Jan Schakowsky began her career as a consumer advocate, working to improve food labeling and public health standards. Elected to represent Illinois’s 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998, she has focused on expanding access to health care, protecting seniors, and advancing workers’ rights. Schakowsky played a key role in authoring provisions of the Affordable Care Act and serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. She is known for her persistent advocacy and collaborative approach, ensuring that the concerns of her diverse district are heard in national policy debates.