the application. TikTok’s propaganda operation to mobilize children into a political influence campaign infuriated members and underscored the point of my legislation. This incident demonstrated that TikTok already has the capability to weaponize its users at a moment’s notice to influence American politics. This week, it was a notification to call Congress to block a bill; next week, it could be a notification asking users to call their representatives to block aid to our allies or security partners, including Taiwan. The CCP’s control of ByteDance, and therefore TikTok, is a grave national security threat to our country, and we cannot stand by and allow it to continue.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi addresses his colleagues on the House Floor on the importance of passing the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. (Click the image above to watch the Congressman’s full Floor speech.)
During a hearing held by the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence held on Tuesday, I asked FBI Director Christopher Wray and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines if they could rule out that the CCP was responsible for the propaganda campaign. Both told me that they could not rule that out. Directors Wray and Haines also confirmed that the CCP used TikTok to influence and meddle with the 2022 midterm elections and told me that it is possible the CCP will employ the same strategy as November’s presidential elections approach.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi questions Directors Wray and Haines on the dangers posed by TikTok.(Click the image above to watch the Congressman’s full question line.)
The choice of whether to keep TikTok running for American users is ByteDance’s. Our goal is to allow American users to continue to use TikTok. Any claims of this being an outright ban are false.
This is not the first time a foreign adversary-controlled company has been required to divest a popular social media app. In 2018, the Trump Administration directed Beijing Kunlun Tech, the CCP-owned parent company of the popular LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr to divest the app from its portfolio due to the sensitive and personal data it stored. That is what my legislation would direct ByteDance to do with TikTok, and I am hopeful the Senate will swiftly follow through on passing this important legislation and sending it to President Biden for his signature to become law.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi discusses his TikTok legislation with Kasie Hunt on CNN. (Click the image above to watch the Congressman’s full interview.)
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Last Thursday, President Joe Biden delivered his 2024 State of the Union address before both chambers of Congress, updating the American people on the state of our country. During his speech, President Biden reiterated his calls for Congress to pass more substantive legislation to restore the reproductive rights stripped away by the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
I was honored to invite Planned Parenthood of Illinois President and CEO Jennifer Welch as my guest for the State of the Union. Thanks to her dedicated work, Illinois has become a beacon for reproductive freedom for countless Americans from neighboring states who have seen their own rights reduced or erased by far-right politicians. With the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision to restrict in-vitro fertilization (IVF) still top of mind for so many, the President’s call to protect and expand reproductive rights rings louder than ever before, and Congress must pass legislation codifying the rights of Roe v. Wade into law.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi with Planned Parenthood of Illinois President and CEO Jennifer Welch before the 2024 State of the Union.
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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 Wood Dale Office Hours: Wednesday, April 3rd: 10:00am – 1:00pm in the Wood Dale Public Library at 520 N Wood Dale Rd, Wood Dale, IL.
We will continue to hold additional office hours in Wood Dale on the first Wednesday of each month: May 1st, June 5th, July 3rd, August 7th, September 4th, October 2nd, November 6th, December 4th.
Our Next Elgin Office Hours: Tuesday, May 14th: 10:00am – 1:00pm at the Gail Borden Public Library (Elgin Branch) at 270 N. Grove Ave, Elgin, IL.
We will continue to hold additional office hours in Elgin on the second Tuesday of each month:, June 11th, July 9th, August 13th, September 10th, October 8th, November 12th, December 10th.
Our Next Des Plaines Office Hours: Tuesday, June 11th: 9:30am – 11:30am in the Des Plaines Public Library at 1501 Ellinwood St, Des Plaines, IL.
We will continue to hold additional office hours in Wood Dale on the second Tuesday of every other month: August 13th and November 12th.
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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 (X) here, my Facebook page here, my Instagram here, and my Threads here. Thank you for staying engaged in our community.
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