Republicans have manufactured a health care crisis in America. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to explain how their policies will make it harder for you to see the doctor, increase health care prices, and endanger our public health. ⬇️

🚨A new survey found that nearly two-thirds of corn growers are more concerned about their farm’s financial status than they were last year. I'm going to keep fighting for our growers in Congress by advocating for market based solutions - like year round E-15.

Today, I toured the new Tillamook factory in Decatur! This ice cream plant will create good-paying jobs and bring historic growth to the community. As we face tough economic times, it’s great to see these new opportunities coming to Decatur.

Shanah Tovah! Wishing all those celebrating Rosh Hashanah in #IL13 and around the world a happy and healthy new year.

The Big, Ugly Bill eliminates clean energy tax credits that support 21,000 good-paying union jobs in Illinois. Why? Because President Trump and House Republicans seem to care more about billionaires than working people.

An incredible day in Granite City. After we put the pressure on, U.S. Steel has reversed its decision to stop sending slabs to Granite City Works and WILL be keeping the plant open. This is a huge, hard-fought win for our steelworkers and the entire community.

USPS must deliver for the American people. That’s why I’m launching the bipartisan Congressional Postal Service Caucus and demanding better for Central and Southern Illinois.

Today is National Tradesmen Day - a time to show our appreciation for dedicated trade workers in #IL13 and across the country. From electricians to plumbers to carpenters, these hardworking men and women keep our communities running.

We refuse to stand idly by as this administration, with the stroke of a pen, takes away good-paying union jobs from workers. We took over the House floor to call out Trump’s anti-jobs agenda and stand with workers✊

I sent a letter to Boeing management urging them to come to the negotiating table. It’s time for St. Louis Machinsts to get the fair contract they deserve. www.thetelegraph.com/news/article...

President Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill cancels tax credits that were slated to create 100,000 jobs in the clean energy sector. I took to the House Floor to demand that President Trump and House Republicans restore these tax credits that support these good-paying union jobs.

Last night, I spoke on the House Floor to honor Governor Jim Edgar. A voice of reason and a champion of civility, Governor Edgar led Illinois with integrity and compassion. I will be forever grateful for his mentorship.

Tomorrow, my team will be in Carlinville, Virden, Monticello, and Staunton for traveling office hours! Stop by to learn more about constituent services.

I'm excited about AI’s potential to transform VA health care – but before we try to implement the newest tech, we need to get the basics right. Fixing VA’s existing IT infrastructure is the first step we should focus on.

I’m relieved that this situation has been resolved safely. Grateful to the Belleville Police Department and school officials for their quick action. www.bnd.com/news/local/c...

This week, my team joined Advocates for Aging Care to announce a $500,000 grant to help them build a new nursing facility in Champaign County! With looming healthcare cuts for our seniors, their work to expand access to skilled nursing care has never been more important.

It was great to meet with Lincoln Land Community College President Charlotte Warren and VP for Admin Services Bryan Gleckler today! Lincoln Land provides amazing opportunities for Central and Southern Illinoisans and I’m proud to be their strong partner in Congress.

Your vote is your voice! Today is National Voter Registration Day – the perfect time to check your voter registration or register to vote for the first time. Visit Vote.gov to learn more.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is an opportunity to honor American servicemembers held as prisoners of war and missing in action. We will never give up trying to bring them home.

No one should fear flooding & sewage backups every time it rains – but for too long that has been the reality for Metro East communities. Last week, I brought together Senator Duckworth, the Army Corps, and state and local partners to share how we’re working to tackle this crisis once and for all.

Today marks the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month when we celebrate the vibrant culture of Latino communities in #IL13 and across the country! This month, join me in recognizing their contributions that enrich our nation and make America stronger.

I was in East St. Louis today to give an update about our flood mitigation and prevention efforts in the Metro East. Huge thank you to @duckworth.senate.gov, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the state agencies and community organizations who joined me to share information and resources!

Home health workers do critical – and often thankless – work. They deserve the same workplace protections as every other worker, including the minimum wage. Thanks to the National Alliance for Care at Home for visiting my office to talk about these important issues!

🎉 Casework win! In August, my team helped constituents and local businesses get back more than $209,600 that the federal government owed them in tax returns and more! Visit budzinski.house.gov to learn more about how we can help you.

This summer, New Dems hit the road to talk to Americans about the issues they care about most. From an immigration roundtable in Arizona to discussion about affordable childcare in Delaware, these conversations informed our policy agenda that we unveiled this week. ⬇️

Promoting inclusion and opportunity for folks with disabilities is one of my top priorities. It was great to meet with Challenge Unlimited who came to Capitol Hill to advocate for policies that create jobs and strengthen the economic future for Americans of all abilities!

We need answers about why thousands of veterans got an erroneous letter from VA saying that their homes were at risk of foreclosure. This kind of mistake can never happen again.

Huge thank you to American Federation of Teachers President @rweingarten.bsky.social for participating in this week's Labor Caucus meeting! Right now, it’s critical that we stand united as members of Congress, organized labor, parents, educators, and community members to fight for public education.

Today, we commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. 24 years later, we continue to honor the memory of the 2,977 Americans who were killed in this horrific act of terrorism and thank the brave first responders who sacrificed so much to save lives that day. #NeverForget

No student or educator should have to fear gun violence when they go to school. My heart is with Evergreen High School and the entire Denver community. I’m praying for those who have been injured and their loved ones.

This is horrific. There is no place for this kind of violence in America.

As New Dems, we stand ready to take on the greatest challenges facing our nation, from immigration and energy to innovation and affordability. Today, I was excited to outline the progress we’ve made and what’s next on our agenda.

It was great to meet with VFW advocates from Illinois to talk about their legislative priorities! As a member of @democrats-veterans.house.gov, I’m focused on improving health care, strengthening VA, and ensuring every veteran has the support they need when they hang up their uniform.

When I was home in August, I had the chance to tour the SIU School of Medicine where they’re doing groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research – research that could save lives. President Trump’s plan is to put the federal resources that support these breakthroughs on the chopping block.

Apprenticeships are a proven way to get folks connected with good-paying jobs and to help businesses hire talented employees. My LEAP Act would help young people entering the workforce and support Main Street by giving small businesses a tax credit when they hire apprentices.

September is Suicide Prevention Month – a reminder that you are not alone. If you or a loved one need help, call or text 988 for free, confidential support 24/7.

President Trump has once again turned his back on America’s working men and women – and today, no community feels that betrayal more deeply than Granite City. My full statement:

For smaller communities in Central and Southern Illinois, the OSLAD grant program is a huge opportunity to expand and upgrade their public parks at half the cost. My team is partnering with IDNR to share how our local park districts can apply for these grants!

I’ve joined an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold states’ bans on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youth. Being LGBTQ+ isn’t a disease or something to “fix,” and the government has a duty to protect young people from this cruel, harmful practice.

It was great to join the NAPS Chat podcast to talk about my brand-new Congressional Postal Service Caucus! You can listen to our conversation on iTunes, Spotify, or here: naps.org/NAPS-Chat

President Trump's plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago aren't about safety – they're about weaponizing the federal government to intimidate our communities. This cannot – and will not – become our new reality.

Horrible. I'm praying for the recovery of Lt. Courtney Moravek and firefighter Bobby Poynton and grateful for our heroic first responders. www.wcia.com/news/champai...

Boeing is hiring scabs to avoid giving St. Louis Machinists fair wages and benefits. I continue to stand with the workers on strike and urge Boeing to come to the table and negotiate in good faith. www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

Hey @cc-indivisible.bsky.social, I was one of the first people to sign onto this letter!

Falls are the leading cause of injury among seniors – but they are preventable! I introduced the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act to create a new office in the Veterans Health Administration focused on falls prevention and help give our older veterans a healthier, more resilient future.

I’m back in Washington, DC for the fall legislative session after a busy district work period! Here’s what I was up to in August:

The Trump admin is proposing a near-total ban on abortion care & counseling at VA – a disgraceful attack on women veterans who put their lives on the line to defend our freedom. As a member of @democrats-veterans.house.gov, I’m fighting back to ensure women vets have access to the care they need.

My mom has been a League of Women Voters member my whole life, and she instilled in me at a young age the importance of using your vote – your voice. I couldn’t be more honored to address @lwvus.bsky.social as a member of Congress and share how I’m fighting to protect our democracy.

The Trump administration must lift the stop work order issued on the Revolution Wind Project. Over a thousand union tradesmen and women’s jobs hang in the balance. Let them get back to work.

Republicans REJECTED my amendment to show how their Big, Ugly Bill spikes your energy bills. They don’t want you to know the truth: gutting clean energy tax credits means higher costs for families.