SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — In advance of Gov. JB Pritzker’s 2026 Budget Address, the Illinois House Democratic Women’s Caucus released this statement outlining their budget priorities for promoting equity and opportunity despite attacks from the federal government:

“Major priorities for our caucus during the budget crafting process will include defending the rights of women, children and vulnerable communities, and promoting a future where privacy for women seeking an abortion is not at-risk, where women living under threat of domestic abuse have an economic safety net to support them if they leave, where single moms don’t have to work non-stop to afford childcare and where every woman can live a life of equity and opportunity,” said Caucus Chair, state Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights. “Our caucus will not stand by while the Trump Administration targets millions of women with a misogynistic agenda designed to strip essential rights from women and claw back decades of progress for women and families.”

“At a moment when Washington is advancing cruel and reckless cuts, Illinois must lead with compassion and responsibility,” said Caucus Treasurer, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia. “The IHDWC budget priorities are clear: protect access to healthcare so families can see a doctor, safeguard SNAP so no child goes hungry and preserve childcare subsidies so working parents can stay in the workforce. We refuse to balance the budget on the backs of our most vulnerable neighbors. Illinois Democrats will continue to invest in people, stabilize communities and mitigate the real harm caused by extreme federal policies.”

“As we begin the budget process, we are committed to working relentlessly to ensure that the programs and legislation that support women and children receive the critical funding they need to succeed,” said Caucus Secretary, state Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake. “Illinois has a long and proud history of strengthening and protecting women’s rights, and we intend to build on that legacy. Despite the noise and chaos at the federal level, the women of the Illinois House Democratic Caucus remain laser focused on advancing policies that uplift the women, children and families of our state.”

“The Women’s Caucus remains committed to protecting the rights we’ve worked tirelessly to secure, especially in an anything-but-ordinary year where the current administration continually seeks to undermine them. It is also vitally important that we continue to provide services to our most vulnerable citizens—children, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and low-income seniors,” said Caucus Vice-Chair, state Rep. Suzanne Ness, D-Carpentersville. “With the uncertainty surrounding federal dollars, it’s vital that the state utilize our resources to the best of our ability without undermining or losing ground on all the important work we’ve done the past several years.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, cosponsored resolutions this week condemning the reckless and vindictive actions of the Trump administration. The resolutions cite the imposition of harmful tariffs, the pursuit of misguided foreign policy, and the drastic cuts to child care and family support programs. The measures also denounce lethal immigration enforcement policies implemented under Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, which, according to reported data, have resulted in the deaths of nearly 50 individuals, including U.S. citizens.

“Trump’s so-called ‘America First’ agenda is nothing more than ‘Tax America First,’” said Hirschauer. “Families are being crushed. Prices are soaring. Communities are being pushed into crisis. Because of this administration’s political spite, more than 100,000 Illinoisans will lose their health insurance, and another 100,000 children will be left without child care. This is deliberate. And it’s devastating.”

The Hirschauer-backed resolutions condemn Trump’s unchecked military actions—from operations in Venezuela to threats of forcibly seizing Greenland—while working families at home lose critical support. The resolutions note that these actions cost more than stabilizing SNAP for over 310,000 Americans, renewing ACA subsidies, and funding child care—programs the administration has instead cut, particularly in Democratic-led states. Hirschauer also condemned deadly domestic extremism under DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, citing unlawful shootings, illegal detentions, and violations of constitutionally guaranteed due process.

Hirschauer voted to:

Urge Congress to reinstate the healthcare subsidies within the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 to keep healthcare affordable and accessible for over 500,000 Illinoisans who depend on the ACA marketplace (House Resolution 620).
Call for the immediate release of the $10 billion in child care funds frozen across democratic-majority states (House Resolution 621).
Prompt the United States Treasury to issue $2,000 payments to every American household with an annual income below $250,000 to account for the lost wages and savings caused by Donald Trump’s tariff scheme that raised prices for every U.S. family (House Resolution 623).
Call on Congress to hold Donald Trump accountable for his illegal use of military action and American dollars to fund illegitimate operations, including in Venezuela, unprovoked attacks toward Cuba and Iran, and threats of forcefully pursuing Greenland’s autonomous territory (House Resolution 624).
Condemn the excessive and deadly force deployed by civil immigration agents under the direction of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, by calling for her immediate resignation and an independent investigation into committed, directed, or covered up acts of violence, killings, and deaths in immigration custody (House Resolution 622).

“These resolutions matter to every Illinoisan,” said Hirschauer. “The Trump administration’s illegal attacks on our communities, alongside its reckless foreign policy, are making daily life harder, more expensive, and more dangerous.”

“House Resolution 622 is especially critical for communities that have been on the front lines defending basic human rights and keeping each other safe. We must demand that federal agents obey the Constitution, respect due process, and end the excessive and deadly force being used by immigration authorities in our neighborhoods.”