Remembering 13 fallen American troops

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Last month America lost 13 of our bravest citizens in Afghanistan. They knew there was a threat of an attack and they carried out their mission anyway. Heroic — the only way to describe their actions. We honor their legacy and the sacrifice that they made on behalf of this great nation. To the 13 new Gold Star families, please know your loved ones died as heroes and we will always honor their memories.

Read more about these heroes: Honoring Our Heroes

Supporting Illinois agriculture and biofuels

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It was great to be with friends and Representatives Rodney Davis, Mike Bost, Miller-Meeks Randy Feenstra, and Jim Baird in Decatur at the Farm Progress Show this week for Congressional Biofuels Summit! Biofuels are an important market for Illinois ag and they are vital for the Midwest.

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I enjoyed visiting with Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert and American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. I appreciate their leadership and advocacy for farmers throughout Illinois and the United States.

Visiting Roodstock in Eureka

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I was in Eureka this week attending Roodstock! It is a terrific event that raises money for the Timber Pointe Foundation, which helps adults and children with disabilities and special needs. A big thanks to Don and Jaime Rood and the Yoder family for hosting.

Supporting Illinois Ag with clean, efficient energy

Biofuels, particularly ethanol, continue to be a vital market for our corn farmers in central and west-central Illinois. Rural communities across the Midwest have seen the benefits of increased ethanol production through expanded job opportunities and increased markets to sell their products. I am proud to support the Next Generation Fuels Act, which will build off the success of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to provide cleaner more efficient energy solutions while supporting Illinois agriculture producers.

Read my full press release here.

Honoring Vermeer Midwest's 50th Anniversary

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I was in Goodfield to visit Vermeer Midwest and present Junior Kool a Congressional Record to celebrate his company’s 50th anniversary. Vermeer Midwest has been a great example of a company that leads with integrity and supports the community around them!

McLean County Chamber of Commerce Congressional Update

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Great crowd in Bloomington at the McLean County Chamber of Commerce luncheon. I joined Rep. Rodney Davis to provide an update about what’s happening in Congress. We discussed the upcoming spending bills, workforce issues, and the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Touring Knapheide in Quincy

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It was great to have Rep. Devin Nunes of California, a leading voice on the House Ways and Means Committee, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, one of our newest members of Congress, in Quincy to see an Illinois factory and learn about what kind of issues our businesses are facing here. Thank you to the Knapheides for having us at their Quincy manufacturing facility and providing a great tour! We talked about economic development in Illinois, how the pandemic affected supply chains, and how California and Iowa are facing similar issues. As a cheerleader for the district, I am always proud to showcase the great companies we have here and teach my out-of-state colleagues about them.

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