Jan's Plans & Pans - August 23, 2023

Dear John xxxxxx,

This past week, I had the immense privilege of traveling to Nairobi, Kenya on a bipartisan trip with 17 of my Congressional colleagues. Africa’s unprecedented population growth will impact geopolitics, global trade, migration, and almost every aspect of life. By 2050, 1 in 4 people on Earth will be African. As policymakers, we have a duty to learn as much as we can about this booming continent. 

One of the most memorable parts of the trip for me was visiting the Kakuma Refugee Camp. With over 200,000 refugees, Kakuma Refugee Camp is one of the largest camps in the world. I will never forget walking through the hospital and coming across a child who was literally screaming because they did not have enough to eat. Fortunately, this child was beginning treatment, but others are not so lucky. Global health inequity is an injustice. Health care is a human right and I will continue working with my colleagues to achieve global universal health care and end unnecessary and preventable deaths. 

Now that I am back in the United States, I am looking forward to a busy week meeting with constituents and traveling throughout the 9th Congressional District.

See you around,

Schakowsky, Colleagues Demand Answers About Dangerous Products on Online Marketplaces 

Banned and recalled products have no place on online marketplaces. We know that products linked to more than 100 infant deaths are currently being sold on marketplaces. Platforms have a duty to prioritize the safety of consumers over their own profits. We need answers.

To read more about this story and my efforts, click here.

Schakowsky Meets with Chinese Mutual Aid Association

Thank you, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, for all your work assisting immigrants and refugees arriving in our community. I look forward to continuing our great partnership. As a first-generation American myself, I am so fortunate to represent one of the most diverse districts in the nation.

Register for the 2023 Congressional App Challenge!

The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging middle and high school students to learn how to code by creating their own applications. The Challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education. This competition is open to all students, regardless of coding experience; students are able to work in teams or individually.

To learn more about the competition, register or submit an app please click here.

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. 

Marie, a constituent whose son needed assistance obtaining an immigrant visa:

By late 2022, Marie's son had been waiting 10 years for an interview to obtain a visa to reunite with his mother. Their attorney had paid all of the fees and uploaded a completed DS-260 but encountered issues with uploading other necessary documents.

Their case was stalled indefinitely when their lawyer was unable to get in contact with the National Visa Center to remedy the technical difficulties. With the assistance of a Constituent Advocate in my District Office, as well as a congressional liaison at the National Visa Center, they were able to receive guidance on an alternative method to submitting these documents. 

While there was initially a communication barrier, Marie was persistent in advocating for her son and was able to receive assistance and reassurance from a French-speaking Constituent Advocate in my office. This past month she came to the office, with her son, to express her gratitude for the office's assistance. Below is a photo of Marie, her son, and Krissy, the Constituent Advocate who was able to help this family not only navigate our immigration system, but do so in their native language of French. 

Emergency Relief for Recent Severe Storms and Flooding 

To all those in Cook County impacted by July's severe flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is here to help. Grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help homeowners and businesses recover from the flooding are available.

To learn more information, please click here.

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.