Nikki Budzinski

I sat down with members of the Illinois Corn Growers Association to talk through some of the most pressing priorities for Central Illinois — lock and dam funding to keep our waterways moving, renewable fuels like E15 that support our farmers and lower energy costs, and trade

One of the best parts of this job is spending time meeting with the next generation of public servants. I stopped by yesterday to talk with junior staff, and the talent and vision in the room gave me real hope for our future.

This week, I met with the Illinois FFA state officer board, who are preparing to lead the next generation of American agriculture. Investing in their success is how we make sure Illinois stays at the forefront of American farming for generations to come.

ACA premiums went up 20% this year. Now insurers are proposing another 14% increase for 2027. Two straight years of double-digit hikes — and the folks feeling it hardest are middle-income Americans who lost their subsidies when the enhanced tax credits expired. This is a policy

Yesterday, I sat down with folks from Illinois Soy to dig into the issues that matter most to Illinois farmers — the Farm Bill, USMCA, and the state of American agriculture. These conversations are how we make sure the policies we're fighting for actually reflect what our farmers