Illinois Democrats offer our thanks for his lifetime of service.

Chicago, IL - As President Biden addresses the American people from the Oval Office for the final time tonight, Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez released the following statement:

“As President Biden addresses the nation for the final time from the Oval Office, Illinois Democrats offer our thanks for his lifetime of service and a recognition of the remarkable progress achieved for Illinois under the Biden-Harris administration. From championing historic legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to guiding our state and the nation out of the health and economic disaster of the coronavirus pandemic, the Biden-Harris administration has fought for working people and ushered in historic gains for Illinois. Our work is not done. In 2025 and beyond, Illinois Democrats will build on this progress on behalf of working Illinoisans, while standing up against Donald Trump and his Cabinet of corporate interests.”

Under the Biden-Harris administration, Illinois saw record investment and job growth:

• Illinois received $12.4 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments under the Biden-Harris administration.

• During President Biden’s tenure, Illinois saw the creation of 458.4 thousand new jobs.

• Under the Biden-Harris administration, Illinoisans submitted 700.2 thousand new applications to start a small business.

President Biden made health care more accessible for Illinois and lowered the cost of health care and prescription drugs for the most vulnerable Illinoisans.

• President Biden and Democrats lowered prescription drug prices to $35 per month for more than 2.4 million seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries in Illinois.

• President Biden has overseen record enrollment in the Affordable Care Act marketplace. In December 2024, 399 thousand Illinoisans signed up during the Affordable Care Act’s Open Enrollment Period.

• In a major step to secure Illinoisans’ financial freedom, this month, the Biden-Harris administration finalized a rule to remove medical debt from the credit reports of millions of Americans.

President Biden strengthened our state and nation’s democratic institutions.

• President Biden oversaw the largest number of confirmations of federal judges in a single term since the Carter administration—including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. These highly qualified men and women—all committed to the rule of law and the Constitution—will serve the federal Judiciary for decades to come.

• President Biden signed the Electoral Count Reform Act into law, which establishes clear guidelines for our system of certifying and counting electoral votes for President and Vice President, to preserve the will of the people and to protect against the type of attempts to overturn our elections that led to the January 6 insurrection.