I’m proud to be leading the agriculture chapter of the SEEC Thriving Economy Project, to make sure the next generation of farmers can thrive. I sat down with the EcoRights Speaks Podcast to talk about how we’re working to promote income stability, innovation.

When our service members make the ultimate sacrifice, that should be acknowledged and honored. Four soldiers were removed from the Pentagon's Iran war casualty database, then quietly moved to a new "Overseas Operations" category. It’s shameful and un-American.

Today marks the 6th anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act! The GAOA Legacy Restoration Fund has funded over 400 projects across the National Park System, supporting more than 72,000 jobs – including at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield.

Today, we celebrate 236 years of the United States Coast Guard. Years of service, sacrifice, and showing up in some of the most dangerous conditions imaginable. From search and rescue to protecting our waterways, these men and women do it all. Grateful for their service today and every day.

ICYMI: Last week I visited State Rep. Wayne Rosenthal at his farm in Waggoner to talk through the issues that matter most to Illinois farmers — and what Congress can do to support the farm economy.

Nikki Budzinski hears from Illinois farmers facing tough economy

Many meals start on a farm, but Illinois farmers say making a living is harder than ever. Fourth-generation farmer and Rep. Wayne Rosenthal has never seen the farm economy this bad.

wandtv.com

August is National Back to School Month! As students, families, teachers, and staff prepare for a new year, we recommit ourselves to ensuring every child has access to a high-quality education and the resources they need to succeed.

Working families shouldn't have to choose between filling up the tank and putting food on the table. That's the reality for too many people right now — and it's exactly why I’m fighting to lower costs every single day.

This week, I presented the flag that flew over the capitol on June 26, 2026 in Carlinville in honor of 62626 Day. It's one of the privileges of this job that never gets old — a chance to pause and recognize what really matters and the people who give this flag its meaning.

Agriculture is the #1 economic driver in Illinois and that’s why I’m so committed to standing up for our farmers.

Seniors on Medicare are already stretched thin. Now this administration is trying to end a program to keep premiums lower. After cutting Medicaid, letting ACA subsidies expire, and now this — it's clear who's paying the price for this administration's healthcare choices.

Exclusive | Trump Administration to End Medicare Drug Plan Subsidy

Program that held down premiums won’t be renewed for 2027, resulting in higher costs for some seniors.

wsj.com

This administration is asking the Supreme Court to start new restrictions on mail-in voting less than 100 days from November's midterms.

Trump asks Supreme Court to let him curtail mail voting | CNN Politics

President Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to allow the administration to move forward with implementing a sweeping executive order aimed at mail voting — setting up a major elections dispute at t...

edition.cnn.com

Illinois has seen a 16% drop in SNAP enrollment. The need hasn't gone away. It just makes it harder for working families, the disabled and the elderly to get by.

Illinois sees 16% drop in SNAP enrollment 1 year after food program overhaul

About 150,000 people have lost food assistance this year across the state because of expanded work rules. It’s less than expected, but there are signs of growing need as a central safety net program s...

chicago.suntimes.com

284 Department of Energy research grants were canceled just because they were in states that voted against Trump in 2024. Not for performance reasons. Not for cost reasons. That's not how federal funding is supposed to work. It's how you punish your opponents on the taxpayer's dime.

Trump administration concedes it canceled research grants in blue states

The administration said 284 research grants were canceled because they were in states that voted against Donald Trump in 2024.

nbcnews.com

Last week was a great week for our constituent services team. We recovered $81,588 for residents across the district — money they were owed and needed. If you need help navigating a federal agency, learn more at: budzinski.house.gov/agencies

On the anniversary of the Veterans Entrepreneurship Act of 2015, we recognize the skills veterans bring home from service that have real value in the marketplace. Removing barriers to small business ownership for veterans isn't just good policy. It's the right thing to do.

Rural families deserve the same access to quality healthcare as anyone else. When there aren't enough providers and the nearest specialist is hours away — it creates a gap that we can’t afford to ignore.

Rural Health Disadvantages in the United States - farmdoc daily

Sarah Low -

farmdocdaily.illinois.edu

Child care in Illinois costs families up to $1,633/month—nearly $20,000 a year. Yet only 17% of eligible infants and toddlers are in Early Head Start. We should be expanding access for families, not cutting it. I'll never stop fighting to protect Head Start from this Administration's attacks.

ICYMI: I sat down with @axios.com last week to talk about prescription drug costs – what’s driving them up and what Congress can actually do about it. Drug pricing transparency, PBM reform and direct negotiations are real and we need to get things done for working families.

The Supreme Court said no to the President’s tariffs. His response? Find a workaround and try again. New tariffs covering 99% of U.S. imports took effect this weekend. But the costs to working families are real right now, and we can't keep letting chaos drive up prices.

Trump imposes double-digit tariffs on dozens of countries as his 10% levies are set to expire Friday

President Donald Trump is going ahead with new double-digit tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners just as the clock runs out Friday on stopgap levies he imposed after a stinging defeat at the Sup...

apnews.com

On World IVF Day, I’m proud to cosponsor the Right to IVF Act. We celebrate the families that have been made possible by IVF and recommit to protecting access to fertility care for every family that needs it.

Groceries are up more than 4% since President Trump took office — costing the average family $310 more in just his first year. This is what people are dealing with every time they go to the store.

Removing fallen service members from the official casualty count is disgraceful. These men and women gave everything and their families deserve transparency. If this administration demands accountability for troops lost under Biden, it must hold itself to the same standard.

Aric Toler@aric.bsky.social · 2w ago

The Pentagon removed the names of 4 servicemembers who died in Jordan from their official list of Iran war casualties. They explain that this is because "their deaths occurred after President Trump declared a cease-fire in the war in April." Free gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/u...

Lowering the cost of healthcare shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Working families across Central Illinois are stretched thin — and we're going to keep pushing for real solutions that bring costs down and put more money back in people's pockets.

I had a great time with the Illinois Soybean Association's LEAD cohort this week. These are the farmers and ag leaders who are going to shape the future of Illinois agriculture — and investing in their development is exactly how we make sure that future is strong.

Today, I joined @axios.com for a candid conversation about the work we can do in Congress to make prescription drugs more affordable. From negotiating with drug companies to reigning in PBMs, I see a real opportunity for bipartisan cooperation. Watch our full conversation here.⬇️

Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski on making prescription drugs more affordable | Axios Live

YouTube video by Rep. Nikki Budzinski

youtu.be

Black mothers are twice as likely to experience maternal mental health conditions as white women, but are half as likely to receive treatment. As a member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, it’s important that we all acknowledge, respect and raise awareness for the issues Black mothers face.

The war in Iran has forced Illinois drivers to spend nearly $2 billion more on gas. That's money that could have gone to groceries, rent, or savings. This is the real cost of this war, and Illinois families are footing the bill.

Last week, I asked the @splcenter.org to host a webinar for community members on the road ahead in the fight to protect voting rights.

I had a great time speaking with University of Chicago students last week about my path to public service — where I started, what I've learned, and what it really takes to fight for people in Washington.

This week, our Local 1899 @steelworkers.bsky.social, working at Granite City Works from Granite City were in Washington to talk about what they need back home. As a dues-paying union member, I made it clear that I will always stand with them.