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Chicago – On July 2, 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. Today, 50 years later, Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement commemorating the anniversary:
“The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is one of the most significant laws in our nation’s history. It finally banned discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. On this 50th anniversary we must remember the tremendous debt we all owe to the brave activists of the Civil Rights Movement. Many of them were beaten and bled, others died fighting for equal rights.
Today, rates for new student loans will increase from 3.86 percent to 4.66 percent for undergraduate students, from 5.41 percent to 6.21 percent for Stafford loans for graduate students, and from 6.41 percent to 7.21 percent for graduate and parent plus loans.
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement in response to reports that the bodies of the three kidnapped Jewish teens missing since June 12 had been found:
“I wish to express my deepest condolences to the families of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar, and Naftali Fraenkel. Like so many others around the world, I had hoped for their safe return, but unfortunately our worst fears have been realized. These innocent children were intentionally and brutally murdered. Such a heinous act cannot go unpunished or without universal condemnation.
We must ensure that those responsible are caught and held accountable for their crimes.”
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Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a narrow 5-4 decision in Harris v. Quinn that eliminates “fair share” fee arrangements for Illinois home healthcare workers. The decision does not affect those arrangements for other public employees such as teachers, hospital nurses or clerical workers. Under “fair share” fee arrangements, workers pay the cost of negotiating for their benefits even if they choose not join a union. Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement on this ruling:
Washington, DC – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. case today. The Court decided that closely-held, for-profit corporations can deny their employees access to contraceptives based on the corporations’ religious objections. Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement on the decision:
Washington, D.C. – Today, General Motors (GM) announced its plan to compensate the victims of its failure to address defective ignition switches in its vehicles, and its failure to recall those vehicles in a timely manner. Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement in response:
Washington, DC – During a press conference on Wednesday highlighting the harm Congress’s failure to renew unemployment insurance has on America’s veterans, U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) unveiled a letter to House Majority Leader-elect Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and signed by Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Joe Crowley (D-NY), Sandy Levin (D-MI), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Dina Titus (D-NV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Dan Kildee (D-MI), and Steve Horsford (D-NV) requesting to meet to discuss a path forward to renew unemployment insurance for over 3.1 million Americans, including nearly 300,000 veterans.
Washington, DC – Last Friday, Representatives Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) led 121 of their Congressional colleagues in sending a letter to Social Security Administration (SSA) Acting Administrator Carolyn W. Colvin, urging her to reconsider impending cutbacks that will severely restrict access to SSA services. Those cutbacks – ending in-person requests for copies of Social Security Numbers (known as Numi-lites) and/or verification statements from SSA offices – take effect in August and October of this year respectfully. In 2013 alone, 11 million people relied on field offices for immediate access to this information.
Washington, D.C. – Today’s Supreme Court decision puts women’s access to safe and legal abortions at risk. Massachusetts had established a buffer zone in response to violence, intimidation, and physical obstruction that can prevent women from exercising their constitutionally-protected right to abortion. Rep. Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement on the ruling:
Washington, D.C. – The Supreme Court on Thursday limited the President's power to fill high-level vacancies with recess appointments. The case, NLRB v. Noel Canning, challenged President Barack Obama’s appointment of commissioners to the National Labor Relations Board. Rep. Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement on the ruling:
“I am extremely disappointed that the Supreme Court has decided to usurp the President’s power to fill high-level vacancies with recess appointments. This is an historic case and I do not believe President Barack Obama or any President should be limited in this way.