Duckworth Diary - Friday, August 29th

Statement

Dear Neighbors,

This week has been a busy one as the 2014 August Work Period comes to a close.

I visited Siemens in Hoffman Estates to talk to employees and learn more about what their facility does in the molecular imaging industry. Siemens makes the CAT scan and MRI machines that doctors use to help diagnose patients. Their technology is truly changing the way our healthcare system works -- and they are continuing to be great innovators.

I then held a roundtable on comprehensive immigration reform at Elgin Community College. I brought together leaders from the State of Illinois, academia and immigration advocacy organizations like Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Centro de Informacion to discuss the way forward on comprehensive immigration reform and the recent humanitarian crisis at the border. We had a productive conversation and I look forward to taking their ideas back to Washington with me this fall.

On Thursday, I joined Reps. Quigley and Kinzinger at the Argonne and Fermi National Laboratories' joint small business fair. As a prime contractor with the Department of Energy, this lab continues to partner with many small businesses and technology innovators from the 8th District to share resources and continue to grow their partnerships. They are working to put these federal tax dollars to good use to create jobs and encourage innovation right here in Illinois.

The Addison Chamber of Commerce brought together the local Chambers of Commerce from around the District for a luncheon to discuss the economy, as well as unemployment and new business initiatives. It is always nice to spend time with business leaders in the 8th.

I spoke with officials from the Metro West Council, including Mayor Kaptain from Elgin, Village President Miller from East Dundee and Village President Ward from South Elgin regarding transportation funding for our region and how we can continue to fund projects that will help our region.

I ended the week by hosting a coffee and conversation event with the Alzheimer's Association in Lombard. We discussed why research for this disease needs more federal funding, and ways that we might be able to help through legislation. I also got to meet with many of my neighbors, which is always a pleasure.

I hope you are having a great week, and happy early Labor Day!

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Duckworth

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