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Gas prices surge across Illinois amid Great Lakes disruptions

Illinois gas prices jumped 41 cents in a single week — now averaging $4.88 a gallon, $1.53 more than a year ago. The Iran war and regional refinery issues are hitting the Great Lakes states especially hard.

sj-r.com

Drivers across Illinois are paying more at the pump after regional refinery disruptions pushed gas prices sharply higher.

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A lot has happened in Washington this year when it comes to healthcare and nutrition programs. Medicaid cuts. SNAP reductions. ACA premium hikes. I want to talk directly to you about what it means for Central and Southern Illinois families — and what we're fighting to do about it.

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I’m honored to have met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres at NYC Climate Week this week. A powerful reminder of the global stakes behind the work we're doing every day. [📷 credit: UN Photo/ Eskinder Debebe]

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Nikki Budzinski @budzinski.house.gov · 22/09/2026

A big week at NYC Climate Week. I delivered the keynote at CAP's Industrial Decarbonization event on how we can advance a strategic, worker-centric industrial policy and spoke with industry leaders at about sustainable aviation fuel

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The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act does anything but take care of our veterans. What it actually does is cut $57 billion in disability benefits from more than 1.5 million veterans — including those injured in service. That's not how we honor the people who served.

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Today we pause to remember World Alzheimer's Day. Alzheimer's doesn't just affect the person diagnosed — it affects every family member, every caregiver, every person who loves them.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/science/nih-omb-grants-bhattacharya-vought.html?unlocked_article_code=1.C1E.xuHy.5OeG5X7wRrQk&smid=url-share

Science shouldn't be subject to political approval. The White House is drafting an executive order to give political appointees veto power over NIH scientific grants. This is about control — steering billions in cancer, heart disease, and infectious disease research based on politics, not evidence.

nytimes.com

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33 years ago today, the National and Community Service Trust Act was signed, creating AmeriCorps. Since then, more than a million Americans have answered the call to serve — tutoring kids, responding to disasters, fighting poverty, and building stronger communities.

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The Iran war just got more expensive. A Saudi pipeline was knocked out by drone attacks and could be offline for weeks. Gas is already above $4.70 a gallon in Illinois and experts are warning prices could still rise with ongoing attacks. Working families can't keep absorbing these costs.

thetelegraph.com

Client Challenge

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Nikki Budzinski @budzinski.house.gov · 20/09/2026

Wishing a meaningful and reflective Yom Kippur to all those celebrating in Central and Southern Illinois and around the world. G'mar Chatima Tovah.

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Nikki Budzinski @budzinski.house.gov · 19/09/2026

If this is true, it is one of the most serious betrayals of trust I've seen in my time in Congress. The Pentagon's public database says 18 Americans have died in the Iran war. Six U.S. officials are now confirming the real number is at least 22 — possibly 23.That is shocking. It is unacceptable.

wapo.st

https://wapo.st/3SPycmE

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Another Enjoy Illinois 300 in the books — and what a race. The Metro East showed up in a big way, and the racing delivered every bit of it. This event keeps getting better. I'm already looking forward to next year. 🏁

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I’m heartbroken to learn of the passing of Staunton Police Officer Ethan Hoese — a Marine Corps veteran, a dedicated officer, and a young father — who was killed in a motorcycle crash on Saturday.

thetelegraph.com

Client Challenge

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Illinois has lost 400 farms in the last year. Tariffs are driving up fuel and fertilizer costs, export markets are closing, and the President is focused on ballrooms. How does any of that make life more affordable for working families?

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A highlight from yesterday’s traveling office hours — sitting down with Staunton Mayor Craig Neuhaus. These conversations with local elected officials are how we make sure the work we do in Washington actually reflects what's happening on the ground in our communities.

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79 years ago today, the United States Air Force was established as its own branch of the military. Since then, American airmen and women have defended our skies and projected strength around the world.

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I’m deeply honored to receive the 2026 Congressional Champion Award from the National Oilseed Processors Association.

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It was great to meet with representatives from the Illinois Credit Union League. Credit unions are the kind of financial institutions that keep communities strong — member-owned, and making sure they have the tools to serve families across Central Illinois matters to me.

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Yesterday, I delivered the keynote at National Clean Energy Week's Policymaker's Symposium. My message is clear: the path to lower energy costs and a cleaner future runs through grid modernization, expanded LIHEAP, year-round E15, and smarter permitting. It's what working families need right now.

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Yesterday I sat down with the American Bakers Association to talk about what their members are dealing with right now. A commercial bakery is only as stable as the ingredients coming in the door — and right now, tariffs are driving up those costs at every step of the supply chain.

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Happy Constitution Day! It's a reminder of what this democracy is built on and what we have a responsibility to protect. It takes people showing up, doing the work, and refusing to look the other way when those principles are tested.

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Our team is traveling across the district today for monthly traveling office hours! Whether you need help with a passport, Social Security issue, or navigating a federal agency — we're here for you. Stop by and see us!

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The Constitution is clear — only Congress can declare war. The House passed the War Powers Resolution 220-204 — for the third time and with the most bipartisan margin yet, with seven Republicans crossing party lines.

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I sat down with folks from the Illinois Auto Dealers Association about vehicle affordability, trade policy, and what customers in IL-13 are dealing with. The tariff situation with Canada is making new vehicles more expensive. That's a real problem for families and for dealers alike.

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democrats-veterans.house.gov

Veterans are facing potential benefit cuts while Oracle is sitting on a VA contract that has grown from $10 billion to $27 billion. We’ve served subpoenas, forcing Oracle's top executives to testify under oath.

Subpoenas Served: Democrats Force Oracle's Ellison and Sicilia to Face Congress | The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

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Yesterday, the House passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act – a win for public safety. AM radio, powered by our local broadcasters, is a critical part of our Emergency Alert System. When disasters strike and other communications fail, people tune into AM radio to stay safe and informed.

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It's always great meeting with the Illinois Farm Bureau. Illinois farmers are the backbone of this state's economy — and right now they're dealing with a lot. We talked trade, the Farm Bill, biofuels, and what it's going to take to get through a tough farm economy.

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More than 1.2 million children have lost SNAP benefits since last July. Experts explain why

More than 1.2 million children have lost SNAP benefits in the past year. The Big Ugly Law added more barriers — stricter work requirements, more paperwork, more hoops to jump through. As a direct result, more kids are going to school hungry. We're fighting to reverse that.

pbs.org

Experts say that the drop is a cause for worry, and that it’s unlikely that the need for food assistance has dropped.

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Do you have questions about how my office can help you navigate the federal government, like passports and Social Security issues? Stop by our mobile office hours tomorrow! Details below:

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