Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement after Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky announced she would not seek another term in the House of Representatives:

A proud daughter of Illinois, Rep. Jan Schakowsky has spent her entire career standing up for the people of Chicagoland as a consumer advocate, a state legislator and a Congresswoman. Throughout her historic tenure in the People’s House, she has been a principled, progressive leader and has fiercely fought for the least, the lost and the left behind.

For over two decades, Jan has served on the prestigious House Committee on Energy and Commerce and was a leading voice in the development of the historic Affordable Care Act. A champion for the nation’s seniors, Rep. Schakowsky has fought relentlessly to prevent the privatization of Social Security and Medicare and to make prescription drugs more affordable for hardworking American taxpayers. As Chair and Ranking Member of the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee, Jan has been a steadfast advocate for consumer safety and transparency.

As a Caucus Chief Deputy Whip, a member of the Steering and Policy Committee and a Vice Chair of the Progressive Caucus, Jan has been a mentor, a friend and a source of encouragement to myself and so many others. The House Democratic Caucus family will miss Jan tremendously next Congress and I wish her and her family the best in this next chapter.

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