public service and is brought to you btoday by your cable or satellite provider. illinois congressman brad snyder talked with cspan for a freshman profile interview recent. he served one term during the 113th congress, but he lost his reelection bid in 2015. he said he will pick up where he left off focusing on issues like gun violence and u.s./israel relations. >> congressman brad snyder, this is not the first time. you're not new to washington. what was the experience like the first time around back in 2013? >> it was an extraordinary experience. i always said it was the highest hon honor, greatest responsibility i could ever have representing the people who sent me to washington to reflect their values and priorities. so it was a wonderful opportunity. we had a chance to work on a lot

of important things from protecting the affordable care act, trying to fix it and move it forward, to work ing on immigration and working on gun violence. i'm excited to be back to continue working. >> any lessons learned? why do you think you lost? >> it was a strange year. i was asked when i was thinking about running again, what positions are going to change. i looked and said i'm not changing my positions. i don't think i lost in 2014 because of my positions. we have to do a better job of getting our message out, having people understand what it is we're fighting for. i think this time we did a better job. i lost by 2%. this time i was able to win in a difficult year by more than 5%. but that was a reflection of talking about the issues people care about. we have to have an economy that's growing for everybody and working families believe they can get ahead and give their

children a better quality of life. we have to tackle this gun violence that's effecting our communities and cutting down children before they even have the chance to get to the prime of their lives. these are the issues we talked about. it's what people cared about. i think that's why the voters in the tenth district have given me this opportunity to come back and work for their values and priorities. >> we're in your office. how does this one compare to the one you had back in 2013? >> each office is different. every office here, all 435, are fantastic offices because they reflect the opportunity to represent people at home fighting for what they care about. >> what were you doing before you ran for office the first time and what have you been doing since you lost your reelection bid? >> i spent most of my career as a management consultant businessman working with family-owned small and medium sized businesses, the businesses that make up the core of our economy. it was a great opportunity to

come to congress and understand the issues that they have. very few people have business background before they come to congress. i was one of 25 mbas, one of 17 engineers and one of only two people who had both background. i think that background gave me a perspective that was distinct and important to have in congress fighting to grow our economy and help small businesses. when i went back, i spent a fair amount of time thinking how i could have an impact at home, got involved with a number of organizations, for example the coalition to reduce recidivism. we need criminal justice reform. you've heard people talking about that all over the country. i was able to work on that issue at home. >> you have a net worth of $10 million, maybe more. how did you -- why do you think you were successful? >> well, i've been successful for a number of reasons. i always took care of my clients and customers and made sure i

put their interests first. it's not just me. my wife has her own career. she has been very successful as well. i think the key to our mutual success is our mutual support for each other. i couldn't do what i have done without the support and love with my family and that starts with julie and i think she would say the same thing and together we've been able to build our careers and have a home but raise two boys. >> what does your wife do. >> she's in the insurance business. >> tell us about your children. >> our son daniel is in college studying zoology. our older son graduated college and is serving as an officer in the navy. >> describe your district. >> my district has a couple of distinctions that make it stand

out. it's the northern suburbs of chicago. it's a suburban district. we have every issue except for oceans and mountains. we toedon't have that where i l, but every issue we face in the nation people in my district are facing those issues. it's diverse. it's diverse economically and racially. we have people from all over the world. we have a large korean, greek, jewish community. it's about 22% latino. spanish speaking people from all over the world as well. so it's rich in that diversity. i think that gives me the opportunity to come to washington and reflect their values and reflect what that diversity brings to our entire country. >> u.s./israel relations is impoto you. you've done a lot of work in that area. you were a citizen lobbyists for the public affairs committee. what is that? >> i would come to washington

periodically and meet with members of congress and talk about the importance of the u.s./israel relationship. israel is our most important strategic ally certainly in the region if not in the entire world. there are mutual values, mutual priorities, mutual concerns we share with israel so advocating to make sure that relationship is always stead fast and strong. i advocated for that about befo. when i was in congress i was a leader on that issue. >> what was your reaction when you heard that the obama administration had abstained from a vote a jewish settlements in israel. >> i was dispointed. i called on him to veto that.

the communities within the barrier between the israelis and palestinians. it criticized israel and put the onus on israel and failed to call out the responsibilities of the palestinians. the only way we'll get peace in this region is through a two-state solution living together in security and peace. the only way to get there is through negotiations between the two parties. the united states has a critical role in providing the forum, giving the confidence to both sides to make the hard choices that they have to make. the u.n.'s not that forum. we've seen just this year alone there were more resolutions critical of israel, the resolutions of iran, syria, somalia combined. i felt that was the wrong forum

to have that conversation. we need to work with both sides to help them come together and to make sure they speak to each other so we can pursue a two-state solution and ultimately peace. >> the republican leadership is going to put a resolution on the floor opposing what the administration did there. will you be voting with the republicans on that. >> i'm a co-sponsor of that resolution. i believe we need to say that the u.n. resolution 2334 was an unbalanced resolution. that doesn't mean that we aren't continuing to pursue the negotiation negotiated peace between the palestinians and israel. we stand for israel's security and we need to make sure israel has the ability to defend herself. >> other democrats will be voting for that as well. what legislatively where else -- what are your priorities?

>> my district's sent a different message to the country in november than the rest of the country what they wanted to see in washington. what my district talked about, it's important we have an economy that's working for everyone where working families know they can get ahead and give their children a better quality of life. i'll be working on that. my district cares deeply about addressing immigration reform and protecting these dreamers who trusted their government and want to be full parts of our communities. they want me to work to make sure that we address the scourge of gun violence that is effecting communities across the nation and in particular illinois and to introduce and fight for common sense legislation that will give our kids a fighting chance. that legislation that will promote education to give every child wherever she lives the opportunity for a quality education and to be able to afford to go to college. these are the things that i look forward to working on the most. >> congressman brad snyder, thank you for your time. >> thank you. it's been good