Honoring our Veterans & Military Families
Military service is one of the greatest responsibilities and highest honors a citizen can perform for his or her country. I am proud that Illinois’s Tenth Congressional District is home to more than 30,000 veterans, as well as Naval Station Great Lakes, where more than 50,000 Navy sailors receive training each year.
I am committed to fulfilling our country’s promises to our service members and veterans in recognition of their great sacrifices to protect our nation and our freedoms. I promise that they will always have my ear, and I will always have their back, just as they do for us—at home and abroad. Our veterans and military families have sacrificed immensely for this nation. Their distinguished service and dedication to protecting America’s future deserves to be honored with a full spectrum of support programs available during and after their deployment.
We must also work to support our military families while their husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters are away. The entire family bears the responsibility of military service, and only the finest programs befit their great commitment.
And when our heroes return, we must understand that our responsibility to them does not stop at the end of active duty. With the Post-9/11 GI Bill, we are able to guide veterans to a path to success outside of the armed forces. And through a full complement of support and medical programs, we can ensure that our wounded veterans get the care they deserve.
Expanding Economic Opportunity for our Heroes
Congressman Schneider is committed to expanding job and training opportunities for our veterans. To honor this commitment, Congressman Schneider helped introduce the Veterans Entrepreneurs Act, which makes it easier for veterans to become small business owners. You can read more about this bill here.
As part of Congressman Schneider’s focus on growing the American manufacturing base, he highlighted an exciting local venture that assists recently-discharged veterans start careers in manufacturing. Congressman Schneider met with participants and the organizers of the Veterans Rapid Employment Initiative to see the success of the program first-hand. You can read about the program here.
Congressman Schneider hosted two jobs fairs, both with a component specifically for veterans. Recognizing the unique skills and high unemployment rates among veterans, Congressman Schneider wanted to offer this special chance to help heroes launch or advance their careers.
Part of veterans’ future economic success begins during military service. That is why Congressman Schneider cosponsored the Troop Talent Act, which directs the military to coordinate with civilian licensing agencies and provide information to our troops on how their military occupational specialties correspond to their civilian equivalents.
Addressing Veterans’ Health Care Needs
Congressman Schneider represents the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center—the country’s first VA/DoD integrated federal health care center—on Naval Station Great Lakes. To help improve the overall standard of veterans’ health care, Congressman Schneider cosponsored the 21st Century Health Care for Heroes Act, which requires the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense to integrate and standardize their medical records to improve health care across the transition from active duty to veteran.
Caring for Military Families
Congressman Schneider cosponsored the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act, which would ensure that surviving spouses or children of service members killed in action would receive their entire Survivor Benefit Plan annuity.
Recognizing Bravery and Excellence in Service
Many military heroes go unrecognized for their bravery and courage, but the Congressional Gold Medal is one way to honor the distinguished service of some. Congressman Schneider cosponsored bills to issue the Congressional Gold Medal to the First Special Service, the Civil Air Patrol and the Office of Strategic Services for their efforts during World War II.
More on Honoring our Veterans & Military Families
Military veterans will have an easier path into a manufacturing career if legislation proposed Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) becomes law.
Schneider introduced a bill to provide veterans a stipend under the GI Bill that they can use during an internship with a manufacturer at a roundtable discussion Wednesday, July 2, in Wheeling with former military personnel and factory operators.
In marking the 70th anniversary of the GI Bill, U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) announced the introduction of the GI Internship Program Act (HR 4922) today to create a new internship option for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
WASHINGTON--President Barack Obama accepted the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on Friday, as Republicans were starting to use the health treatment scandal to target vulnerable Democrats, including freshman Rep. Brad Schneider D-Ill.
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-10th) will host a hiring event in Wheeling with State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-29th) from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 5.
Held at the Wheeling Park District community center, 333 W. Dundee Rd., the event will offer jobseekers a chance to meet face-to-face with potential employers from across the area, as well as learn strategies and make connections. More than 40 employers will participate and each has at least one open position they need to fill.
U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) released the following statement after the President announced today that he accepted Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki's resignation.
U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) released the following statement in response to an interim report released today by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General, detailing improper waiting lists for veterans to see doctors at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System:
a Memorial Day held in the shadow of waiting-list controversies at Veterans Affairs hospitals, U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin was among those at Lake County ceremonies calling for a renewed commitment to caring for the nation’s veterans.
“As we reflect on those who gave their lives, let us reflect on those who came home and struggled each day. Let us reflect on what we owe them,” Durbin told an 11 a.m. gathering at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Waukegan.
A first-time Veteran’s Resource Fair to help residents of western Lake County navigate services and benefits available to veterans drew a grateful crowd on Saturday morning.
The fair, initiated by State Rep. Sam Yingling of Hainesville and Grayslake business owner Mike Steiner, aimed to raise awareness about many area programs that are sometimes overlooked.
When Paul Loebe was a gunnery sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, he could depend on a huge support system.
“There was a giant network of support available 24/7. If I needed someone at 3 a.m., there was somebody to help me out,” Loebe said.
But when Loebe was discharged in November after eight years of service in the Marines, he was on his own. With his wife, Tiffany, expecting a baby in February, Loebe was desperate to find a civilian job.