Press Releases
WASHINGTON, DC (January 27, 2010) -- In the wake of the earthquake, Haitian-Americans went through card after card trying to reach loved ones in Haiti; often without connecting but still racking up huge bills. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, sent letters to two major corporations that sell calling cards, urging them to change unfair billing practices. This week, STi; Inc. wrote back to Rep. Schakowsky expressing a desire to work with her office to rectify these problems.
The basic issue is that even in the best of times, calling cards often have bad, even predatory terms, that charge huge dialing fees, hang-up fees, "service... fees, and even charges when calls don't go through.
Washington, DC (January 27, 2010): Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today introduced the Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind (H.R. 4533), which will mandate that all consumer electronics, home appliances, kiosks, and electronic office technology provide user interfaces that are accessible to the blind.
WASHINGTON, DC (January 25, 2010) — Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, released the following statement on the need to continue efforts to pass health care reform.
Thank you for carrying on the fight for health care reform. Thanks for not giving up and not giving in.
There are those who want to sound the death knell for health care reform, but you and I are not among them. No one ever said this battle would be easy, and now that the road is a bit bumpier, we simply must be tougher.
WASHINGTON, DC (January 15, 2010) — Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, released the following statement responding to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's announcement of $2 billion in grants under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The City of Chicago will receive $98 million and the city of Evanston will receive $18 million under the current round of grants, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program was created to redevelop hard-hit communities, create jobs, and grow local economies by providing communities with the resources to purchase and rehabilitate vacant homes and convert them to affordable housing.
The State Department Operations Center has set up the following number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747 (due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording). Our embassy is still in the early stages of contacting American Citizens through our Warden Network. Communications are very difficult within Haiti at this time.
You can also click on the following link for information: http://www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/ha/index.htm
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti and their loved ones who are awaiting news from the areas affected by yesterday's earthquake. We mourn with those who lost family, friends, businesses, and homes in the disaster.
WASHINGTON, DC (December 11, 2009) — Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, released the following statement in response to reports from media outlets that Blackwater (Xe) may have participated in covert C.I.A. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We should all be concerned if the allegations that have been reported in the press about Blackwater are correct. It is a serious matter and demands accountability.
WASHINGTON, DC (December 11, 2009) -- Seniors are losing their homes in huge numbers due to a surge in fraudulent reverse mortgage schemes that prey upon those in desperate financial situations. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, passed legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives today that will protect seniors from the deceitful tactics by increasing the authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency to investigate and prosecute these con artists.