Jan's Plans & Pans - September 13, 2023

Dear John xxxxxx,

After a fantastic district work period filled with constituent meetings and site visits, I am back in Washington, D.C. where we are working to pass federal funding bills by September 30th in order to avoid a government shutdown. But, right now, Congress is at a standstill. House Republicans have reneged on their budget agreement with the White House - the agreement they reached after holding our economy hostage and threatening to default on the debt. And now they want to further slash domestic spending levels and endanger critical services for the American people. Right now, the best option to avert a government shutdown is to pass what is called a continuing resolution, which is a temporary funding measure that Congress can use to fund the federal government for a limited amount of time. Unfortunately, the far-right extremists in the Freedom Caucus said they will oppose any short-term package unless Kevin McCarthy meets their outrageous and unhinged demands. If House Republicans shutdown the government, there will be devastating consequences: critical government services will be interrupted, small businesses will be hurt, and our troops will be forced to serve without pay. We cannot let this happen. The American people are counting on us.

My Democratic colleagues and I are going to continue to focus on delivering for everyday Americans and making a difference in their lives. We are committed to extending government funding and addressing urgent needs across the country, including responding to natural disasters and protecting our national security. I will be sure to keep you posted with the latest updates.

Take care,

Schakowsky Speaks with WGN About Upcoming Agenda in Washington

On our first day back in Washington, what did Kevin McCarthy decide to do? Call for a baseless impeachment inquiry to appease the MAGA extremists. Meanwhile, I am working to ensure that our government does not shut down. The lives of Americans are not a game.

Schakowsky Pushes for New IRS Facility in Illinois

 This week, Senator Durbin (D-IL), Rep. Eric. Sorensen (IL-17), and I led nine of our Illinois Congressional delegation colleagues in voicing support for building an IRS Taxpayer Correspondence management facility in Bloomington, Illinois. Not only would this bring good jobs to our state, but it would enhance the government’s communication with taxpayers. Click here for a copy of the full letter.

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:

Outreach Calendar

Click the link below to view my outreach calendar! On this calendar you will find the most up-to-date information on Neighborhood Office Hours, Town Halls, and other events taking place throughout the 9th District! 

Outreach Survey

Help my team help you! Constituent Advocates in my Skokie office are available to meet with 9th Congressional District constituents Monday-Friday, 9 AM-5 PM. In order to make my office more accessible to those who do not live near Skokie, my staff travels to various libraries throughout the district to hold regular office hours. We want your feedback on whether these locations and times are beneficial for you, and feedback on how we can improve. Please take some time to fill out the following survey at the link below.

The Constituent Advocates in my District office worked with the local Social Security office to help Mr. Rabari correct an SSI error 

Mr. Rabari came to my office last year for help with a visa issue. He was diagnosed with cancer and was in search of a job that could offer him health care to pay for his treatment. My office was able to assist him with obtaining a visa so he could then get a job.

Most recently, his 10-year-old disabled daughter’s Supplemental Security Income benefits came to a halt. Mr. Rabari had been working with the local Social Security Administration office since June to no avail. He was so thankful that we were able to provide assistance to him during two trying points in his life.

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.

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.