Jan's Plans & Pans - September 27, 2023

Dear John xxxxxx,

Right now, we are only four days away from a government shutdown and Kevin McCarthy and the Republicans continue to put forth extreme legislation that has zero chance of passing the Senate. Republicans would rather shutdown our government than reach a bipartisan agreement. What we are seeing is a total collapse of the proper operations of government on the part of the Republicans.

Let me make this clear, during a government shutdown, entitlement programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, continue, but staffing levels at the agencies could be affected and cause delays in enrollment or other service interruptions. Mail service also continues throughout the duration of a shutdown. But unfortunately, several other programs and agencies will be impacted.

If the government shuts down, essential employees, including my staff, even though they continue to work, will not be paid, head-start programs will close, small business loan applications will come to a halt, inspections at the Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration will be delayed, nearly seven million mothers and their children could lose access to nutrition assistance, and so much more.

The American people are counting on us to keep the government open. Too much is at stake. This is not a game. Democrats remain committed to keeping critical services up and running and extending government funding. If the government does indeed shutdown, I will provide you with a more in-depth look at how you will be impacted and what resources are available. Please stay tuned for the latest updates.

Be well,

Schakowsky and Progressive Colleagues Unite Against a Republican Shutdown 

Congress was elected to serve. Instead, Kevin McCarthy and the GOP are failing the American people. Their inability to legislate is pushing us towards a shutdown. I am proud to stand with my progressive colleagues as we fight to prevent a Republican shutdown and protect families.

Schakowsky Meets with Chicago's Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights

It was great to welcome Beatriz Ponce de León, Chicago's Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights, to my office. We are a nation of immigrants. I will continue to work with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and his administration to ensure our city has the resources it needs to care for migrants.

Schakowsky Stands with UAW Workers

As a proud dues-paying union member and member of the Labor Caucus, I stand with UAW workers. Did you know auto workers have built $250 billion in profits for the Big Three in the past decade while their wages have barely budged. #UnionStrong

Schakowsky Speaks at State of the State Event Hosted by Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce

I had the pleasure of joining State Rep. Nabeela Syed and State Sen. Dan McConchie in Lake County at the State of the State Event Hosted by Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce. We spoke with chamber members about the looming government shutdown, efforts to combat inflation, updates on worker protections, and many other issues important to our local businesses.  

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.

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.

My District office worked with the local Social Security office to help a constituent get a Medicare enrollment late fee waived after she received bad advice from a former employer

Three years ago, Kate was 65 and getting ready to retire. She consulted her employer’s benefits department for advice on what to do about Medicare. Kate carried the insurance for herself, her husband, and their 23-year-old daughter, and when she retired, she wanted to make sure that everyone had insurance coverage. Kate was told by her company that she did not need to sign up for Medicare until her daughter turned 26 and was on her own insurance. 

Three years later, when Kate’s daughter was about to turn 26, she went to her local Social Security Administration office to sign up for Medicare. She discovered that not only would she and her husband have to pay a steep penalty for what was considered late enrollment into Medicare; but they would have to wait to sign up until the General Enrollment Period the following year. 

Kate came to our office very upset since she had done everything right and now, due to some very bad advice from her former employer, she would be without insurance for at least four months and would incur a permanent late enrollment penalty on she and her husband’s Medicare premiums. Our office was able to help Kate utilize a special enrollment period to enroll into Medicare and also waive the late fee because of the incorrect information she was given. Thanks to the help of my office, Kate will save nearly $800 every year for the rest of her life.

Sign Up for the Affordable Connectivity Program

Thanks to President Joe Biden's Infrastructure Law, families are gaining access to the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. Eligible households can receive a monthly discount for internet service and a one-time discount for a personal tech device.

The Federal Communication Commission's Affordable Connectivity Program provides eligible households $30/month off internet bills, in addition to a one-time discount of up to $100 on personal devices.

To find out how to take advantage, visit GetInternet.gov.

Passport Renewal

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.