LEGISLATOR US Representative JAN SCHAKOWSKY (D-IL-09)

IN OFFICE CONTACT

Up for re-election in 2016 Email [email protected] ([email protected]) 9th Term Re-elected in 2014 Web schakowsky.house.gov http://schakowsky.house.gov

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DC Office 2367 Rayburn House Office Building

BGOV BIOGRAPHY

By Brian Nutting, Bloomberg News

Jan Schakowsky is one of the most liberal members of Congress, according to organizations that rate members according to their voting records and the types of bills they sponsor.

She's a member of the Progressive Caucus, a group of about six dozen lawmakers -- all Democrats -- who ``promote a strong progressive agenda.'' Schakowsky and her Progressive Caucus colleagues believe that there should be universal access to affordable, high quality health care; a secure retirement income through Social Security, private pensions and corporate accountability; a higher minimum wage; and government investments in affordable housing, schools, infrastructure, environmental protection and homeland security. In the 113th Congress, she was one of five vice chairmen of the group.

She's an ally of Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, and one of about a dozen chief deputy whips in the Democratic Caucus. As such, she also is a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which makes committee assignments. In December 2013, Pelosi named her vice chairwoman of the committee, to replace Allyson Schwartz, who had announced her candidacy for governor of Pennsylvania. She's also a co-chairman of the Democrats' Seniors Task Force.

Schakowsky's voting record shows she is one of the most loyal members of the Democratic Caucus, seldom straying. On the few occasions when she does -- such as when she voted against a 2013 year-end compromise budget bill -- it is because she preferred that leaders take a more aggressive negotiating posture with Republicans. She opposed that 2013 bill because it didn't extend unemployment insurance benefits that had expired.

``Congress must pass a budget that invests in good jobs, the economy and education and that reject proposals to cut pensions and retirement,'' she said at the time. ``It is time to look at closing corporate tax loopholes. It's time to ask corporations that shift jobs overseas, oil and gas companies, and private jet owners to contribute their fair share.''

In the 113th Congress, she was the ranking Democrat on the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee of the © 2015 Bloomberg Finance L.P. All Rights Reserved In the 113th Congress, she was the ranking Democrat on the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, with jurisdiction over consumer-protection issues. That's a perfect fit for Schakowsky, who began her career in the public arena more than four decades ago as a consumer activist, working to get nutrition labels on food at the grocery store.

In 2010, Pelosi made Schakowsky one of her three appointees to the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, more popularly known as the Simpson-Bowles commission. The 18-member group was charged with proposing steps for Congress and the president to make a serious dent in the budget deficit.

Schakowsky argued for no cuts in Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. She released an alternate plan and voted no on the panel's final proposal. Her plan featured increased spending to stimulate the economy and create jobs, big cuts in defense funding and agriculture subsidies, increased corporate taxes -- particularly for companies that move jobs overseas, and a tax boost on high earners.

Since then, she has offered individual bills to achieve many of her goals -- with scant success in the Republican-run House -- and annually decries the budget blueprint offered up by House Republicans. In March 2013, she criticized the budget offered by Paul Ryan of Wisconsin -- ``a budget balanced on the backs of seniors, people with disabilities, the poor and the middle class'' -- as ``March madness.''

Also in 2013 she was the author of a letter, signed by 106 House Democrats, urging President Barack Obama to reject any cuts in Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid -- particularly a ``chained CPI'' formula that would reduce Social Security cost-of-living adjustments or any increase in the Medicare retirement age.

Schakowsky isn't shy about engaging in partisan rhetorical warfare over what she views as illogical and mean-spirited Republican proposals: -- In 2014, talking about unemployment benefits that had expired for many people, she blasted ``the demonization of people who are struggling just to live a decent life.'' -- In 2013, when the Republican leadership brought a farm bill to the floor that didn't contain money for food stamps, she raged: ``Are you kidding me? Taking food out of the mouths of hungry children -- is that the reason that any of us would come to Congress? … This is the most incredibly mean-spirited piece of legislation.'' -- Later, Schakowsky argued that the House should consider a ``paycheck fairness act,'' to address the disparity in wages between men and women. ``Does anyone think that if this Congress were a majority of women, that this bill would still be stonewalled from even being debated … ? … Here is a little warning: women may not be a majority here now, but we are a majority of voters.'' -- She has been a staunch defender of the 2010 health-care law, which House Republicans frequently tried to overturn in the 113th Congress. In 2013, she said ``chutzpah'' is ``a pretty accurate description of the antics of the Republican Party today that -- after throwing up roadblock after roadblock, obstruction after obstruction to Obamacare -- is now trying to delay access to care for millions of Americans on the grounds that we're not ready.''

Schakowsky involves herself in a wide variety of progressive causes: She was among eight House members who were arrested in October 2013 at a rally calling for Congress to take action on immigration overhaul and she was named to the House Democratic Caucus Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in the aftermath of the Connecticut school shootings in late 2012. She wants a reinstatement of the assault weapons ban, limits on the size of ammunition magazines, a crackdown on gun trafficking and background checks for all firearms sales. Early Years The daughter of a furniture salesman and a teacher, Schakowsky graduated from the University of Illinois in 1965 with a degree in elementary education and worked as a Head Start teacher for a while before quitting to stay home and raise her children. It was during that time that she and a small group of women launched their campaign for food labeling.

She went back to work, serving from 1976 to 1985 as program director of Illinois Public Action Council, a consumer advocacy group. Then, from 1985-90, she was executive director of the Illinois State Council of Senior Citizens. In 1990 she won the first of four terms in the Illinois state House, rising to become Democratic floor leader.

In 1998, when Democratic Representative Sidney Yates decided to retire after 48 years, Schakowsky entered the race. She won a three-candidate Democratic primary and, in the solidly Democratic district won an easy victory in November. Her re- election campaigns have been stress-free as well, never falling below 66 percent of the vote.

Schakowsky's husband, Robert Creamer, was convicted of bank fraud involving funds for a community organization. He served five months in prison in 2006. Updated June 25, 2014 © 2015 Bloomberg Finance L.P. All Rights Reserved Updated June 25, 2014

BIO FROM REPRESENTATIVE'S WEBSITE

From the Representative's Website Jan Schakowsky was elected to represent Illinois' 9th Congressional District in 1998, after serving for eight years in the Illinois State Assembly. She is in her eighth term. Schakowsky serves in the House Democratic Leadership as Chief Deputy Whip and Vice Chair of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. She is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where she serves on the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Democratic Leader Pelosi appointed her to serve on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where she is ranking Democrat on the Oversight Subcommittee. In 2010, then Speaker Pelosi appointed Schakowsky to serve on President Obama's 18-member National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. She opposed the deficit reduction proposal presented by co-chairs Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson and offered her own approach, which reached the same fiscal goals without cutting Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid. The Schakowsky plan addresses the real and growing problem of income disparity ^ which is at its greatest level since 1928 ^ and protects middle-class families. In Congress, Schakowsky focuses on health care and senior issues. She was a leader in passing the historic Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide healthcare coverage to all Americans. Schakowsky was responsible for provisions in the law to require improved review of insurance company premiums, nursing home quality protections, and initiatives to increase the number of health care providers, which benefit seniors and all Americans. A champion for the nation's seniors, Schakowsky continues the fight to prevent the privatization of Social Security and Medicare, and to make prescription drugs more affordable. She spearheaded the creation of the Seniors Task Force in the 111th Congress and continues to serve as Co-Chair in the 112th Congress. Schakowsky believes the number one priority in this Congress is to create jobs and restore a vibrant middle class. She has introduced the Patriot Corporations of America Act, to reward companies that hire American workers and to eliminate tax incentives to businesses for sending jobs overseas. She introduced the Fairness in Taxation Act to create higher tax brackets for millionaires and billionaires. Her legislation would raise over $78 billion in 2011, avoiding the need to make cuts to programs for job creation and training, medical research, education, energy independence, and other national priorities. A leading advocate for women's issues in Congress, Schakowsky has long been involved in the fight to protect women's reproductive freedom. She continues her work to prevent violence against immigrant women, achieve economic parity, and establish transitional housing for women and children who are victims of abuse. Schakowsky is the sponsor of the International Violence Against Women Act, which would make the safety of women and girls around the world a long overdue U.S. foreign policy priority. Schakowsky has consistently voted for measures to support Israel's peace and security. She strongly supports helping Israel reach a negotiated two-state solution with the Palestinians. As a Jewish Congresswoman, Schakowsky has a deep personal connection to the State of Israel and pledges a continued friendship. Throughout her time in Congress, Schakowsky has won major legislative victories. These include important provisions in the Affordable Care Act, laws that protect seniors from abusive terms in reverse mortgages, require greater transparency for military contractors, require the strongest possible mandatory safety standards and testing for infant and toddler products ^ including high chairs, cribs and bath seats ^ and also that require strict car safety measures to protect children. A longtime grassroots organizer and consumer advocate, Schakowsky began her leadership career in 1969 when she led the fight that put freshness dates on products sold in the supermarket. Prior to her election to Congress, Schakowsky represented the 18th District in the Illinois General Assembly for eight years. She served as a Democratic Floor Leader and as Secretary of the Conference of Women Legislators. For twenty years before her election to the Illinois State House, Schakowsky fought for the public interest and rights of Illinois citizens. As Program Director of Illinois Public Action from 1976 to 1985 ^ the state's largest public interest organization ^ Schakowsky fought for energy reform and stronger protection from toxic chemicals. As Director of the Illinois State Council of Senior Citizens from 1985to 1990, she organized across the state for lower cost prescription drugs and tax relief for seniors, financial protection for the spouses of nursing home residents and other benefits for the elderly. Jan lives in Evanston, Illinois, with her husband Robert Creamer and their golden retrievers, Franklin and Eleanor (Frankie and Ellie for short). She has three children, Ian, Mary, and stepdaughter Lauren McLaughlin, and six grandchildren, Isabel, © 2015 Bloomberg Finance L.P. All Rights Reserved and Ellie for short). She has three children, Ian, Mary, and stepdaughter Lauren McLaughlin, and six grandchildren, Isabel, Eve, Lucy, William, Aidan and Alice. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1965 with a B.S. in Elementary Education.

PERSONAL PROFILE

COMMITTEES Birthdate 05/26/1944 PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS House Committee on Energy and Education Commerce Birthplace Chicago, IL

CAUCUSES Political Univ of Illinois Urbana-Chmpgn Democratic Party Party Congressional Czech Caucus Bachelor's Degree 1965

Congressional Progressive Caucus Marital Married Status Congressional Task Force on Seniors 1990 - 1998 State Representative, Spouse Robert Creamer (IL)House of Representatives 01-01-1999 - Present Representative:Illinois, (US)House Residence Evanston, IL of Representatives 02-22-2012 - 11-01- 2012 Co-Chairman, Obama Presidential Campaign 3 children ; 6 Family grandchildren

Religion Jewish

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