Civil and Human Rights
Our government is founded on the belief that individuals have a number of "inalienable rights" enshrined in the Constitution. I believe that the protection of those rights is a fundamental obligation for each member of Congress, and I take that duty very seriously. It is important that we work to end discrimination and human rights abuses wherever they occur.
In my work in the House of Representatives, where I was previously a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Vice Chair of the Human Rights Commission, I do my best to make sure a proper balance between security and liberty is maintained, and that government's reach into our private lives is kept to a minimum.
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It has been a very busy time for me, both in the 9th Congressional District and back in Washington, DC. The phones in my office have been ringing off the hook, and I have visited with countless constituents in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District who are fearful of what is going on.
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families, released the following statement after House Republicans voted to pass their reconciliation bill:
CHICAGO - Today, ahead of the Chicago Pride Parade, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement in celebration of Pride Month:
EVANSTON - Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), released the following statement in honor of Juneteenth National Independence Day:
“On Juneteenth, we celebrate the end of slavery in America and recognize the need to continue the fight for racial equality. It was 160 years ago today that the last group of enslaved Black people in the United States learned they were free. We honor those who fought for freedom, liberty and justice, and those who lost their lives in the pursuit.
On Tuesday, Republicans in the House of Representatives passed a disastrous funding bill that gives President Donald Trump and unelected billionaire Elon Musk the power to steal from the middle class, seniors, veterans, working people, and small businesses to pay for tax breaks for billionaires.
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress:
“Tonight, President Donald Trump spent nearly two hours lying to the American public. I found this speech insulting and disrespectful to millions, including myself. Trump is not doing anything to help working people. What ever happened to his promise to lower costs? He wants to gut health care and take food out of the mouths of poor children to give $4.5 trillion in tax cuts to his billionaire supporters.
WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement on her decision to boycott President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress:
“We are living in unprecedented times. We have a President of the United States who thinks he has unilateral power and is breaking our laws and violating our constitution day in and day out. This is not business as usual and I refuse to normalize his egregious language and behavior.
President Donald Trump promised to lower the high cost of living in the United States, and he has done the exact opposite. The chaos, confusion, and fear Trump has unleashed during his first month in office has not improved the quality of life of the American people. But billionaires? They are getting more tax cuts.
President Donald Trump’s decision to place unelected billionaire co-President Elon Musk in charge of gutting federal agencies is an unconstitutional power grab that jeopardizes the livelihoods of all Americans and makes the world less safe.
EVANSTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) issued the following statement commemorating Black History Month: