Schakowsky leaves big shoes to fill

We want to congratulate and thank Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky as she prepares to finish more than two brilliant decades in Congress. She has worked tirelessly to improve health care, women’s rights and other parts of society and she has fought for bold policies that address climate change and protect our environment, something we care deeply about.

With her consistent focus on serious solutions to climate change, the Congresswoman has been a strong supporter of bi-partisan climate change solutions backed by Citizens’ Climate Lobby. She reached across the aisle and joined the Climate Solutions Caucus in 2016, which paired Republicans and Democrats with the aim to build constructive dialogue for lasting climate solutions.

She was an early co-sponsor of the Energy Innovation Act of 2018, which for the first time in the U.S. would have put an economywide price on carbon pollution. She also supported the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the most important climate legislation ever signed into law in the U.S.

Whether it involves legislating, speaking at conferences or simply engaging in one-on-one meetings, Congresswoman Schakowsky brings passion and urgency to the problem of climate change because she clearly understands the importance of addressing it for her constituents and the world.

As politicians line up to represent residents of Illinois’ 9th District, we will be watching closely how they talk about climate change. Do they accept the scientific consensus about the threat and costs of global warming from fossil fuel pollution? Do they agree that policy changes are necessary at the state and federal levels to achieve important climate goals? If elected to Congress, what will they do to address the climate crisis?

Whoever represents IL-9 in the next Congress, they will have big shoes to fill.

Joe Tedino, Chicago

Bill Hayes, Northfield

And Three Others From Citizens Climate Lobby