Jan's Plans & Pans - September 3, 2024

Hersh Goldberg-Polin was a courageous ray of light with a bright future ahead of him. I’m devastated to learn that he was killed by Hamas and his body was recovered from a tunnel in Rafah alongside five other hostages.

In the days since the horrific attack on Israel on October 7th, I have gotten to know Hersh’s family. His parents, Jon and Rachel, are from Chicago. His grandmother and aunt are residents of the 9th Congressional District. In the face of uncertainty and tragedy, Hersh’s family has displayed great strength. They have endlessly stepped forward in order to make their voices heard, tell Hersh's story, and advocate for the safe return of every hostage. My heart breaks for them.

Take care,

Schakowsky Meets with Students and Volunteers at Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America

The 9th District has long been a welcoming community for refugees. I had a fantastic visit to Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America (FORA) in the West Ridge neighborhood. FORA’s incredible staff and volunteers provide over 100 refugee students with one-on-one tutoring.

Schakowsky Attends Grand Opening of Turning Point Behavioral Health Evanston Location

Everyone deserves access to quality, affordable care, including mental health care. Turning Point Behavioral Health serves on the front line of our community, providing supportive services to adults in need. It was a joy to be at the grand opening of the new Evanston location.

Schakowsky Stands with Health Workers at Care Can't Wait Coalition Bus Tour

Care infrastructure is infrastructure. We must pay a livable wage to caregivers and we must value unpaid family caregivers by offering compensation in acknowledgment of their contribution to society. A strong economy is reliant on adequate care for our children and elders.

Schakowsky Tours Phoenix Bean Tofu Plant 

As a vegetarian, there is a special place in my heart for soybeans! I had a fantastic visit to Phoenix Bean Tofu, and I commend Jenny Yang for her leadership. Illinois is a leading exporter of soybeans, and I’ll continue to do all I can to support our farmers and food producers.

Schakowsky Visits Asian Human Services Family Health Center 

From COVID-19 testing and vaccinations to dental exams and mental health services, Asian Human Services Family Health Center is on the frontline, keeping our community healthy. The wonderful staff speak a combined 40 languages, making the facility even more accessible for their over 15,000 patients.

Schakowsky and AARP Discuss Issues Pertaining to Older Americans and Caregivers 

For my entire career, I have fought for older Americans. They deserve to retire with dignity and respect. I met with Philippe Largent and Helen Rosenberg from AARP Illinois to discuss our continued efforts to improve conditions for seniors, their families, and caregivers.

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 were 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.