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 twelfth term.
Schakowsky serves in the House Democratic Leadership as a Senior Chief Deputy Whip. She is a member of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, House Budget Committee, as well as the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where she serves as Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, and as a member of the Environment and Oversight & Investigations Subcommittees.
I believe that we have a responsibility to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and other dangerous individuals, and I will always speak out in favor of common-sense gun violence prevention legislation. Gun violence is a pervasive problem in the United States. I often hear from constituents living in the 9th District who feel the impacts of this violence firsthand. They are seeking solutions to the senseless violence that tears families apart each and every day in Chicago and in communities across the country. Far too often, we witness terrifying and heartbreaking shootings in our schools and communities. Our children should not be forced to live in a country where, on average, 91 people are killed with guns daily. And where seven of them are children and teens. Children in the United States are 13 times more likely to be killed by gun violence than children in other industrialized countries. That is absolutely unacceptable, and it is clear that we need to take action. I will keep working to pass real gun safety legislation that protects our children and our communities.