Press Releases
CHICAGO –The Department of Labor has issued a proposed rule to extend overtime protections to up to 5 million American working men and women. Currently, only workers who earn up to $23,600 are protected. The new proposal would raise that threshold to $50,440. Rep. Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement:
“American workers have been extremely productive for decades, while seeing little to no raise in pay. In the richest country in the world, at our richest moment we should make sure workers get the pay they have earned. That includes overtime pay for those who work more than 40 hours a week.
WASHINGTON, DC -- "I stood with Senator Bernie Sanders last week to introduce the Responsible Estate Tax Act. The Senator is true progressive champion and I am proud to again work with him to make our tax code more fair. This country is the richest on the face of the earth - and we've never been richer. But this period of extreme wealth is also one of extreme inequality: the richest one-tenth of one percent of Americans has as much wealth as the least affluent 90 percent of us.
CHICAGO – On Monday, the Supreme Court issued an emergency stay delaying the enforcement of a Texas law that would have forced the closure of abortion clinics across the state. The law is delayed while the case against the legislation is appealed to the Supreme Court. Rep. Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement in response:
CHICAGO – Today, the Supreme Court issued a decision overturning the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule on mercury emissions. Rep. Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement:
CHICAGO – Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement after the United States Supreme Court released its decision making marriage equality the law of the land:
“I am overjoyed at today’s Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. As I’ve said many times over the last several years, marriage equality had the stamp of inevitability on it – it is not a matter or ‘if’, but ‘when’. Today, we know the answer: marriage equality is here.
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court decision in King v. Burwell:
“Once again, the Supreme Court has rejected a partisan attempt to undermine the health protections provided by the Affordable Care Act, which I like to call Obamacare. As a result of today’s decision in King v. Burwell, 19,000 people in my district, 232,000 people in Illinois and 6.4 million Americans in 34 states across the country can go to bed tonight knowing that they will wake up tomorrow insured and able to take care of their family’s medical needs.
CHICAGO – Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have jointly proposed new standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement on the new standards:
"I applaud the proposed fuel efficiency standards for trucks issued today by the EPA and NHTSA. These standards are both significant and attainable. With one billion fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions expected to be emitted, the environmental and public health benefits are clear. Truckers and businesses will see up to a 24 percent reduction in fuel usage, resulting in significant savings.
Washington, DC – "I'm horrified, saddened and angered by the church shooting in Charleston, SC that took the lives of nine people. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all the victims of this terrible shooting. This is a time for solidarity and mourning.
The gunman has been arrested, but that is only the first step toward justice. I am pleased to see Attorney General Loretta Lynch swiftly leading the federal investigation into this awful incident – another very important step.
Washington, DC – "I'm horrified, saddened and angered by the church shooting in Charleston, SC that took the lives of nine people. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all the victims of this terrible shooting. This is a time for solidarity and mourning.
The gunman has been arrested, but that is only the first step toward justice. I am pleased to see Attorney General Loretta Lynch swiftly leading the federal investigation into this awful incident – another very important step.
Washington, DC – Rep. Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed a stand-alone Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill:
“I am disappointed that the House of Representatives passed a stand-alone ‘Fast Track’ bill this afternoon. If the Senate passes a similar stand-alone measure, TPA will be used to rush through the highly-flawed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.