please give it up for representative nikki budzinski. give it up, give it up, give it up! >> good afternoon, nea! are there educators out here today? standing for our students. are there education support professionals here today? i want to start out by saying i am so proud to represent public school teachers, educators, support professionals in central and southern illinois. and i want to say, yes, thank you. let's start out with the thank you for what you do every day for our communities and for our children. i am a proud union member. yes. and i'm a proud product of public schools. i am a proud granddaughter of members of the illinois education association. and i am here today to stand and fight with you, with you. and i want to say, first of all, i am an aunt of a special needs nephew with down syndrome, that because of the idea funding out of the department of education, our children in this country with special needs get the care that they need to reach their full potential. you are all a part of that. and i want to say again, a thank you for that. i have been meetin