Board Splits Along Party Lines to Approve 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda

Will County Board Meeting | February 19, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Board adopted its 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda in a 10-9 vote, establishing the county’s priorities for lobbying efforts in Washington D.C. The agenda prioritizes infrastructure funding, healthcare protections, and immigration policy.

Federal Agenda Key Points:

• Infrastructure: Seeks funding for Laraway Road and Gougar Road corridor projects, and the Wilmington-Peotone PEL study.

• Healthcare: Opposes cuts to Medicaid and the 340B drug pricing program; supports funding for mental health and substance use services.

• Immigration: Supports “strong immigration policies that provide a clear path to citizenship” and opposes punitive grant restrictions on sanctuary jurisdictions.

• Vote: Passed 10-9 (Democrats in favor, Republicans opposed).

In a vote that fell strictly along party lines, the Will County Board approved its 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

The document serves as a roadmap for federal lobbyists representing Will County in Washington D.C., outlining specific bills the county supports or opposes, as well as broader policy goals.

Infrastructure remains a central pillar of the agenda. The county is seeking increased federal grant opportunities for several major thoroughfares, including the Laraway Road Corridor Project and the Gougar Road Corridor Project. Additionally, the agenda supports the “Safe Streets for All” grant program and continued funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ DuPage River Study to mitigate regional flooding.

On healthcare and human services, the agenda takes a strong stance against proposed federal cuts. The county explicitly opposes reductions to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs and calls for the protection of the 340B drug discount program, which is utilized by the Will County Community Health Center to provide affordable medication.

“The Will County Board supports reinstituting Medicaid coverage to increase access to care… for seniors and new immigrants,” the agenda states. It also advocates for federal legislation to penalize lethal fentanyl trafficking while simultaneously funding harm reduction services.

Immigration policy appears in the agenda as well. The document states the board “strongly opposes punitive federal grant restrictions against sanctuary jurisdictions” and supports federal funding for “immigration legal services, deportation defense, and family stabilization programs.”

The inclusion of these social policies likely contributed to the split vote. Voting against the agenda were Republicans Katie Deane-Schlottman, Judy Ogalla, Frankie Pretzel, Daniel Butler, Steve Balich, Jim Richmond, Vince Logan, Mark Revis, and Julie Berkowicz. Voting in favor were Democrats Joe VanDuyne, Sherry Williams, Herbert Brooks Jr., Denise Winfrey, Dawn Bullock, Mica Freeman, Destinee Ortiz, Kelly Hickey, Elnalyn Costa, and Jacqueline Traynere.