Energy & Environment
Today, our nation faces unprecedented environmental and energy challenges. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I am committed to promoting sustainable and renewable clean energy development, achieving energy independence through use of sustainable 21st-century technologies and increasing energy efficiency. I am also a strong environmentalist and believe we have a special responsibility to protect natural resources and species, national parks and wilderness areas and the future of our planet.
Having lived near Lake Michigan for my entire life, I have a particular interest in Great Lakes protection. I am working hard to promote clean air and clean water, prevent global warming, and prevent toxic emissions that threaten public health. More than any other issue, our approach to the environment will determine the health, well-being, and security of the American people and determine our ability to compete in the 21st century economy.
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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and Ranking Member of the House Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee, released the following statement after House passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, a package of six domestic funding bills focused on helping families and communities across the United States. The legislation will provide American families relief from the higher cost of living, combat climate change, and honor America’s commitments to its veterans and servicemembers.
I had an absolutely fabulous week back home in the 9th Congressional District! I love getting to be out and about in our community, whether I am visiting a school, touring a non-profit organization, or meeting with local elected officials.
In all my years as a Member of Congress, I have never experienced a year quite like this. From Kevin McCarthy's rise and fall from the speakership to averting two government shutdowns which would have had disastrous consequences for everyday Americans, the past year was historic and unprecedented to say the least.
Despite holding 724 votes this year, only 27 pieces of legislation were signed into law, the lowest tally since the Great Depression. House Republicans’ inability to govern was on full display.
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.
This past week, I had the immense privilege of traveling to Nairobi, Kenya on a bipartisan trip with 17 of my Congressional colleagues. Africa’s unprecedented population growth will impact geopolitics, global trade, migration, and almost every aspect of life. By 2050, 1 in 4 people on Earth will be African. As policymakers, we have a duty to learn as much as we can about this booming continent.
Our greatest security threats have no military solutions, and it is time our budget reflects that. Last week, I voted against the final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill, that originally came out of committee with pay raises for our service members and civilian federal employees, turned into a MAGA manifesto with the addition of a series of extremist Republican amendments.
Last week, we experienced four of the hottest days ever recorded on earth. Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the world, and it is a direct threat to our children and our planet. Last Congress, we passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which is the largest ever federal investment in our climate, but we must do more to help ensure a habitable planet for our children.
Last week, House Republicans continued to push forth their agenda that will harm everyday Americans. The Republican Study Committee, which is composed of over 170 House Republicans, put forward their plan to strip away the Social Security benefits that Americans have worked so hard to earn. This is theft and we cannot stand for it; Americans deserve to retire with dignity and respect.