Jan's Plans & Pans - June 13, 2023

Dear John xxxxxx,

Last week, House Republican leadership canceled planned votes amid a revolt by conservative members that brought votes on the House floor to a halt. Many far-right members are retaliating after Republican leadership negotiated with President Biden to raise the debt limit, avoiding a catastrophic debt default. Now, these far-right members are holding the floor of the House of Representatives hostage.

House Republicans' chaos is not stopping me from introducing legislation to benefit the American people. In the past week, I have introduced legislation that would increase transparency in the event ticketing industry, improve food safety requirements at the Food and Drug Administration, and create a framework to ensure older Americans can retire with dignity and respect, quality health care, and financial security. Our constituents are counting on us to deliver results. House Republicans must stop with the games and get back to work.

Talk to you next week,

Schakowsky Introduces Legislation to Increase Ticket Transparency

Fans are incredibly frustrated by how hard its become to buy event tickets. With every ticketing debacle, from Beyoncé to Taylor Swift, their frustration grows. Rep. Gus Bilirakis and I proudly introduced the TICKET Act to put an end to the chaos. We are looking forward to further engagement from stakeholders as we continue to advance this legislation for the benefit of fans and artists. Consumers deserve to be protected from fraudulent tickets, surprise costs, and excessive fees.

Schakowsky Joins Baha’i International Community to Commemorate the Resilience of Iranian Women

Last week, I was honored to join the Baha’i International Community to commemorate the lives of 10 Baha'i women who were executed 40 years ago for their religious beliefs. These women remained steadfast in their convictions despite knowing it would lead to their murder. This month, I introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning the government of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority. It is critical that the United States send a strong, unified message to the government of Iran condemning its grave human rights abuses. 

The commemoration took place at the Baha’i House of Worship for North America in Wilmette. This temple is the second Baha’i House of Worship ever constructed and the oldest one still standing! 

Upcoming Neighborhood Office Hours

An immigration attorney that was representing constituents and working with a Constituent Advocate in my District Office wrote:

"In late 2019, Mr. and Mrs. T had been waiting 3 ½ years for an interview on their application for political asylum. They were anxious to complete their interview so their 9 year-old daughter could join them in the U.S. When they fled their country 4 years earlier, in fear for their lives, they left their daughter in the care of her grandmother and great-grandmother.

"After the couple was granted asylum in early 2021, Rep. Schakowsky’s office asked USCIS to give expedited treatment to their petition for their daughter to join them in the U.S. as soon as possible. While that petition was pending, they learned that their daughter was seriously ill. With the help of Rep. Schakowsky, Mrs. T was able to get a travel document so she could go be with her daughter immediately.  

"Rep. Schakowsky’s office then worked with USCIS and the State Department to expedite the processing of their daughter’s visa, as well as a tourist visa for the daughter’s doctor, who flew to the U.S. to ensure the daughter’s safety and comfort during the flight, and mother, daughter, and doctor arrived safely in the U.S. in January 2022. Thanks to Rep. Schakowsky’s unwavering support, the daughter has been receiving cutting-edge medical and therapeutic treatment at one of the world’s best pediatric hospitals, and she is expected to make a full recovery." 

Passport Renewal

As the summer travel season approaches, be sure to check your passport before you book travel! This year, the U.S. State Department has seen an unprecedented number of passport applications. To put things into perspective, last year, my office assisted with 422 passport cases. Since January of this year, my office has already handled 529 passport cases. 

Current processing times for passports are: 10-13 weeks for routine and 7-9 weeks for expedited. These times are subject to change and are posted on the Dept. of State Website.  Please apply well in advance of your travel date – if your travel date is sooner than the current processing times, you may not get your passport in time for travel.

Please remember that emergency in-person appointments at the Chicago Passport Agency are intended for emergencies and availability is not guaranteed unless it is a life or death emergency! These appointments are not and have never been intended for routine renewal. If you have upcoming travel you should NOT plan on receiving an appointment at the Chicago Passport Agency. Passport renewals are intended to go through the mail.

Did you know that many countries require your passport to be valid for several months beyond your date of travel? Depending on your destination, validity requirements can vary from 3 to 6 months beyond the date of travel! You can check the requirements for your destination on the Dept. of State Website under "International Travel" and "Country Information".

If you have planned travel and have a pending application that may not arrive on time, or if you need an emergency appointment at the Chicago Passport Agency, the Constituent Advocates in my District Office are happy to help! Please call the office at 773-506-7100, or you can open a case with my office online.