Fellow Illinoisan,

The Biden Administration has called on Congress to designate $106 billion in emergency funding for Israel, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, and humanitarian crises. In response, extreme House Republicans proposed an unserious package that removes life-saving funding for Ukraine and proposes a $14.3 billion cut to IRS funding, which would add $26.8 billion to the budget deficit and is a handout to wealthy tax cheats.

Meanwhile, the Senate voted this week to pass three bipartisan appropriations bills for Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development for fiscal year 2024.

The situation is quite the split screen.


MAGA House Republicans' partisan bill is going nowhere. With our “minibus” of three funding packages that 82 Senators voted to advance, the Senate has shown bipartisanship is key. Our goal is to build our country, not burn it down.

Bipartisan efforts are necessary to get meaningful things done in Washington. Right now, the most pressing item requiring a bipartisan effort is funding our government. I’m glad the Senate was able to come together to advance these bills, which will benefit many across Illinois. I urge House Republicans to also work on a bipartisan basis. 


Sincerely, 

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)