DECATUR: Budzinski Visits Empowerment Opportunity Center

DECATUR, Ill. — Yesterday, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) visited the Empowerment Opportunity Center in Decatur to tour the facility and discuss the services they provide to the community, including childcare, energy assistance, support for seniors, and the Empower Pantry.

During her visit, the Congresswoman toured the facility, spent time with children in the childcare center, and sat down with the leadership team and Board Chairman.

"I had the privilege of visiting the Empowerment Opportunity Center in Decatur and seeing firsthand the incredible work they do for our community. The President’s recently released budget will gut LIHEAP and Community Service Block Grants, critical to the services this center provides and right when our neighbors need them most. We should never choose tax cuts for the wealthy over funding that will fully support Head Start programs or prevent seniors from running their air conditioning in the height of summer. I'm proud to stand with the Empowerment Opportunity Center, and I'll keep fighting in Congress to protect the federal programs that power their vital work,” said Budzinski.

"It was a privilege to host Congresswoman Budzinski at the Empowerment Opportunity Center. We were thrilled to share how her hard work in D.C. makes a difference in the lives of Macon County residents, especially through our Head Start, Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) programs,” said Tara Murray, Executive Director of Empowerment Opportunity Center.

Since coming to Congress, Budzinski has been an active and vocal supporter of the LIHEAP initiative. As part of the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations process, she urged the House Appropriations Committee to provide full funding and federal staffing for LIHEAP, $800 million for the Community Services Block Grant, and $14.27 billion for Head Start.

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