Jan's Plans & Pans - December 10, 2024

I hope you and your family are taking time to enjoy the holiday season! With so much going on right now, it helps to take a step back and reflect on all the good things in the world.

I am back in Washington, and we still have some big things to accomplish before the end of the year. One of the most important items left on our agenda is government funding. In September, we passed a short-term extension of government funding to avoid a shutdown. Now, that extension is up, and we must pass full-year spending bills, or, more likely, another extension, by December 20th. 

As always, I am fighting to give everyone a fair shot at a future where they can care for their family, buy a home, get the health care they need, and retire with dignity. I will keep you posted with the latest updates.

Have a great week,

Schakowsky Honored with Auto Safety Award

We are facing an auto safety crisis. I was honored to be awarded the Senator Frank R. Lautenberg Highway Safety Leadership Award for my efforts to keep our roads safe, but there is more work to do! Thank you to Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety for your continued leadership. Let’s keep fighting.

Schakowsky, Toy Safety Experts Highlight Dangerous Toys Ahead of Holiday Season

As the holiday shopping season kicks into gear, we must reign in the excessive power of companies and fully fund the Consumer Product Safety Commission to improve product safety and better protect consumers. To report a dangerous product or to check if a product is recalled, go to SaferProducts.gov.

Schakowsky Responds to Fears at Sullivan High School

Anybody who goes after the students of Sullivan High School or anyone in the 9th Congressional District will have to come through me! We are a diverse and welcoming community in Illinois, and I am proud of that. We must protect our families. Read more about the story here.

My district office helped a constituent obtain a refund from Medicare:

"I would like to sincerely thank Representative Schakowsky’s office for helping me resolve an issue with a Medicare refund. I worked for over a year to get the refund on my own to no avail. After reaching complete frustration with Medicare, I called Rep. Schakowsky’s office as a last resort. 

I was so pleasantly surprised to reach her office and to be treated with respect and kindness. Her office contacted me when they said they would and listened to my problem and knew exactly what to do. Within one week of contacting her office, I received my refund. I could not believe it! What a relief. Navigating government offices can be difficult and frustrating. It's great to know that Rep. Schakowsky’s office is there to lend a helping hand."

LDM 
IL 09 Constituent 

Passport Renewal

Remember to check your passport validity before booking any summer travel plans! Current processing times for passports are: 4-6 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.