Jan's Plans & Pans - August 15, 2024

I had a fabulous week back home in the 9th Congressional District! I love getting to be out and about in our community, whether I am touring a non-profit organization, meeting with local elected officials, or visiting with constituents.

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is getting to provide constituent services to the residents of the 9th Congressional District. Whether you need advice on navigating the Social Security Administration, help on an immigration case, aid in obtaining a passport, or assistance with the IRS, my staff and I are here to help, no matter your political party or beliefs. We will personally cut through the red-tape for you, and if we are unable, we will connect you with the agency or level of government that best suits your needs. Do not worry, my office can often save you a lot of time and stress.

If you have not done so already, please follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, where my handle is @JanSchakowsky, to keep up with the latest on what I am up to in the 9th District, and in Washington.

Have a great rest of the week,

Schakowsky, Durbin, EPA Present Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse with Nearly $4 Million Grant

I was thrilled to celebrate a nearly $4 million grant awarded to Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse by the Environmental Protection Agency! The work that Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse is doing to reduce construction waste and climate pollution will have a tremendous impact. Reusable construction materials will help lower our carbon emissions and workforce training programs will help guide our community towards a green future.

Schakowsky Joins Amazon Drivers on the Picket Line

It was great to stand on the picket line in Skokie with Amazon drivers who have organized with the Teamsters. All workers deserve fair wages and safe working conditions, period.

Schakowsky Attends Naturalization Ceremony at Wrigley Field

Naturalization Ceremonies are one of my favorite events! At Wrigley Field, we celebrated 981 new citizens from 97 different countries! As a first generation American myself, it felt great to congratulate our newest citizens!

Schakowsky Visits ACCESS Health Center in Evanston for National Health Center Week

As part of National Health Center Week, I visited ACCESS Health Center in Evanston. Access Community Health Network has done tremendous work to make health care more accessible and affordable for some of Chicagoland's most underserved and vulnerable communities. Thank you to ACCESS Evanston for the great visit. It is always a pleasure! 

Schakowsky Tours Kraft Heinz Research & Development Facility

I had an informative visit to the Kraft Heinz Research & Development Facility in Glenview! Their team shared with me their efforts to improve the nutritional value of their products while not compromising taste. Following a tasting of these newer, healthier products, we were able to tour their facilities, including their packaging lab!

My district office helped a constituent obtain an expedited apostille in order to apply for a student visa to study abroad:

"I am so grateful for the invaluable assistance I received from the Office of Congresswoman Schakowsky. I requested help fast-tracking time sensitive documents for my student visa application and the staff very kind and understanding of my situation. They quickly reached out to the Office of Authentications and advocated on my behalf, communicated in a timely manner with relevant updates, and soon after, I received great news. 

Thanks to their invaluable help, I was able to obtain my documents on time, and now, I am so excited to start my study abroad program soon. The Office of Congresswoman Schakowsky played a critical role in making my dream come true, and so I am super grateful! Thank you so much! - Lilian"

Passport Renewal

Remember to check your passport validity before booking any summer travel plans! Current processing times for passports are: 6-8 weeks for routine and 2-3 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.