Jan's Plans & Pans - August 30, 2023

Dear John xxxxxx,

As a longtime consumer advocate, I have worked very closely with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which is tasked with keeping the public safe from consumer products that pose an unreasonable risk of injury or death. In addition to its own work, the CPSC relies on online marketplaces, like Meta, to keep consumers safe by preventing the posting for sale of products that are known to be dangerous. Meta’s failure to prevent recalled products from being posted for sale on its platform has resulted in users and their children being placed at risk of purchasing and using a product that CPSC has found to pose a serious risk of injury and potential death. I am working with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to ensure these dangerous products do not appear on online marketplaces. If you would like to check whether any of your products may be banned or recalled, go to saferproducts.gov.

I want to talk with you about the issue of breast density. A recent study found that only 33% of women know what dense breasts are. It turns out that dense breast tissue can make mammograms more difficult to read. Further, women with dense breasts have a higher chance of getting breast cancer. In the coming months, mammography facilities nationwide will be required to notify women if they have dense breast tissue and recommend that they consult with a doctor about whether they need additional screening. But, I have heard from many constituents that some of these extra diagnostic tests are not covered by insurance and may cost upwards of $800. This is unacceptable. Health care is a human right and must be affordable for all. As a woman with dense breasts myself, I will continue working with my colleagues and advocates to ensure all women can access the additional screening they may need.

Be well,

Schakowsky Celebrates Biden Administration’s Announcement on Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation

Yesterday's announcement by President Joe Biden begins the process of Medicare negotiating lower prices on 10 lifesaving prescription drugs and the start of Big Pharma being held accountable for their price gouging. I was honored to celebrate this historic day at the White House with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris!

Schakowsky Tours Three Oaks Recreational Area in Crystal Lake

Boat rentals, fishing, picnic areas, scuba diving, and more, Three Oaks Recreation Area in Crystal Lake really has it all. Thank you, Mayor Haig Halebilan and City Clerk Nick Kachiroubas, for your hospitality. Excited for our partnership and what is to come!

Schakowsky Meets with National Association of Letter Carriers

Robberies of mail carriers have tripled in the last three years. I met with representatives from the National Association of Letter Carriers to hear first-hand accounts of the problems they are facing. We must ensure our letter carriers can feel safe on the job.

Schakowsky Visits MicroLink Devices in Niles

The expansion of the MicroLink Devices facility in Niles is a perfect example of what good can come from investing in local manufacturers. I was proud to vote for President Joe Biden's CHIPS and Science Act to help bolster domestic manufacturing and create good-paying American jobs.

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

The Constituent Advocates in my Skokie office are here to help constituents who need assistance with federal agencies or issues including: Social Security, Medicare, passports, immigration, the IRS, the VA, and the USPS. Call my office, 773-506-7100, to speak with a Constituent Advocate and get help with your case.

If you would like to meet with a Constituent Advocate in person, my Skokie office located at 4500 Oakton Street is open Monday-Friday from 9 AM-5 PM. If Skokie is not convenient for you, my staff hold neighborhood office hours at the libraries listed below:

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.