Duckworth Holds “We Can’t Afford This” Roundtable on How Rising Costs Are Crushing Illinois Families

Duckworth Holds "We Can't Afford This" Roundtable on How Rising Costs Are Crushing Illinois Families

[ROCK ISLAND, IL] - As families across Illinois continue to endure skyrocketing costs as a direct result of President Donald Trump's reckless policies, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a roundtable discussion with local Quad Cities leaders to discuss how they can address what too many Americans are feeling every day: "We Can't Afford This." As the average Illinois household has paid more than $4,200 in higher costs for everyday essentials under the Trump Administration, Duckworth heard from community health care providers, housing insecurity and homelessness prevention advocates, food insecurity experts as well as child care and early childhood education professionals about the real-world consequences that Trump's Medicaid cuts, tariffs and ongoing illegal war are having on their communities. Photos from the roundtable are available on the Senator's website.

"Grocery bills, energy bills and health care bills are piling up. From Rock Island to Carbondale to Chicago, families all across Illinois are telling me the same thing: 'We can't afford this,'" Duckworth said. "Illinoisans are feeling the squeeze as Donald Trump drives up costs and health care providers are struggling to keep their doors open after Medicaid cuts. So long as the President refuses to help the American people, Illinois leaders will continue working together to protect the essential lifelines our communities rely on."

"Project NOW is honored to host Senator Duckworth's "We Can't Afford This!" Roundtable. In an era of rising economic and social strain the Roundtable will allow conversation about not only about the challenges but the solutions to secure families and move people upward through public policy supports and human-centered programs," said Dr. Dwight Ford, President and CEO of Project NOW, Inc.

"Through the OneTable QC initiative, we've heard from countless local nonprofits about how this environment of rising costs and cutting benefits and services hurts local residents and nonprofits. Nonprofits also buy food, gas, and health care so their costs continue to rise while the government cuts funding and threatens to eliminate awarded funds indiscriminately. Nonprofits can't plan; staff feel the stress, and ultimately all Quad Citians suffer. We appreciate Senator Duckworth visiting with local nonprofits to hear about these challenges directly from the people on the front lines of this crisis who live this reality every day," said Linda Wastyn, President of Wastyn and Associates.

"Community Health Care, Inc. is so thankful to have Senator Duckworth take the time to hear about the challenges facing the patients we serve. Between rising costs of living and the potential of lost coverage for health care, the families we serve are struggling every day to make ends meet. We're grateful Senator Duckworth is willing to listen to those concerns, but more importantly, to talk about solutions that will help preserve the safety net and give people in our community the opportunity to live healthy and prosperous lives," said Tom Bowman, CEO of Community Health Care, Inc.

As Donald Trump's policies make life more expensive and put essential services at risk, Duckworth has continued fighting to lower costs for Illinois families and protect the critical programs they rely on every day. She helped pass the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act, a landmark law that will expand affordable housing and lower housing costs. The Senator is also a cosponsor of Child Care for Working Families Act to make child care more affordable and accessible for middle-class families. After the Trump Administration enacted the largest Medicaid cuts in history and made it harder for eligible Americans to keep their coverage, Duckworth has led efforts to protect Medicaid and the health care it provides to Illinois families, seniors and people with disabilities. The Senator also continues to defend Head Start against the Trump Administration's relentless attacks, working to protect these critical lifelines for families across Illinois.

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