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.
More on Civil and Human Rights
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Founding Member of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, voted for H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which passed the House by a vote of 224-206. She released the following statement after the vote:
I went to the House Floor today to speak about H.R. 5, the Equality Act, to provide protections from discrimination for the LGBTQ+ community.
This week, I talk about the reparations bill, H.R. 40, the latest on the American Rescue Plan, and the situation in Texas this past week.