Jan Schakowsky

If we can spend over $3 trillion on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, surely we can find the money to meet the long-term needs of our people.

We were far from rich, but I never remember my parents worrying about money.

Without health insurance, getting sick or injured could mean going bankrupt, going without needed care, or even dying needlessly.

A woman should not have to fear retribution from her employer, and the District of Columbia should be able to pass laws to protect against that retribution.

Through educational programming, Jewish American History Month will help raise the awareness of a people, their history and contributions. It will help combat anti-Semitism, a phenomenon that is on the rise and that unfortunately still exists in our Nation.

Like other important immigrant communities, the Jewish experience in the United States represents the ideal of freedom and the promise and opportunity of America.

The reality is that life expectancy has not improved for everyone. In fact, in some cases, life expectancy is actually decreasing.

At some point in our life, each of us is very likely to be a care getter or a care giver or both.

American workers deserve a raise. I fully support the push for $15 an hour and a union. We also must raise wages for low and middle income families.

I support negotiating authority to lower prescription drug prices.

We have a choice: we can allow the growing disparity between rich and poor to continue unimpeded, or we can take action to budget responsibly and strengthen and expand the middle class. If we want this economy - and this country - to meet its full potential, the choice is simple.

The truth is the middle class is not only stagnant but it is my fear that, without sustained and focused action, it is at risk of disappearing.