Jan's Plans & Pans - July 25, 2023

Dear John xxxxxx,

Last week, I voted against another ridiculous, xenophobic bill put forward by the House Republicans. The Schools Not Shelters Act is designed to bar schools and universities from giving shelter to asylum seekers, and it is a thinly veiled attempt to demonize immigrants seeking a better life in the United States. Chicago is a welcoming community, and we are working hard to house the migrants being bussed to our city by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. My colleagues claim this bill is about protecting children, but it is not, and I was glad to vote against it.

In the last newsletter, I told you about my amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act to protect consumers from deceptive airfare pricing. Well, last week, my amendment was rejected by House Republicans who continue to prioritize profits over people. We cannot stand for this. While my amendment was not included in this version of the FAA bill, I will continue to fight for ticket fairness and transparency.

We have seen decades of failed criminalization and failed ‘public safety measures.’ It is well past time we take a public health approach to public safety. I have joined several of my progressive colleagues in reintroducing the People’s Response Act. This groundbreaking legislation would create a public safety division within the Department of Health and Human Services to address issues such as homelessness, drug addiction, and mental health using an inclusive, holistic, and health-centered approach. We must move beyond punishment and invest more in health, education, housing, and the other things that people truly need to thrive. What type of message are we sending by incarcerating those who simply need care? Americans are counting on us to keep them safe, and we must deliver.

Take care,

Schakowsky Joins White House Launch of U.S. Cyber Trust Mark Program

We must do all we can to protect Americans from cyberattacks.

I was honored to speak at the White House as we launched the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark. Thanks to President Joe Biden's leadership, we can better help people choose smart devices that are safer and less vulnerable to attacks.

Schakowsky, Colleagues Start Child Labor Prevention Task Force

The U.S. Department of Labor has seen a 69% increase in violations of child labor laws since 2018. This is unacceptable.

Laws preventing exploitative and unsafe child labor must be strengthened, and the new House Child Labor Prevention Task Force will work to do just that.

Schakowsky Attends Grand Opening of Will's Place in Skokie

Only 19% of American adults with disabilities are employed. Will’s Place in Skokie will create meaningful employment and vocational training opportunities for adults with disabilities

Congratulations on your grand opening! I cannot wait to try your sandwiches.

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.