Sangamon Sun

Rep. Nikki Budzinski, currently serving in the U.S. Congress representing Illinois’ 13th district, shared a series of tweets reflecting on historical civil rights movements, veterans' affairs, and women's reproductive rights.

On December 5, 2024, Rep. Budzinski commemorated the Montgomery Bus Boycott's anniversary by honoring the civil rights activists who participated in the peaceful protest initiated after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat. She stated, "After Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat 69 years ago, civil rights activists launched a 13 month peaceful protest to integrate public buses. Today, as we mark the beginning of the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, let's honor these heroes who fought for justice."

Later that day, she addressed concerns regarding an error made by the Veterans Affairs (VA) earlier this year during a hearing with @VetAffairsDems. On December 5, she tweeted about her inquiry into measures being taken to prevent similar mistakes in the future: "When the VA mistakenly said it was running out of money earlier this year, veterans wrote into my office afraid they would lose the benefits they rely on. In today's @VetAffairsDems hearing, I asked VA officials what they're doing to make sure this error NEVER happens again."

On December 6, Rep. Budzinski expressed her commitment to defending women's reproductive rights following a meeting with Planned Parenthood Illinois. She highlighted their efforts in protecting and expanding access to reproductive health care: "Defending a woman's right to choose is one of my top priorities. It was great to meet with Planned Parenthood Illinois today and talk about their incredible work to protect and expand access to essential reproductive health care in our community!"