Corruption is rampant in Washington – and that has to change. Today, I’m unveiling an Anti-Corruption Agenda, demanding action in Congress to end Citizens United, ban insider trading and hold SCOTUS accountable. Here’s the plan.

Every day, we lose an estimated 22 veterans to suicide. That is not a statistic we can accept. I'm committed to making sure the veterans who served this country have access to the mental health support they've earned — and that we're doing everything we can to keep them here. If you or a veteran you know is struggling, call or text 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line. spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisvi…

Last week, I joined @amprog to discuss clean industrial policy and what it actually takes to build a clean energy economy that works for working people. For Central Illinois — with our manufacturing base, our agricultural economy, and our skilled workforce — getting this right matters. americanprogress.org/article…

I had a great conversation on @agripulse Newsmakers about two things that are weighing heavily on Illinois farmers right now: the Farm Bill extension has expired, and the cost of farming has risen dramatically since the last Farm Bill was signed in 2018. Farmers in Central Illinois are dealing with higher fuel costs, higher input costs, and trade uncertainty — all without updated farm policy that reflects the world they're actually operating in. agri-pulse.com/media/videos/…

Real, lasting permitting reform doesn’t happen without labor at the table. Securing the support of @LIUNA and General President Booker is a critical piece of getting a package like this across the finish line and guaranteeing that working men and women share in the benefits. liuna.org/news/story/liuna-g…

I joined @SenDuckworth & @RepNikkiB to urge the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to add language in the FY27 NDAA that pauses any plans to deactivate the 183rd Wing’s CRF mission without a deployable replacement mission. A suitable replacement mission is critical to ensuring the 183rd Wing’s continued legacy of service to our nation.

As of yesterday, SNAP cuts from the Big Ugly Law are in effect. Five million Americans — including more than a million children — have already lost benefits. Now states are being forced to pick up 75% of administrative costs, and work requirements have been expanded to cover adults up to age 64. No working family in Illinois should have to choose between groceries and the bills. abcnews.com/Politics/snap-be…

Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: @RepNikkiB discusses her non-negotiables in the current farm bill that’s in front of the Senate Also on this week's show, @RepJuliaLetlow discusses the challenges facing agriculture, especially now as the current extension of the farm bill has expired, as well as new legislation that helps the timber industry in times of disaster. Full episode here: agri-pulse.com/media/videos/… #agriculture #farmbill #farmpolicy #farmeconomy #Newsmakers

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I am standing with survivors as we push for a future free from violence, fear, and abuse. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home, relationships, and community. Free, confidential help is available at thehotline.org or call 800-799-SAFE.

Only 29,000 jobs were added in September, unemployment ticked up to 4.2%, and wages grew at just 3% — well below inflation. Workers are falling further behind, and families in Central and Southern Illinois are feeling it every time they fill up the tank or go to the grocery store. nytimes.com/live/2026/10/02/…

The 988 Lifeline's Press 3 service for LGBTQI+ youth is back. After the Administration shut it down last year, I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues in pushing to restore funding. Young people in need should have access to crisis counselors who understand what they're going through. If you or someone you know needs support: call or text 988. LGBTQI+ youth, press 3.

Rural voters believed in Make America Healthy Again. Now nearly half say they don't have enough doctors nearby. Healthcare costs are their top concerns. Rural communities in Central Illinois know exactly what this feels like. apnews.com/article/rural-vot…

I joined Senators Duckworth and Durbin today to call on the Air Force to slow down on their plans to deactivate the Central Repair Facility at the 183rd Wing in Springfield. If it's deactivated without a replacement mission identified, we're putting 115 Illinois service members in limbo. We're pushing to include language in the National Defense Authorization Act that would pause any deactivation until the Air Force has a concrete plan in place.

USDA just effectively gutted the Rural Energy for America Program. REAP exists to help rural America bring down energy costs and build a more resilient agricultural sector. This rule turns it into a program that only works if you're already wealthy enough not to need it. That's backwards, and it's going to make life harder for the farmers and rural families I represent in Central Illinois.

The lessons from Climate Week NYC show how balancing domestic clean manufacturing with new forms of global collaboration and trade policy can put countries on a better path toward shared prosperity and long-term security. ampr.gs/3Vj4R4Q

I stopped by the @MacoupinClerk office to learn more about how voting works in our communities and make sure every eligible voter in IL-13 has what they need to participate this November. Your vote is safe, secure, and your vote matters. Find your polling place and make a plan today.

Diesel hit $6.79 a gallon in Springfield yesterday — and the president of the Mid-West Truckers Association put it plainly: "You can't postpone harvest and you've got to have the fuel." Illinois farmers are in the middle of corn and soybean harvest right now, paying record prices at the pump with no end in sight. illinoistimes.com/news/recor…

I was honored to sit down with the Chicago Tribune to discuss my vision for working families. They need lower gas prices, affordable healthcare, good-paying jobs, and leaders who show up for them. Read More: chicagotribune.com/2026/09/2…

Iowa is "ground zero" for a farm crisis  and it's spreading. Tariffs are driving up costs and killing export markets. Illinois farmers know this too. This is what tariffs and the Iran war have done to American agriculture. axios.com/2026/09/29/iowa-mi…