Biography

Jan Schakowsky was born Janice Danoff on May 26, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, to Jewish immigrant parents—her father from Lithuania and her mother from Russia. She has been a dedicated public servant and advocate for consumer rights, healthcare, and senior citizens throughout her career. Schakowsky has represented Illinois' 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1999.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, 1965.

• Political Experience:

  • Illinois House of Representatives: Served from 1991 to 1998, representing the 18th District.
  • U.S. House of Representatives: Elected in 1998 to represent Illinois' 9th Congressional District; currently serving her fourteenth term.

Notable Achievements and Positions

• House Democratic Leadership: Serves as a Chief Deputy Whip and is a member of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
• Committee Assignments: Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, serving as the Ranking Member on the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee, and the Environment Subcommittee.
• Healthcare Advocacy: Played a key role in passing the Affordable Care Act, focusing on provisions for insurance premium reviews, nursing home quality protections, and increasing healthcare providers.
• Senior Citizens' Rights: Co-chair of the Task Force on Aging and Families, advocating against the privatization of Social Security and Medicare, and working to make prescription drugs more affordable.
• Consumer Protection: Led efforts to require freshness dates on supermarket products and has been a longstanding advocate for product safety and consumer rights.
• Women's Rights: A leading advocate for women's issues, including reproductive freedom, economic parity, and protection against violence.
• Foreign Policy: Consistently supports measures to ensure Israel's security and promotes efforts toward a two-state solution with Palestine.

Schakowsky's career reflects a deep commitment to progressive values, consumer advocacy, and the well-being of her constituents.