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| Wednesday, July 25, 2007 |
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House Rejects BP's Plans to Dump Pollution into Great Lakes
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WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) applauded the passage of H. Con. Res. 187, which opposes British Petroleum’s (BP) dumping of industrial waste into the Great Lakes. The resolution passed the full House today by a vote of 387 to 26. The measure was introduced after BP received approval from the State of Indiana and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to dump 54 percent more ammonia and 35 percent more liquid waste into Lake Michigan.
Congresswoman Schakowsky released the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 187.
“Today’s vote showed that Congress is united in its opposition to BP’s dumping of industrial waste into Lake Michigan. An overwhelming bipartisan majority demanded today that BP abandon plans to increase pollution into our Great Lakes.
After meeting with BP’s top executives yesterday, I believe that they finally ‘get it’ that it is completely unacceptable to pollute Lake Michigan and that it is in their best interest to find an environmentally acceptable solution to this problem.
I am cautiously optimistic that BP will return to Congress at the beginning of September with a new plan for disposing of these materials without putting the integrity of the Lake at risk.
However, if BP does not abandon their plans, then they had better prepare themselves for a fight, because Congress stands ready and willing to take any necessary action to stop BP from polluting Lake Michigan.”
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Posted by ariel glasser :: 1 Comments :: Click to Read |
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| Wednesday, July 25, 2007 |
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House Approves $650,000 in FY08 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations
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Washington, D.C.—Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives approved $650,000 for two projects in the 9th Congressional District of Illinois. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) requested these funds as part of the FY 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations. This bill now moves to the Senate for consideration before it can become law.
“We should be looking for ways to expand and improve transportation options for Chicagoland residents,” said U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky. “I am proud that I was able to help secure $500,000 in this bill to expand the Yellow Line in Skokie. This project would help reduce traffic congestion and improve our environment. I hope that the Senate will move quickly to pass this bill and maintain the current funding levels.”
“The Black Ensemble Theatre has been providing African-American artists with a place to showcase their talents for more than 30 years,” said U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky. “This funding will help the Black Ensemble Theatre construct a new theatre so they can continue to foster the development of African-American artists in the Chicagoland area enriching our entire community.”
The following projects were included in the House-passed version of the FY 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations.
$500,000 CTA Yellow Line Extension, Skokie, IL.
The funding would be used to extend of the CTA’s Yellow Line public transit train from Dempster Street to Old Orchard Road in Skokie, IL. The expansion was authorized in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) bill. The project received $1 million from Section 5309 in FY 2006.
$150,000 Black Ensemble Theatre, Chicago, IL.
The funding would be used to construct a new 300 seat theater to further professional development, employment opportunities, and entertainment for a diverse field of communities. The Black Ensemble Theater is a nationally recognized organization, producing over 100 professional productions and providing employment for over 3,000 African American artists.
The FY08 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations must still pass the U.S. Senate and be signed into law by the President.
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Posted by ariel glasser :: 0 Comments :: Click to Read |
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| Tuesday, July 24, 2007 |
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Schakowsky Statement on Dumping INdustrial Waste Into Lake Michigan
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Washington, D.C.--U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) delivered the following remarks on the House floor today to voice her strong support for H. Con. Res. 187 - Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the dumping of industrial waste into the Great Lakes. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) after British Petroluem (BP) received approval from the State of Indiana and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to dump 54 percent more ammonia and 35 percent more liquid waste into Lake Michigan.
"I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Let me just give you a few numbers here. 30 million. That’s the number of people who depend on the great lakes for our drinking water. 20%. That’s the percent of fresh surface water on the entire planet that is represented by the great lakes. 6 billion dollars. That’s the amount of money that BP earned in the last quarter. One of the most profitable companies on the entire planet, and a company that has spent a considerable amount of money promoting its green image.
I want to quote to you from a Chicago Tribune “Voice of the People” article that was written by the BP Whiting refinery individual, and he talks about – he minimizes -- the problem. He says, “of the 23 substances regulated in the permit, ammonia and total suspended solids are the only 2 limits that will increase when compared to the current permit.” No problem. Only 2 out of 23. And later, consistent with BP’s bragging about its environmental excellence, says – about itself -- “this is just one of the ways we’ve demonstrated our focus on continual improvement in environmental performance. Our commitment to continuous improvement will carry on as we modernize the refinery.” Meantime, increasing the amount of ammonia and total suspended solid waste.
What’s the consequence of those emissions? The health consequences can’t be understated. Dumping ammonia represents a direct threat to millions of Americans living in the Great Lakes region. For example, ammonia in the water promotes algae blooms that can kill fish and trigger beach closings. So here’s another number – 1,584 pounds of ammonia – a 54% increase every day. Every day, into our precious Lake Michigan . And, 4,925 pounds of liquid waste consisting of suspended particulate matter – a 35% increase every day into Lake Michigan.
In addition to putting our health at risk, the decision to allow BP to increase their dumping also puts the lake’s ecosystem in jeopardy. Increasing the amount of liquid waste consisting of suspended particulate matter dumped into the lake each day endangers the marine life by making the water cloudy thereby making it more difficult for fish to find ample amounts of oxygen. This is a big deal. This is a serious problem. And it’s incredible that the environmental protection agency, that BP, and that the state of Indiana would allow it. It’s an outrage, we can stop it. Thank you."
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Posted by ariel glasser :: 1 Comments :: Click to Read |
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| Monday, July 23, 2007 |
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Part Three of the Washington Post series on Congress and Iraq
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Sunday, July 22, 2007; A06
Rep. Jan Schakowsky knows a few things about protests. In 1989, she headed a group involved in the legendary uprising by Chicago senior citizens against Medicare changes -- one that featured enraged seniors jumping on the hood of Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski's car.
So when Senate Republicans decided to block a Democratic measure to withdraw troops from Iraq during an all-night debate last week, Schakowsky reached back to her community-activist past. Off the printer came blue fliers: a "Candlelight Call to Action" to "Stop the Republican Iraq Filibuster." At the appointed hour of 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, 57 House Democrats gathered to march to a Senate park.
"All they're asking, our Senate Democrats, is that they get an up or down vote," Schakowsky announced as the group gathered. "We're going to go over there and support them. We're going to walk over right now, to the Senate side, down the stairs and out to the park to join them." The crowd responded with whoops and claps.
(Click Here to Read the Article.)
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Posted by Jan Schakowsky :: 0 Comments :: Click to Read |
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| Friday, July 20, 2007 |
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House Approves $400,000 in the FY08 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations
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Washington, D.C.—Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives approved $400,000 for three projects in the 9th Congressional District of Illinois. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) requested these funds as part of the FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations. This bill now moves to the Senate for consideration before it can become law.
“I am pleased that the House approved funding for projects that will help improve mental health services for refugee children, expand homeless services and protect the health and well-being of our seniors,” said U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky. “I am proud that I was able to secure $400,000 for these critical projects in my district. I hope that the Senate will move quickly to pass this bill and maintain the current funding levels.”
The following projects were included in the House-passed version of the FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations.
$150,000 Mental Health Services for Refugee Children, Heartland Health Outreach, Inc.
The funding would support International FACES children’s program, which provides culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services to refugee children in Chicago and has since 1985. The bicultural, bilingual multidisciplinary staff, many of whom are refugees themselves, provide a diverse array of mental health, case management, and outreach services that extend into the community, addressing issues of trauma and adjustment disorders in refugee children, while helping their families to become self-sufficient and productive.
$50,000 Local Homeless Services, Organization of the NorthEast
The funding would be used to hire a full-time organizer at Organization of the NorthEast for its Homeless Issues Committee and to implement the Chicago 10 year Plan to End Homelessness within the communities of Uptown, Edgewater, and Rogers Park. The primary goals include mapping homeless services in the area, identifying gaps in services, as well as creating a strategy for implementing the 10-Year Plan. The homeless organizer will work with shelters, community organizations as well as residents to build a coalition to collaborate and meet mutually established goal.
$200,000 “Chicago Elder Project”, Howard Brown Health Center
The funding would provide comprehensive and culturally-competent aging services to Chicago-area seniors including comprehensive medical care and mental health care, case management, education and training, health and wellness, transportation, visitation programs, and peer-to-peer support.
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Posted by ariel glasser :: 0 Comments :: Click to Read |
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| Wednesday, July 18, 2007 |
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House Approves $500,000 for Nanotechnology Research Internships
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Washington, D.C.—Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives approved $500,000 for Nanotechnology Research Internships in Illinois. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) requested these funds as part of the FY 2009 Energy and Water Appropriations. This bill now moves to the Senate for consideration before it can become law.
“I am pleased that the House approved funding for the Nanotechnology Research Internships in Illinois. This internship program will help us maintain our competitive edge in the field of science and technology,” said U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky. “This program will help reverse the shortfall of graduates with advanced degrees in science and help raise awareness of the career opportunities that are available in the nanotechnology industry.” The NanoBusiness Alliance requested these funds to develop and fund internships for high school students in the Chicagoland area with nanotechnology companies in the area. The project will develop an outreach program to educate regional high school students about nanotechnology and solicit applications, placing a particular emphasis on reaching out to female students. The project will culminate in a publicly accessible nanotech event during which students will have the opportunity to present their work and what they learned during their internship.
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Posted by ariel glasser :: 1 Comments :: Click to Read |
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| Tuesday, July 17, 2007 |
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Part two in the Washington Post's focus on Congress and Iraq
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Sunday, July 15, 2007; A06
On Thursday morning, members of the House Democratic whip team, including Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, pored over a list of conservative Democrats who were potential opponents of an Iraq withdrawal proposal scheduled for a vote that afternoon.
One sign that the number wouldn't be high: Rep. Lincoln Davis (Tenn.), an influential "Blue Dog," announced to cheering colleagues that he would support the bill. Unlike earlier versions Davis had opposed, this one didn't involve troop funding.
As the team moved down the list, the whips quickly determined that Democratic foes amounted to a handful. And sure enough, the bill passed 223 to 210, with just 10 Democrats opposing it.
Schakowsky was a longtime opponent of the war who, after she joined the House leadership, had to juggle her fervor with the need to find compromise measures that would attract enough votes. But last week, the tide had clearly turned
( Click Here to Read the Article) |
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Posted by Jan Schakowsky :: 0 Comments :: Click to Read |
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| Wednesday, July 11, 2007 |
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Washington Post: The Anti-War Liberal
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The Washington Post ran a series of articles on Sunday examining four Members of Congress and their positions on the Iraq war.
Sunday, July 8, 2007; Page A08
Before the Oct. 10, 2002, House vote to authorize the war, with the Democratic leadership prepared to support President Bush, Rep. Jan Schakowsky and other liberals formed an opposition movement. Quietly, they went from lawmaker to lawmaker "asking people how they would vote, and if they were unsure, convincing them that they would be far from alone if they vote no." In the final tally, 126 Democrats, or about 60 percent of the caucus, sided with Schakowsky.
Three years later, Schakowsky helped found the Out of Iraq Caucus, which has grown to about 75 members. But when Democrats won control of Congress, her longtime friend and fellow liberal Nancy Pelosi of California became speaker, and Schakowsky was named a chief deputy whip, a crucial vote-counting post. From her new perch in leadership, the war debate has become more complicated than a simple rallying call.
( Click Here to Read the Article)
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Posted by Alex A :: 0 Comments :: Click to Read |
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Cost of the War in Iraq
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