Dear Neighbors,

Too many families in our District are struggling to keep up with the soaring cost of groceries, gas, and rent. On top of that, President Trump and Republicans in Congress' Big Ugly Law continues to strip away the healthcare so many in our district rely upon.

House Democrats and I are fighting for real relief for families, lower costs, and better access to healthcare.

If you have thoughts, concerns, or ideas, I want to hear from you; click here to email me.

Nutrition is healthcare. We can't fix chronic disease if families can't afford to eat.

That was the center of my week in Puerto Rico with the National Medical Association—a fireside chat on Food is Medicine, where we talked about SNAP, produce prescriptions, and my FOOD for Health Act.

I also accepted NMA's Presidential Impact Award for my work on health equity and celebrated Dr. Brandi Freeman becoming the organization's next President.

Different rooms, same message: healthcare is a human right, not something only for the wealthy.

This week, I joined Congressman Darin LaHood to speak with this year's Edgar Fellows class about the value of finding common ground in Congress. Illinois families aren't concerned about party lines—they care about results.

That's why I've worked with Congressman LaHood and others across the aisle on bipartisan bills to expand access to affordable housing and strengthen early cancer detection. Good ideas can come from either side of the aisle, and I'll keep working with anyone serious about improving people's lives here at home.

I'm proud to have secured $850,000 in federal funding to continue the revitalization of Paxton's Market Street corridor, building on the streetscape improvements already underway downtown.

This next phase will make Main Street safer and more accessible while supporting the small businesses that are the heart of this community. By improving sidewalks, lighting, and pedestrian pathways, this project will make downtown Paxton more walkable and inviting—bringing more foot traffic to local storefronts. 

Thank you to the City of Paxton for their vision and partnership in bringing this funding home for the community.

I'm working with my state counterparts in Illinois, who are surveying storm damage from Monday's storm.

If your home or property was affected, please fill out this survey so state and local partners can accurately assess the impact and pursue disaster assistance where it's available.