Press Releases

CHICAGO – Today, Representatives Jan Schakowsky, Luis Gutiérrez and Mike Quigley sent Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Mel Watt a letter asking that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac not sell foreclosed properties in specific Chicago neighborhoods until a meeting is held to ensure continued access to affordable housing in those neighborhoods. The Representatives issued the following statement regarding their request:

CHICAGO – Last night, the President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, each made commitments to take aggressive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement in response:

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face, both for the United States and the world. Yesterday's announcement is a major milestone in the global effort to reverse the warming of our planet.

CHICAGO – Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement in honor of Veterans Day:

“This Veterans Day we pay our deepest respects to our nation’s brave veterans and the tremendous sacrifices they have made on behalf of the United States. We remember those we’ve lost, who fought and served to protect our freedom. We must also remember the families of these veterans – they too have made sacrifices while their loved ones risked their lives for the good of our country.

CHICAGO - Today, Rep. Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement on a report that General Motors, in December 2013, placed an order with Delphi Automotive for hundreds of thousands of replacement parts for dangerous ignition switches, yet waited nearly two months to notify safety authorities and the public of the defect:

CHICAGO – This month the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded two grants to Open Communities, a nonprofit that advocates for fair and affordable housing based in Winnetka, Illinois. With grants for $316,389 and $124,453 respectively, Open Communities will continue its critical work in the north suburbs of Chicago to help expose and eliminate housing discrimination and to support its education and outreach efforts on fair housing initiatives. Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement about this announcement:

CHICAGO – On Wednesday a federal jury returned guilty verdicts for four former Blackwater security guards charged in the September 16, 2007 shootings of more than 30 Iraqis in Baghdad. The defendants were charged with the deaths of 14 Iraqis and the wounding of 17 others at Baghdad’s Nisour Square. Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement in response:

“I have consistently raised concerns about the events in Nisour Square since this tragedy occurred over 7 years ago, and I welcome this verdict. It is an important demonstration of our nation’s commitment to justice and accountability, and I congratulate the Department of Justice for its persistence in this case.

Raising the Wage Would Help 28 million Americans and 48,000 Residents in the 9^th District of Illinois

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, a cosponsor of H.R. 1010, the Fair Minimum Wage Act, released the following statement on National Minimum Wage Day:

“This National Minimum Wage Day, I stand with hardworking Americans who deserve a raise. Passing the Fair Minimum Wage Act to raise the national minimum wage and fighting for a higher wage at the state and local level is the right thing to do for American workers – including the 48,000 in my district and 28 million nationwide.