Dear Neighbors,

I hope this message finds you safe and 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, Facebook, and Instagram.

Last weekend, I had the privilege of speaking at the Ghost Army Legacy Project Gold Medal Celebration event for Bernie Bluestein, a true American patriot and one of the bravest people I’ve ever known. Back in 2019, a young woman named Madeline Christianson, whose grandfather was also a member of the Ghost Army, came to my Washington, D.C. office to advocate for H.R. 707, which awarded the 23^rd Headquarters Special Troops with a Congressional Gold Medal, the same unit Mr. Bluestein served with. I’m thankful for Madeline’s efforts and was proud to cosponsor that legislation. Mr. Bluestein and the other members of the Ghost Army, a special unit of about 1,100 men that used deception and misdirection to fool German intelligence during the final year of the war, were key to the Allied victory at D-Day. During the Rhine River campaign, Mr. Bluestein visited nearby towns disguised as a senior officer to generate false rumors about the American forces’ plans. While hearing about Mr. Bluestein’s war stories was incredible, I also really enjoyed getting to know Mr. Bluestein as a resident of our district, who has been studying and creating art at Harper College for over 30 years now. The debt owed by all of us to Mr. Bluestein and the other brave soldiers of the Ghost Army can never fully be repaid, and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to thank him for his service in person.

It was a pleasure and an honor to attend the 8^th Annual National Gathering of American Indian Veterans celebration last weekend. Native Americans have served in greater numbers per capita across all branches of the military than any other community. Their dedication and commitment to our country is inspiring, and I was so thankful for the opportunity to meet with veterans from our district, as well as those from other parts of Illinois and the U.S., to hear their stories and meet their families. Native Americans were the first people to live in this country, yet they are often among the most marginalized groups, and that applies when it comes to service in the military too. Last weekend, we gathered underneath the Eagle Staff to recognize these brave heroes’ commitments. Last year, I was proud to reintroduce the Eagle Staff as the first flag of the sovereign Native American tribal nations. This staff, and the cultural significance it represents, is a message of respect and support to all Native Americans. It was a privilege to join the celebration and to give thanks to these extraordinary citizens who risked their own lives so that we could all enjoy the freedoms we know today.

Last week, the House of Representatives passed the annual bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act by an overwhelming majority, authorizing funds for the Department of Defense and national security programs within the Department of Energy. This year, hundreds of amendments were added to the legislation, including several that I co-authored and co-sponsored. There are two that I would specifically like to highlight because of the important impact they will have on our country.

For years now, there have been lingering questions over the status of children whose parents are green card applicants and employment-based visa holders, and whether they are allowed to stay in the United States despite not being citizens themselves. Under the current system, these children, many of whom came to the U.S. with their parents or family at a young age and have always known this country as home, are forced to self-deport upon turning 21 years old. I am proud to say an amendment I co-authored to end this self-deportation system was included in the final House passage of the NDAA. I urge the Senate to incorporate this provision in its final version so that Documented Dreamers can continue to learn, work, and contribute to their home country, which is not only the right action for us to take on a moral ground, but will also help strengthen and diversify our economy and society as well.

As Vladimir Putin’s unjust and inhumane war in Ukraine continues to drag on, the United States must remain steadfast in its strong and unwavering support of Ukrainian freedom and democracy. Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT) and I were pleased to see our amendment to require the tracking and monitoring of all defense and military aid the U.S. sends to Ukraine was adopted by the House and included in the House’s final passage. By implementing this system, the U.S. military can properly measure and maximize the impact of our aid by following exactly how our military contributions are being used and where, thereby allowing our military to address any weaknesses as they assist the Ukrainian army in its struggle against Russia.

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. 

P.S. I always enjoy hearing from constituents, so feel free to comment and share my social media posts! Here are the links: Twitter here, Facebook page here, and Instagram here.