Political Quotes

“as we begin 2026 with Trump and Republican policies squeezing workers, spiking costs, tanking job security, the Republican leadership advances this bill to divert money intended for poor children to dangerous anti-abortion centers. When my home State of Illinois and four other States are facing an illegal reduction of about $8.9 billion in TANF and SSBG funds due to political retaliation, the Republican leadership chooses to move a bill restricting women's reproductive choices. If Republicans really wanted to help parents care for their children, they would work with Democrats to ensure that HHS follows the law and immediately releases the childcare funds that HHS is illegally delaying from States across the country. Illinois receives about $400 million from the Child Care and Development Fund and another $500 million from TANF that help low- income working families afford quality childcare. Disruption to this funding will have substantial, immediate, and destructive consequences to children, families, businesses, and communities. I am upset but not shocked that the Republican leadership rejected my amendment to this bill that would penalize HHS for illegally withholding payments of TANF, Child Care Entitlement to States, or SSBG funding if the agency fails to pay an amount due to a State within 5 days by requiring the agency to make a monthly payment of the amount due plus interest.”