By Paul Merrion

Crain’s Chicago Business

WASHINGTON—U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, was appointed to be the top Democrat on a panel that oversees product liability, consumer product safety and the Federal Trade Commission.

The liberal Chicago native, whose career in public life dates back to 1969 when she led a campaign for freshness dates on grocery products, will serve as ranking minority member of the Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection subcommittee.

Rep. Schakowsky said in a statement that her top priorities are health care, privacy and product and food safety.

The appointment comes just weeks after Rep. Schakowsky, a chief deputy whip and close ally of newly elected House Minority Leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Ca., was named to the full committee, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.