What Nikki Budzinski said, and what was done

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Urbana councilwoman, proud dog mom to Riley and now to Bronzely, and my good friend, Chaundra Bishop. For 7 years, Chaundra served Urbana with determination and heart, fighting tirelessly for reforms to local policing systems, helping get folks in the community connected to good jobs, and working to strengthen public safety in the community.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, as amended.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this legislation. This bill, deceptively named the Tipped Employee Protection Act, would change Federal wage law to allow employers to treat almost any worker as a tipped employee, even if they receive small or occasional tips.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of lowering costs for working families in my district who deserve better than to be ripped off by big corporations. Last month, the Guardian exposed dollar stores for quietly overcharging customers.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the wonderful class of interns who served in my office during the fall 2025 semester. Their incredible dedication to public service and commitment to learning has been truly inspirational, and the contributions they have made to Illinois' 13th Congressional District have left a significant impact.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of and express my deep gratitude for my Veterans Affairs Policy Fellow, Laura Falender, and her outstanding service to my office over the past year.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 48 million family caregivers in Illinois and across the country. One in six adults in Illinois are family caregivers. They are a critical part of our healthcare system, yet they often go unpaid and unacknowledged.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of and express my deep gratitude for my agriculture policy advisor, Aleksi Knepp, for her outstanding service to my office over the past 2\1/2\ years.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Kaptur for cohosting this Special Order hour alongside me today. I rise today for my district, for our economy, for our workers, and for our clean energy future.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible life of former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar. Governor Edgar was a mentor and a true public servant, but most of all, he was a dear friend.”

“Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act. With the start of the new school year, the time is now to pass this bipartisan legislation that will help student veterans who are training for high-demand STEM fields.”

“Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this legislation because it strips away critical resources from projects that directly benefit my district. One example is the investment of $32 million awarded to the Kraft Heinz facility in Champaign, Illinois.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert Jones, the chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, who is stepping down to take on a new role as president of the University of Washington.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mayor Tyrone Echols of Venice, Illinois, and to congratulate him on his retirement after more than 40 years in office. As a graduate of Madison High School and Southern Illinois University, Mayor Echols is a true son of downstate Illinois.”

“Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago, I was speaking in committee to celebrate the bipartisanship of this important legislation and the urgent need to pass it out of the House.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the victims of the horrific car crash that occurred in Chatham, Illinois, on Monday afternoon: Alma Buhnerkempe, Kathryn Corley, Ainsley Johnson, and Rylee Britton.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act, bipartisan legislation that would simplify the Department of Veterans Affairs' correspondence for our Nation's heroes.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible career of Glyn Ramage and to congratulate him on his retirement. A resident of Millstadt, Illinois, and a lifelong labor champion, Glyn has inspired so many, including myself.”

“For 25 years, Glyn served as business manager for the Downstate Illinois Laborers' District Council. During that time he fought to secure better benefits and higher wages for more than 10,000 union families.”