Continuing with her promise to work both sides of the congressional aisle for solutions, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski has landed a leadership role in a U.S. House group.

Budzinski, a Democrat who represents part of the Metro East area, has been tabbed by colleagues to be the new vice chair for the New Democrat Coalition’s policy committee.

According to Budzinski’s office, the group is composed of more than 100 Democrats, describing themselves as “pragmatic,” who are willing to work with Republicans to advance policies.

Budzinski served as the Coalition’s Freshman Leadership Representative for the 118th Congress.

When first joining the House in 2023, Budzinski said in a statement that the coalition “quickly became a home for me, both because of my incredible colleagues but also because of our practical, often bipartisan, approach to tackling our country’s toughest challenges.”

The committee is led by one of Budzinski’s state mates, U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, a Democrat from the northern Chicago suburbs.

And nothing says “working across the aisle” better than bringing cash back to your home district.

Before the Thanksgiving weekend, Budzinski stopped in Madison County to deliver funds aimed to improve water quality.

A $5 million check went to expand the city’s water treatment plant and bring it up to federal standards. Another check, for $850,000, was dropped on Wood River to help the city build a stormwater detention pond.