Which Chicago-area lawmakers went on foreign trips funded by special interest groups?

Four congressional representatives serving the North, West and Northwest suburbs traveled abroad last year at the expense of special interest groups, federal documents reveal.

Destinations included Mexico, Italy and Spain. One lawmaker went to Israel for a week on the arm of a group associated with an organization facing growing criticism in the U.S. for pushing pro-Israel policies while that nation wages war in Gaza.

Members of Congress may take privately sponsored trips, but they are considered gifts, are restricted and require prior authorization from the House Ethics Committee.

Additionally, trips must be detailed on representatives’ annual financial disclosure reports — the most recent of which were made public in August — and related filings. Reports can be viewed online at disclosures-clerk.house.gov/FinancialDisclosure.

Brad Schneider

Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Highland Park — whose 10th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties — went to the Middle East twice in 2025 at others’ expense.

In June, Schneider was part of a weeklong, bipartisan delegation to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates that was funded by two groups: the Atlantic Council, a think tank focused on international affairs and maintaining a strong relationship with Western Europe; and the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation, which is dedicated to conserving open spaces and wildlife, strengthening U.S. economic and foreign policy and supporting educational opportunities for children.

Schneider was accompanied by his wife, Julie. The couple’s reported expenses totaled more than $38,000. One day of the trip was at the Schneiders’ expense, documents indicate.

Then, in August, Schneider and a son, Adam, spent nine days in Israel as a guest of the American Israel Education Foundation, a nonprofit group that frequently pays for American politicians to visit that nation.

The foundation is affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a lobbying group that has taken heat from progressive lawmakers, candidates, and activists for staunchly supporting Israel amid its war in Gaza. AIPAC also has gone after progressive candidates who have criticized that nation’s leaders over the war. Its targets have included Daniel Biss — Evanston’s mayor and the Democratic nominee in the 9th Congressional District — even though Biss is Jewish and has family ties to Israel.

The trip was described by the foundation as an educational seminar. Discussion topics included “Overcoming Obstacles to Peace,” “Israeli Politics 101” and “U.S.-Israel Defense Cooperation.” Activities included a briefing on the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack; a visit to the site of the 2023 Nova Festival massacre; and a meeting with U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee.

While the foundation has paid for Democrats and Republicans to visit Israel, only Democrats were invited this time, records show. Schneider — the only invitee from Illinois’ congressional delegation — reported more than $32,000 in expenses for the trip.

Delia Ramirez

Democratic U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez — whose 3rd District encompasses some communities in suburban Cook and DuPage counties as well as parts of Chicago’s West Side — reported that three nonprofit groups paid for a seven-day trip to Mexico in July and August 2025. She and other U.S. lawmakers — all progressive Democrats — were there for the second annual Panamerican Congress.

Other participating representatives included Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania and Greg Casar of Texas — all progressives who, like Ramirez, are members of the Democratic faction called “the Squad.” Fellow Chicago Democrat Jesus “Chuy” Garcia was the only other member of Illinois’ delegation who attended.

It was during this trip that Ramirez — a Chicago native whose parents came to the U.S. from Guatemala before she was born — sparked controversy by expressing pride in her heritage while speaking in Spanish. The remark was criticized by some Republican lawmakers, Trump administration officials and pundits.

Ramirez — an outspoken foe of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies — subsequently called the attacks against her “a weak attempt to silence my dissent.”

“Honoring my Guatemalan ancestry only strengthens my commitment to America,” Ramirez said.

https://youtube.com/shorts/WgQcebbqoFQ?si=2idJOLOmbcH6-sYE

Ramirez’s travel, lodging and food costs reportedly were covered by the Partnership for Participatory International Policy, a nonprofit group that leads congressional delegations abroad; a think tank called the Center for Economic and Policy Research; and the Panamerican Exchange, a nonprofit group associated with the event.

Because the groups covered different parts of the trip, Ramirez filed two disclosure reports. Her expenses totaled less than $2,200, records show.

Mike Quigley

Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley — whose 5th District includes parts of Cook and Lake counties — was part of a bipartisan congressional delegation to Italy in April 2025. Quigley’s wife, Barbara, accompanied the veteran Chicago congressman.

The six-day trip — reportedly for a congressional conference on leadership in a changing global landscape — was paid for by two groups: the Aspen Institute, a nonprofit group concerned about the environment, education and other global issues; and the Rockefeller Foundation, a privately funded philanthropic organization.

The Quigleys’ reported expenses totaled more than $12,000.

Bill Foster

Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster of Naperville reported participating in a congressional conference on artificial intelligence in Spain for nine days in May 2025. He and other lawmakers were guests of the Aspen Institute and the Center for Responsible Innovation, a nonprofit group focused on AI policy.

Foster, who has served on House task forces focused on AI, has been tracking advancements in the industry since his days as a scientist at Fermilab, spokesperson Grace Bouton said.

“The program gave him the opportunity to hear from global technology experts and have bipartisan discussions on how Congress can support innovation while protecting consumers and workers,” Bouton said.

The sponsors covered travel, lodging and food for Foster and his wife, Aesook, for most of the trip; Foster spent two days in Spain at his own expense, according to his report.

The couple’s reported expenses totaled more than $16,000.

The 11th District encompasses portions of eight counties.

rlissau@dailyherald.com

Oh, the places they went

These Chicago-area lawmakers were among those who traveled abroad in 2025 at the expense of special interest groups.

· U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates in one trip (Covered expenses: $38,657); and Israel ($32,204)

· U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez: Mexico (Covered expenses: $2,155)

· U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley: Italy (Covered expenses: $12,190)

· U.S. Rep. Bill Foster: Spain (Covered expenses: $16,160)

None of the other four members of Congress serving the North, West and Northwest suburbs — Sean Casten of Downers Grove, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, Jan Schakowsky of Evanston and Lauren Underwood of Naperville — reported international travel in 2025 funded by private groups, nor did U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin or Tammy Duckworth.

Sources: disclosures-clerk.house.gov; efdsearch.senate.gov/search/home/