Every family deserves to live in a safe and healthy environment, both today and for generations to come. Unfortunately, in places like Cahokia Heights, constant flooding has been jeopardizing the health and wellness of an entire community for decades. I’m committed to addressing long standing environmental health and safety problems in the Metro East while also pushing Congress to do more to ensure that our transition to a clean energy economy can be an opportunity to create good-paying, 21st century union jobs in places like Central and Southern Illinois.
- In my first year in Congress, I secured the appointment of a federal Environmental Protection Agency coordinator to support progress on the flooding, sewage and drinking water crisis in Cahokia Heights.
- In 2026, I secured $7.3 million for the Cahokia Heights East Interceptor, to fund construction of interceptor sewers to modernize the city’s sanitary sewer service and reduce sewage overflows.
- Illinois has the most lead service lines in the nation. I’m committed to ensuring that the federal government does its part in replacing those pipes with safe and durable service lines.
- As a member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition and co-chair of the Climate Jobs Task Force, I’m on finding ways to create good-paying union jobs on our path to a clean energy economy.
- Prioritizing clean energy sources today is good for both our economy and our communities in the long run. I’ve been particularly focused on increasing our use of biofuels like ethanol, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel to reduce emissions while also bringing down costs and supporting our family farmers.
