Jan Schakowsky

Jan Schakowsky

She is the Democratic candidate for US Representative from the 9th Congressional District of IL.

She is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where she will work to accomplish her top priority in Congress -- providing universal healthcare coverage for all Americans.  On that Committee, she serves as Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection and as a member of the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

For twenty years prior to her election to the State House, Schakowsky fought for the public interest and rights of Illinois citizens.  As Program Director of Illinois Public Action (1976-1985), the state's largest public interest organization, she fought for energy reform and stronger protection from toxic chemicals. 

Energy

Cap and Trade:

Schakowsky strongly supports cap and trade as soon as possible. She is a co-sponsor of the Henry Waxman Safe Climate Act, which achieves proposed target greenhouse gas emissions though a cap-and-trade program along with measures to advance technology and reduce emissions through renewable energy, energy efficiency and cleaner cars.

Oil:

She believes reliance on foeirgn oil is detrimental to the US and strongly supports renewable energy.

Cleaner Coal:

She supports clean coal and is a big supporter for the Futuregen project. The FutureGen project was initiated in response to the National Energy Policy of May 2001, which emphasized the need for diverse and secure energy sources that could largely be provided by America's most abundant domestic energy resource, coal.

Renewable Energies/Oil:

1/18/07 - Schakowsky voted for the bill H R 6 which was passed. This bill repealed tax cuts to oil companies and mandate that they pay a fee to remove oil from the Gulf of Mexico. It also funded renewable energy programs. It also barred oil companies from bidding on new federal leases unless they paid a fee or renegotiate improperly drafted leases from the late ‘90s. Oil firms would pay a “conservation fee” for oil taken from the gulf.

Additionally, the bill set aside an estimated $13 billion to $15 billion in revenues over a five-year period for tax breaks relating to renewable energy sources, according to The Washington Post.

The House passed the bill on Jan. 18, 2007, with a vote of 264-163. All House Democrats except one favored the bill. They were joined by 36 Republicans. The Senate must debate the bill.

~~~~~~~

August 2007 - She supported H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act. “I am pleased that the House also passed the bipartisan Udall-Platts amendment, which takes a giant step forward in expanding our use of home-grown, environmentally-sound renewable energy,” said Schakowsky.  “By setting a standard for renewable energy use by electric utilities, we can reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil, address global warming and create good jobs here in the U.S.”

This amendment requires the United States to adopt a renewable portfolio standard for electric utilities of 15 percent by 2020.
 
The need for a renewable portfolio standard is clear.  With only five percent of the world population, the United States produces nearly 25 percent of annual global heat-trapping emissions.  Electricity generation accounts for fully one-third of these emissions.  We have a responsibility and a compelling interest to significantly reduce these harmful emissions. Renewable electricity standards offer a smart, affordable climate solution with a proven track record.

Passing a renewable fuel standard not only reduces our nation’s harmful impact on the environment, it also makes us more secure.  Today, the US imports nearly 60 percent of its oil from the Middle East and politically unstable nations such as Algeria, Nigeria and Venezuela.  A recent study found that if the United States continues its current consumption without increasing its domestic production, by 2010 we will have to import 75 percent of our fuel.

To prevent this sort of prediction from becoming a reality, it is crucial, that the United States takes steps to decrease its dependence on foreign oil.  The 15 by 20 principle is the answer to this challenge.  It can be achieved by tapping a multitude of natural resources.  We can harvest the sun and wind to produce new energy.  We can grow a wide variety of crops to produce ethanol and biodiesel and we can utilize livestock wastes to produce biogas and generate new power sources.

In addition to the advantages that renewable energy holds in terms of environmental and national security issues, there is also a strong economic incentive as well.  Many renewable energy facilities are located near key regions across rural America.  These facilities provide good jobs, often near small towns which have suffered from population declines.

Transportation:

July 2007 - The US House of Representatives approved $650,000 for two projects. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) requested these funds as part of the FY 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations.

“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.”

Environment

Global warming:

Schakowsky believes global warming is an imminent threat and must be dealt with. She feels that the best way to address this is through changing America's energy strategy to renewable energy. Another way to reduce carbon would be through more hybrid vehicles.

Fishing/oceans; water quality:

In 2007, Schakowsky introduced the Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Act, H.R. 3360 after British Petroleum (BP) received a waiver to dump increased levels of ammonia and suspending particles into Lake Michigan.  Congresswoman Schakowsky’s bill would change current law by requiring the approval of every state that borders a Great Lake before a permit can be issued to increase the amount of pollution that can be discharged into a Great Lake. The bill would amend the Clean Water Act and stipulates that if any bordering state objects, the waiver will not be granted. 
She also introduced a bill (HR 5580) that would ban the use of mercury in any plant by 2012. Presently there are four plants that manufacture chlorine. These plants produce ten times as much mercury into the air which subsequently finds its way into the water and effects ecosystems.

Air quality:

She wants to reduce the amount of CO2. This goes back to her stance on cap-and-trade.

Permanent damage done and how to deal with that:

No comment available.