Photo of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Ninth District, IL, in front of the United States Capitol.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                 

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SCHAKOWSKY HAILS ELECTION OF HOUSE LEADERSHIP TEAM

SAYS BEST IS YET TO COME FOR AMERICA AS DEMOCRATS PREPARE TO LEAD COUNTRY IN A NEW DIRECTION

(November 16, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), today, released the following statement after the results of the House Democratic Caucus’s Leadership elections were announced:

 

Today is a great day for the Democratic Caucus and a great day for America.  On November 7, Americans all across the country voted for change.  Today, we elected a leadership team that will respond to that call – taking our nation in a new and positive direction for a stronger America and economic security for American families.  Our new leaders will help to restore integrity, civility, and fiscal responsibility to the Congress. 

 

(Click for Full Statement)


SCHAKOWSKY OFFICIALLY NOMINATES PELOSI TO BE FIRST WOMAN SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

"BEST IS YET TO COME" UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP

(November 16, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today enjoyed the high honor of being among the five House Democrats to officially speak in support of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi’s nomination to be the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“The best is yet to come. And, America, we offer you our best, as we nominate Nancy Pelosi to be Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

(Click for Full Statement)


SCHAKOWSKY RENEWS CALL FOR CPSC TO BAN YO-YO BALLS

SAYS CHILD SAFETY DEMANDS ACTION, NOT JUST ANOTHER STUDY

 

(November 16, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

Today, Rep. Jan Schakowsky requested that the CPSC act to remove yo-yo balls from toy store shelves. Numerous incidents threatening the lives and safety of children and toddlers have occurred over the last several years.

 

“I believe it is time for the CPSC to issue a national ban on the yo-yo ball.”

 

(Click for Full Statement)

 


 

RECORD NUMBER OF AMERICANS CONCERNED ABOUT HIGH HEALTH COSTS

 

SCHAKOWSKY CALLS FOR GUARANTEED, AFFORDABLE COVERAGE

 

(October 25, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

Today, Rep. Jan Schakowsky called on Congress and the Bush Administration to respond to more evidence of growing consumer dissatisfaction with health care costs by enacting legislation to provide guaranteed, affordable health care for all.

 

"Today’s report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute is just one more wakeup call to the Bush Administration and Congress that something must be done about rising health care costs.  When a family health insurance policy costs more than a full-time minimum wage worker earns in a year and when insured Americans are declaring bankruptcy because of high medical bills, lowering health care costs should be at the top of our national agenda."

 

(Click for Full Statement)

 


 

SCHAKOWSKY HAILS NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

 

(October 3, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today released a statement to salute the more than 2,000,000 breast cancer survivors in the United States, pay tribute to the memories of those who have fallen victim to this terrible disease, and thank the many activists working to find a cure.

 

(Click for Full Statement)

 


 

SCHAKOWSKY CALLS FOR TOUGH EARMARK REFORM

 

(October 3, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

Today Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), ranking member on the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection stated her support for the Honest Leadership Open Government Act and real earmark reform:

 

"I believe much more needs to be done to root out earmark abuse.  These provisions, often slipped into legislation at the last minute, can carry huge price tags and are a profound misuse of the public trust."

 

(Click for Full Statement)

 


 

SCHAKOWSKY BLASTS GOP FOR UNWILLINGNESS TO HOLD MILITARY SECURITY CONTRACTORS ACCOUNTABLE

 

AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS BEING USED TO FINANCE PRIVATE, UNACCOUNTABLE, MERCENARIES

 

(Sept. 29, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a Chief Deputy Whip, blasted the GOP for stripping her comprehensive military contractor oversight amendment from the FY 2007 Defense Authorization Act during conference consideration.  The Schakowsky amendment would have developed the first-ever mechanism for Congressional oversight of U.S. taxpayer-funded mercenaries operating in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

 

"Now that we are more than three years into the Iraq war, this amendment would have given Members of Congress the tools we need to exercise our oversight responsibilities on what has become a major component of our military and to clarify the role of contractors."

 

(Click for Full Statement)

 


 

SCHAKOWSKY CALLS ON PHONE COMPANIES TO PROTECT THEIR CUSTOMERS

 

(Sept. 29, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

Today U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), at a hearing of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on phone record security, urged phone companies to protect their customers' from pretexting.

 

"Pretexting violates innocent consumers’ privacy. Stalkers can buy phone records to keep tabs on their targets.  Abusive spouses can use pretexting to trap their victims.  As Mr. Barton pointed out yesterday, the Chicago Police Department recognized the dangers of it and warned that drug dealers can use pretexting to identify undercover cops. The FBI also issued a warning to its agents.  Personal and public safety should not be for sale."

 

(Click for Full Statement)

 


 

IN WAKE OF HP SCANDAL, SCHAKOWSKY RENEWS CALL FOR END TO PRETEXTING

 

(Sept. 28, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, at a hearing investigating the Hewlett-Packard pretexting scandal called for the passage of the Prevention of Fraudulent Access to Phone Records Act.

 

"In July 2006, the Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee, of which I am the ranking member, invited HP to testify about what it does to raise the bar on consumer privacy protections.  Little did we know that when we were trying to learn about its “best practices,” HP had just been  engaging in the worst practices out there."

 

Click here for Mercury News story

 

(Click for Full Statement)

 


 

SCHAKOWSKY DEMANDS ACTION ON DARFUR CRISIS

 

(Sept. 25, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a Chief Deputy Democratic Whip, today expressed strong support for three bills to address the grave humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

"Congress must act now to address what I believe to be the most disastrous humanitarian situation on the planet.  We must make it an immediate priority – not just a legislative priority but a priority of conscience - to protect the lives of the men, women, and children who are suffering every day in Darfur, and in refugee camps just over the Sudanese border in Chad." 

(Click for Full Statement)

 


 

SCHAKOWSKY LEADS BIPARTISAN LETTER TO THE SUDANESE PRESIDENT CONDEMNING HIS DENIAL OF DARFUR GENOCIDE AND ANTI-SEMITIC COMMENTS AT THE UN

 

(Sept. 25, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

Today U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a Chief Deputy Democratic Whip, was joined by a bipartisan group of 88 of her colleagues on a letter to Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir calling on him to apologize for and retract his dangerous and fictitious accusations directed towards the American Jewish community.

 

Click here to view the letter sent to the Sudanese President

 

(Click for Full Statement)

 


 

SCHAKOWSKY, HOUSE DEMOCRATS, CONDEMN VOTER ID LAW

 

NEW BILL COULD DISENFRANCHISE MILLIONS

OF AMERICAN VOTERS

 

(Sept. 20, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky today issued the following statement in opposition to the so-called Federal Election Integrity Act on the floor of the House of Representatives.

 

"Elections should be open to all eligible voters and as Members of Congress we should be enacting legislation that encourages more Americans to vote, not erecting new barriers to voting.  Laws such as the groundbreaking Voting Rights Act of 1965 were enacted to create a more inclusive democracy by making voting easier.  H.R. 4844 will seriously undermine that goal and will be a disservice to the memories of those courageous civil rights heroes who fought for its implementation."

 

(Click for Full Statement)


 

 SCHAKOWSKY JOINS COLLEAGUES

IN URGING PRESIDENT BUSH TO ADDRESS DARFUR

 

(Sept. 15, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

Today U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a Chief Deputy Democratic Whip, joined with thirteen colleagues to urge President Bush to address the crisis in Darfur.

 

"The people of Darfur have suffered for far too long. After each genocide of the last century, Rwanda being the most recent, we vowed "never again."  Yet we have become witness to another genocide.  Now is the time to act."

 

(Click for Full Letter)


SCHAKOWSKY, DELAURO AND DEGETTE CALL FOR HEARING ON THE SAFE FOOD ACT

E.COLI OUTBREAK IN 10 STATES SHOWS NEED FOR SINGLE AGENCY TO OVERSEE FOOD

SAFETY LAWS

 

(Sept. 15, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

Today U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), ranking member on the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection,  with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Rep. Diana Degette (D-CO) sent a letter to Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) asking for a hearing on their bill the "Safe Food Act," H.R. 1507. 

 "This latest outbreak underscores the long overdue need for passage of strong legislation to protect consumers from tainted food.  The Safe Food Act would help us achieve that goal, and our committee should act on it immediately," said Representative Schakowsky.

Click here to view the letter sent to Chairman Barton

 

(Click for Full Statement)


 

SCHAKOWSKY FOCUSES ON

CONTACT LENS POLICY

 

(Sept. 15, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), ranking member on the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, at a hearing before the Subcommittee today called for consumers’ interests to be met so that they have access to safe and affordable contact lenses.
 

"As legislators, we have a duty to make sure that consumers’ interests are being met, that they have access to safe and affordable contact lenses, and that those principles guide us in whatever we decide to do.  And, as key players in the eye care industry, it is the practitioners, manufacturers, and sellers’ duty to also be guided by those principles – and to not try to push the law to its limit."

 

(Click for Full Statement)


SCHAKOWSKY DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM BRITISH PETROLEUM IN WAKE OF WORST OIL SPILL IN HISTORY

"DESPITE HUGE PROFITS AND WARNING SIGNS, BP REFUSED COMMONSENSE SAFETY PRACTICES"

(Sept. 7, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a Chief Deputy Democratic Whip, today demanded answers from BP executives and Administration officials about BP’s lack of adequate safety measures which led to the worst oil spill in the history of the North Slope at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. During a hearing of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Schakowsky said it was irresponsible and inexcusable that the company refused to conduct proper pipeline inspections for over a decade while making record profits.

 

Click here for CNN story

 

(Click for Full Statement)


SCHAKOWSKY CALLS FOR END TO HORSE SLAUGHTER

(Sept. 7, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today hailed the passage of H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, a bill she sponsored and argued in favor of before the successful Floor vote.

 

"Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which would put an end to the deplorable practice of slaughtering American horses for consumption."

 

(Click for Full Statement)

 


 

SCHAKOWSKY Renews call for passage of kids and cars SAFETY ACT

 

"Child safety is not a luxury, it's commonsense and should be the law"

 

(Sept. 6, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today joined Senators Clinton and Sununu, Congressman Peter King, parents of children killed in preventable auto accidents, and consumer leaders to renew the call for passage of the Cameron Gulbransen Kids and Cars Safety Act (HR 2230 and S. 1948).   

“At least 30,000 other Americans, 984 Illinoisans, who signed the petition in support of the Kids and Cars Safety Act agree that the time to pass this bill is now."

(Click for Full Statement)


SCHAKOWSKY JOINS ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS FOR IMMIGRATION TOWN HALL MEETING

(Sept. 5, 2006) BATAVIA, IL

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) joined Democratic colleagues at an immigration town hall meeting where she advocated for comprehensive immigration reform.

 

"All of us agree that our current immigration system is broken, although not everyone agrees on the repairs that are needed to fix it.  I believe that our Congressional delegation can and must play a positive and effective role in making sure that everyone benefits from meaningful legislative change."

 

(Click for Full Statement)

 


 

SCHAKOWSKY TELLS WAL-MART TO 'WAKE UP' AND PAY FAIR WAGES

 

(August 12, 2006) CHICAGO, IL

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) joined

the United Food and Commercial Workers at the Change Wal-Mart, Change America tour's stop in Chicago.

 

"Wal-Mart pays poverty-level wages. Because their wages are so low, Wal-Mart workers qualify for up to $2.5 billion in state and federal assistance for Medicaid, housing, school meals and other programs. 

Of course, not all Wal-Mart employees are suffering.  Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott – whose annual compensation is 871 times that of the average employee -- will make more in 2 weeks than an entry-level worker at Wal-Mart will earn in a lifetime."

(Click for Full Statement)


 

SCHAKOWSKY, HOUSE DEMOCRATS, CALL ON HASTERT TO SEEK APOLOGY FROM IRAQI PRIME MINISTER MALIKI

 

(July 25, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

Today U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) joined Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to Speaker Hastert, asking him to seek an apology for statements made my Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki.

 

“At a time when all of us are particularly concerned about the well being of our staunch ally Israel, we feel strongly that Speaker Hastert should be working to secure an apology or clarification from Prime Minister Maliki for his recent remarks about Israel and for the vicious anti-Semitic rhetoric of the Speaker of Iraq’s Parliament."

 

Click here to view the letter sent to Speaker Hastert

 

Click here to view the joint press release

 

(Click for Full Statement)


 

SCHAKOWSKY CALLS FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE FOR ALL

 

Joins Rep. Stark in introduction of AMERICARE Health Act

 

(July 25, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

Today U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) joined colleagues in introducing a bill that would address the health care crisis facing America.

 

"This bill is a common sense approach – building on Medicare and the option of employment-based coverage. It would simplify medical care – allowing providers to spend more time with patients and less time trying to sort out the different forms and procedures required by multiple insurance companies. It would provide a full range of needed services. It is comprehensive – not a barebones policy masquerading as a solution to our health care crisis."

 

Click here to view a summary of the Americare Health Care Act

 

(Click for Full Statement)


 

SCHAKOWSKY STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL

 

Votes for resolution condemning attacks against Israel

 

(July 20, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky today released the following statement following the passage of H.Res. 921, a resolution condemning the recent attacks against Israel, supporting Israel’s right to defend itself, and holding terrorists and their state-sponsors accountable for their actions.

 

(Click for Full Statement)


 

SCHAKOWSKY SAYS BUSH VETO SNUFFS OUT HOPES OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, IMPERILS FUTURE OF MEDICINE IN AMERICA

 

Rises in support of override of President’s veto of life-saving stem cell research

 

(July 19, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky today issued the following statement on the House vote and President Bush’s veto to cut off stem cell research that could provide life-changing medical breakthroughs for millions of Americans.

 

"President Bush acted to snuff out the hopes of millions of Americans only to please a small right-wing constituency which has politicized this medical issue. Once again, the Bush Administration has put politics before science sadly taking hope and health away from countless families. We should not delay or deny the potentially lifesaving research offered by stem cell technology."

 

(Click for Full Statement)


 

SCHAKOWSKY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ATTEMPT TO INCLUDE DISCRIMINATION IN CONSTITUTION

 

Says same sex couples do not threaten marriage

 

(July 18, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky today delivered the following statement on the floor of the House of Representatives in opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment.

 

"There are so many pressing issues working to undermine families. Same sex couples embrace the positive value of families. Let’s spend our limited time here as law makers helping all families—and not discriminating against them."

 

(Click for Full Statement)


 

SCHAKOWSKY VOWS TO FILL GAP IN COVERAGE FACING MEDICARE DRUG PLAN BENEFICIARIES WITH SAVINGS

 

Responds to new report on Part D’s costly “doughnut hole”

 

(July 18, 2006) WASHINGTON, DC

U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Marion Berry (D-AR), and Darlene Hooley (D-OR) joined Campaign for America’s Future Co-Director Robert Borosage to release a new report on the gap in coverage facing Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the new Part D plans.

 

"Unfortunately, the first time those in the doughnut hole will realize their insurance company has abandoned them is when they go to the pharmacy – prepared to pay their copay only to find out they are on the hook for the entire cost."

 

(Click for Full Statement)



 

► Article 10/18/2006

     What's Holding Up a

     Pretexting Law

     Time Magazine

 

► Article 9/29/2006

     Pretexting Hearing Turns to

     Wireless Execs

     CNetNews.com

 

► Article 9/29/2006

     Scandal at Hewlett Packard

     San Francisco Chronicle

 

► Article 9/28/2006

     HP's General Counsel Quits,

     Declines to Testify at

     Congressional Hearing

     San Jose Mercury News

 

► Article 9/8/2006

     Contrite BP Bosses Admit 

     Blame For Alaskan Oil Leaks

     The Guardian

 

► Article 9/7/2006

     CBS 'Fell Short' on Pipeline

     Execs Admit

     CNN

 

► Letter 9/4/2006

     Help Rising Economy Lift

     Working Families

     Chicago Sun-Times

 

► Article 8/13/2006

     City Gets Busload of Big Box

     Bashers

     Chicago Sun-Times

 

► Article 7/10/2006

     Obama, Durbin Press

     Resurrection to Start Talks with

     Union

     Crain's