Jan's Plans & Pans - March 28, 2023

Dear John xxxxxx,

Last week, I had the unique responsibility of questioning the CEO of TikTok when he came before the Energy and Commerce Committee. It is clear to me that in most ways, TikTok is like all the other Big Tech companies. They can use Americans’ data any way they want. Exclusively banning TikTok would be letting Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms off the hook and would leave our consumers and our children unprotected. We need a comprehensive data privacy bill.

For nearly 50 years, the racist, harmful Helms Amendment has barred U.S. foreign assistance from being used to offer abortion care, even in countries where abortions are legal. The United States should not stand in the way of health care and bodily autonomy in other countries. Developing countries bear the burden of 97% of all unsafe abortions. We must protect women's health around the globe. By singling out abortion as a restricted health service, the Helms Amendment reinforces efforts to criminalize abortion and heightens abortion-related stigma. I reintroduced the bicameral Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act because comprehensive reproductive health care, including safe, legal, and accessible abortion, is a human right.

Every person in the United States deserves to age with dignity and deserves access to quality long-term care. We have seen what bad actors in the industry do: they buy nursing homes, cut staff, and put profits over people. For years, I have spoken with nurses who have called for better nursing staffing standards. That is why I co-led a letter with Congressman Lloyd Doggett to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, urging them to move forward with setting a nationwide minimum staffing standard in nursing homes.

If you are in my district and need help navigating the Social Security Administration, looking into an immigration case, obtaining a passport, or need assistance with the IRS, my office is here to help. Head to my website for further assistance and information.

To the over 1.5 billion Muslims celebrating around the world, Ramadan Mubarak to you and your loved ones! May the celebrations of this month spread happiness and joy in your life.

Take care,

Schakowsky Presents Village of Skokie with $2 Million Check to Replace Lead Service Lines

Illinois has more lead service lines than any other state in the U.S. I presented Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen with $2 million in community project funds to facilitate the replacement of hundreds of service lines.

2023 Congressional Art Competition

Last year's winner: June Ahleman - "Laughing Woman"

The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our Congressional District (IL-09). This competition is open to all high school students that reside in our District. The winners of each District’s competition will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, and have the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to take part in a special ceremony with other winners from around the country.

For students interested in participating in the 9th Congressional District's Competition, please submit this google form. Rules and guidelines for the 2023 competition are available here and the student release form is available here.

Below are some important dates and additional information for students who are interested in participating in this year’s competition:

Google form submission and artwork drop off: Thursday April 13th In order to participate students will need to submit our office's google form AND drop off the artwork to our Skokie office no later than 5 PM on Thursday, April 13th. Please carefully consult the rules and guidelines for 2023 and have all artwork framed with a hard copy of the release form taped to the back of the artwork. Please ensure that all artwork is complete (paint cannot be wet).
Artwork on Display: April 17th-May 3rd All submitted artwork will be displayed in person at the Skokie Public Library from Monday, April 17th - Wednesday, May 3rd. Artwork will also be displayed prominently on a digital art gallery on the Congresswoman’s website.
Artistic Discovery Reception: Wednesday, May 3rd We invite all participants and their families and friends to a reception to celebrate their artistic talent on Wednesday, May 3rd at 6pm at the Skokie Public Library.
Winners Announced: on or before May 8th Winners will be notified shortly after the reception and no later than May 8th. In addition to the first place winner, our office will also be recognizing other categories including
- Best Painting - including oil, acrylics, and watercolor
- Best Drawing - including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers
- Best Collage - must be two dimensional
- Best Print - including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints
- Best Mixed Media - use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
- Best Computer-generated art
- Best Photography
- Best Social Justice Piece

Good luck! If you or your students have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at 773-506-7100.

Schakowsky Calls for Better Staffing Standards in Nursing Homes

Bad actors in the nursing home industry are lobbying against minimum staffing standards. When nursing homes are understaffed, direct care workers can't provide residents the support they need. I will continue fighting for a nationwide minimum staffing standard in nursing homes.

Beware of Scams and Frauds

This is just a friendly reminder to please report anything you think may be a fraud, scam, or bad business practice.

Reporting Medicare Fraud and Abuse

Medicare fraud and abuse can happen anywhere, and usually results in higher health care costs and taxes for everyone. One of the best ways to detect this type of fraud is to read your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or your insurance’s Explanation of Benefits (EOB). If you find a claim or charge for something that you did not receive, is different than what you received, or was not medically necessary, this may be a sign of potential fraud. Please call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) if you think you have experienced fraud.

Reporting Mail Fraud and Postal Fraud

If you are a victim of a stolen, forged, or altered check, you can report this to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service by filling out and submitting the Mail Fraud Complaint Form. You may also call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service hotline at 1-800-372-8347 to file a complaint about suspected mail fraud.

Reporting General Frauds, Scams, and Bad Business Practices

For ideas about what you might report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), check out consumer.ftc.gov for more information and advice.

Schakowsky Reintroduces the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act

Comprehensive reproductive health care, including safe, legal, and accessible abortion, is a human right. My bill, the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act, will finally repeal the racist, harmful Helms Amendment.

Free COVID-19 Tests Available

Thanks to the Biden administration, you can now get four more free Covid-19 at-home test kits delivered to your door. You can order online via the federally run website COVIDTests.gov. Orders will be mailed by USPS, starting this week.

To receive the kits, you only need to provide a U.S. residential address when ordering. You can register your email address for delivery updates, but that is optional.

If you cannot access the internet or need help placing an order, call 1-800-232-0233 to get help in English, Spanish and more than 150 other languages. Call between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT, Monday to Friday and between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT on weekends.

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