Jan's Plans & Pans - July 18, 2023

Dear John xxxxxx,

Our greatest security threats have no military solutions, and it is time our budget reflects that. Last week, I voted against the final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill, that originally came out of committee with pay raises for our service members and civilian federal employees, turned into a MAGA manifesto with the addition of a series of extremist Republican amendments. These amendments would strip away service members’ access to reproductive rights, basic health care, as well as roll back funding for vital diversity, equity, and inclusion programs throughout the Defense Department. I refuse to support a bill that assaults our fundamental freedoms while also authorizing a staggering $886 billion in new spending for the Department of Defense. Instead of stripping Americans of their autonomy and freedom and giving the Pentagon nearly a trillion dollars, we should make the investments in health care, education, housing, diplomacy, public transit, and the environment that Americans deserve.

At a time when Americans are traveling more than ever, the airline industry and Congressional Republicans are once again prioritizing profits over people. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), and I introduced an amendment to the 2023 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act to protect consumers from deceptive airfare pricing. Currently, the FAA Reauthorization Act would undo a decade-old policy that mandates transparency when it comes to the full cost of an airline ticket, which would take us backwards and endanger American consumers. Our amendment would erase this proposed roll-back, protecting consumers from the misleading efforts of greedy companies.

I am so fortunate to represent the 9th Congressional District and I will continue fighting every day!

Have a great rest of the week,

Schakowsky Reintroduces Children’s Fundamental Rights and Climate Recovery Resolution

We must protect future generations from the existential threat of climate change.

I reintroduced the Children’s Fundamental Rights and Climate Recovery resolution, which demands a climate recovery plan that will put the U.S. on a path toward reducing global atmospheric carbon dioxide to the levels necessary to uphold children’s fundamental rights. The climate crisis disproportionately affects the health, economic opportunity, and fundamental rights of our nation’s children, and it is time that we recommit to protecting our planet and our kids.

Upcoming Neighborhood Office Hours with Constituent Advocates

Constituent Advocates will be holding neighborhood office hours to meet with constituents who need assistance with federal agencies or issues including: Social Security, Medicare, passports, immigration, the IRS, and the VA. 

Linda, a constituent who needed assistance obtaining a Passport wrote:

"After being gifted a beach vacation to the Dominican Republic from my sister-in-law to celebrate the end of my five years of bi-lateral breast cancer treatment, I found that my passport was expired and my travel was within the month. I called the national passport line many times, being on hold 30 - 45 minutes each time, to try and book an appointment at any Midwest site in order to renew my passport. I was consistently told that there were no spots available...anywhere.

"At the suggestion of my brother, I reached out to Schakowsky's office for assistance. They were able to help me get an appointment at the Chicago location. I even received a follow up call to ensure I saw the email with the scheduled appointment confirmation. I will be forever grateful to Jan Schakowsky's team for their help and support in making this important vacation a reality." - Linda

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.