Dear Neighbors,
I hope this message finds you well. As always, if you have questions or concerns, please contact my office by calling (847) 413-1959, emailing me at [email protected], or sending a message through my website at https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/contact/email. For more frequent updates, I encourage you to follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.
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Congressman Krishnamoorthi presents Jon Fisher and Joseph Leuze with pins recognizing their service during the Vietnam War and Douglas Beckmann (center) with his Bronze Star for his heroism in combat. (Click the image above to watch ABC7 Chicago’s coverage of the ceremony.)
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Last Friday, I had the honor of hosting a ceremony to thank local veterans for their service during the Vietnam War. Among them was Douglas Beckmann, whom I proudly presented with the Bronze Star for valor in recognition of his extraordinary bravery in combat. In April 1970, during a ground operation in which his unit faced an ambush, Mr. Beckmann risked his life to administer medical aid to a wounded soldier. Decades later, he contacted my office for help retrieving his military records. Along the way, we discovered he had been awarded the Bronze Star for his heroism but had never received it. After working with the National Archives, I was deeply honored to finally present him with the recognition he earned more than 50 years ago. You can watch ABC7 Chicago’s coverage of the ceremony here.
I also had the privilege of presenting official Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Pins to three other distinguished veterans—Joseph Leuze, Jon Fisher, and Doug Elwell—as a symbol of our nation’s enduring gratitude for their service and sacrifice. As we mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, it is more important than ever to ensure these heroes receive the honor they so richly deserve.
If you or a loved one is a veteran in need of assistance with military records or recognition, please do not hesitate to contact my office. We are here to help.
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Congressman Krishnamoorthi speaks with ABC7 Chicago about his new investigation into illegal weapons and gun parts from China. (Click the image above to watch the full clip.)
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Last week, I launched a formal investigation into illegal weapons and gun parts being trafficked into the Chicago area from China. These components, including parts that can convert semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, make already dangerous guns even deadlier. Smuggled in under false labels like “water pipes” or “stickers,” these shipments are slipping through the O’Hare International Airport Postal Processing Center despite the best efforts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
As Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), I sent a letter to CBP Acting Commissioner Pete Flores requesting detailed information on current enforcement efforts, investigations, and seizure protocols. While Chicago and Illinois have some of the strongest, common-sense gun laws in the country, these illegal shipments undermine protections and fuel gun trafficking. In fact, CBP Chicago seized more than 1,500 Glock switches last year alone, underscoring just how widespread and serious this problem has become. You can read more about my investigation and watch my interview with ABC7 Chicago here.
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Congressman Krishnamoorthi receiving the 2024 Governmental Leader of the Year Award from Mayor Scott Levin of Elmhurst, outgoing President of the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference.
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Last Wednesday, I was honored to receive the 2024 Governmental Leader of the Year Award from the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference (DMMC). I’m especially grateful to Mayor Jeff Pruyn of Itasca and Mayor Rodney Craig of Hanover Park for their nomination, which reflects our years of partnership advocating for communities in our area. This award is a powerful reminder of what local and federal leaders can accomplish when we work together. I look forward to continuing that collaboration to serve our neighbors across DuPage County and our entire area.
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Congressman Krishnamoorthi on Face the Nation Sunday. (Click the image above to watch the full interview.)
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On Sunday, I joined CBS’s Face the Nation to speak out against President Donald Trump’s sweeping restrictions on Chinese student visas. I made it clear that the only winners from this shortsighted policy are leaders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the biggest losers are the United States and the students who came here seeking a world-class education.
Let me be clear: if a student has significant ties to the CCP or poses a national security threat, that person should not be in the United States. But that’s not what this policy does. Instead, it appears to indiscriminately target all students from China, including those from Hong Kong who fled authoritarian rule in search of opportunity and freedom. This blanket approach is not only wrong and discriminatory—it plays directly into the CCP’s hands, ensuring top talent remains in China rather than coming here to innovate, collaborate, and contribute to our economy. Policies like this also risk sending a chilling message to students from other countries who are considering studying in the United States. At a time when we should be attracting global talent, we are turning it away.
We must absolutely counter aggression from the CCP and defend our national security, but punishing students and scholars who enrich our nation is not the answer. America should stand as a beacon of democracy, openness, and knowledge—not close its doors to those who share those values. You can watch my full interview here.
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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, my Threads here, and my Bluesky here. Thank you for staying engaged in our community. |
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