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
On Thursday, my treasured friend, Nancy Pelosi, announced that she will be leaving House leadership, but will remain in Congress representing her beloved city of San Francisco. This week marks 16 years since I was able to second her nomination as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. In my nominating speech back in 2006, I promised that she was going to be a leader for every day, hardworking Americans. Today, I can proudly say that she went above and beyond the duties of her office.
WASHINGTON – Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), and Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04) led 14 Members of Congress in calling on the Department of State to support Indigenous human rights leaders in Guatemala, including Sofia Tot Ac.
WASHINGTON – Today, Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03) sent a letter to the CEO of FIFA calling for the appropriate compensation of migrant workers in Qatar in advance of the 2022 World Cup. The Representatives expressed their dismay at FIFA's inaction and recent callous statements made by FIFA's chief executive regarding migrant worker wellbeing. They were joined by 10 colleagues in the U.S.
My dear friend, Dr. Paul Farmer, transformed the lives of millions of marginalized people around the world, bringing them health care, justice, and dignity. To honor his vision for realizing global health equity, I, alongside my colleagues Reps. Barbara Lee and Raul Ruiz, introduced the Dr. Paul Farmer Memorial Resolution. This resolution lays out a 21st century global health strategy that proposes significantly increasing global health aid to $125 billion per year, reforming aid to focus on building national health systems, and putting an end to the exploitation of impoverished countries.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36), and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) introduced the Dr. Paul Farmer Memorial Resolution, to honor Dr. Farmer's staggering life and legacy and lay out his extraordinary vision for realizing global health equity.
When Republicans promise to take away basic freedoms, we must believe them. Last week, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced legislation that would ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, nationwide. Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) introduced a bill which would give pharmacists freer rein to refuse to provide medication they suspect could be used to terminate a pregnancy. While these bills are not likely to pass, we can see my colleagues' intentions.
WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) led more than 40 members of Congress in sending a letter calling for the Biden administration to end local law enforcement entanglement with immigration enforcement. They requested a status update on the formal review and termination of 287(g) agreements, which were dramatically expanded under former President Trump.
Ahead of Labor Day, I was thrilled to welcome Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh to Chicago to tout the Biden administration's efforts to help hardworking labor workers and retirees get the pension funds they deserve. The American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law last year, created a Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program to avert the immediate multiemployer pension crisis threatening the retirement security of workers, retirees, and their families.
EVANSTON - Yesterday, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, visited the Rogers Park Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) location following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The Congresswoman was accompanied by Jennifer Welch, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, and Monique Cortina, Manager of the Rogers Park Planned Parenthood facility.