Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Dold and Democratic challenger Brad Schneider are once again facing off for Illinois’ 10th District seat in Congress.

The district includes parts of Cook and Lake counties. It’s been one of the most hotly contested congressional races in the nation for years.

Dold, of Kenilworth, and Schneider, of Deerfield, answered questions about domestic and international issues in surveys for the Daily Herald. Here are their responses to some of our questions.

Q. How will you work to make Congress more productive and effective? What actions are needed to produce a healthy federal budget? Specifically, what changes do you advocate regarding how revenue is produced or what our spending priorities are? In particular, what effect does current policy have on your district and what changes, if any, are needed?

Dold: I take tremendous pride in the fact that I’ve consistently been ranked among the most bipartisan, independent and effective Members of Congress. In congress, I’ve worked hard to bring people together and advance proposals that make a difference in our local community. Among the successes have been bipartisan bills signed into law to improve education, spur small business and manufacturing growth, promote medical research, protect seniors from Medicare cuts, and ensure the first long-term transportation and infrastructure bill in over a decade.

I am particularly proud of my work to combat prescription drug and heroin abuse. In February, I introduced a proposal called Lali’s Law, in memory of Alex Laliberte from Buffalo Grove who overdosed and passed away at the age of 20. The bill expands access to an overdose antidote called naloxone, which has saved nearly 100 lives in Lake County. President Obama signed Lali’s Law 5 months after introduction, and it is a testament to what we can accomplish when we set aside partisanship and work for the people we represent.

As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I believe that reforming our tax code is essential to growing our economy and expanding opportunity for all Americans. I will continue to advocate for a tax reform blueprint that I helped put forward in June. As a fiscal conservative, I believe in balanced budgets and fiscal discipline, which is why I have supported budgets in the House that restore both and address our long-term debt challenges.

Schneider: It is difficult to look at Congress’s dysfunction and feel anything but frustration. Even essential tasks of governing, such as passing

an annual budget, have fallen victim to partisan gridlock. I know that budgets matter and reflect our priorities, and are critical for moving us toward our goals. That’s why I voted for the No Budget, No Pay Act, which would withhold pay for members of Congress if they fail to pass an annual budget.

I also know that achieving a balanced budget and reducing our debt will require a mix of spending cuts and new sources of revenue. But the difficult choices we will make cannot put the greatest burden on the most vulnerable — middle class families, students, and seniors. That’s why I voted twice against the Ryan Budget. The irresponsible tax breaks and draconian cuts to vital programs do not represent the values and priorities we should be focusing on.

At the same time, we must look for sensible spending cuts. We should end unproductive, outdated tax subsidies and loopholes, as well as apply common sense to the defense budget. We can exploit new technologies to create efficiency savings in all our programs, including entitlements.

Above all, we must continue to invest in our future, including investing in infrastructure and ensuring we continue to educate the most capable, most productive workforce in the world — starting with universal access to preschool. Such investments will help grow our economy, strengthen our communities, and ultimately reduce the calls for deficit spending.

Q. What immigration policies do you support? Where, if at all, do you see room for compromise to produce an effective policy on immigration? How will these policies affect your district?

Dold: Our immigration system continues to be broken, which is why I believe that we need to enact meaningful reforms that address border security, interior enforcement, our guest worker program, high-skilled immigrants, the priorities of American workers, and undocumented immigrants already here.

First and foremost, we must secure operational control over our borders so that we know who is entering our country. This is about our national security: in addition to the threat of international terror, our porous borders are being exploited by smugglers engaging in human, drug and weapons trafficking.

Our legal immigration process must be reformed to be more fair and efficient. I introduced the Startup Act, which provides a green card to foreign students who graduate with an advanced degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields from American universities. These American-educated, high-skilled individuals should put their skill set to use in the United States to help grow our economy.

I do not believe that deporting 12 million people is a reasonable or feasible option. Instead, I believe that individuals who were brought here illegally as children, have since demonstrated good moral conduct, and who have a degree, served in our military, or are gainfully employed should have the opportunity for earned legal status. We also must consider the importance of keeping families together.

Advancing bipartisan solutions is the only way we can secure our borders and realize the economic growth that comes with fixing our complex, and oftentimes counterproductive, immigration rules.

Schneider: Since our nation’s founding, immigrants have comprised an important component of the American social fabric. Immigrants provide the diversity, energy, and wealth of knowledge that helped make America the dynamic, prosperous nation we are today. Unfortunately, our current immigration system is broken and holding back our economic progress.

I strongly support comprehensive immigration reform, which must include a pathway to citizenship as well as measures to enhance our border security. We must also provide a way to a better life for children for whom America is the only home they have ever known, which is why I support the DREAM Act and the President’s executive actions on immigration.

Immigration reform will strengthen the communities of the 10th District, throughout Illinois and across the nation by freeing people living in the shadows in fear of deportation to be able to pursue higher education, buy homes, start businesses and expand our economy.

I do not believe lack of compromise is what is holding up immigration legislation, but rather a failure of leadership within the House Republican party. When I was in Congress, I helped introduce a bill paralleling the “Gang of Eight” bill which successfully passed the Senate. I believe the only thing preventing the House version from passing overwhelmingly is the refusal of the Republican leadership to allow a simple up or down vote on any bill relating to immigration reform.

I will not support anyone for a leadership position in my party who does not support comprehensive immigration reform.