Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, voted to support a bill that would restore funding for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) and community colleges.
Statewide, approximately 130,000 students use the MAP grant program to seek higher education. The bill also restores grants for technical education, adult education and adult literacy programs across Illinois that have not been funded since July 1, 2015 as a result of the ongoing budget impasse.
The legislation, Senate Bill 2043, passed both the Illinois House and Senate Jan. 28 solely on Democratic support. It is now on Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk.
“College students, who are trying to better themselves and preparing for a future in the workforce, should not be forced to shoulder the burden of the state’s ongoing budget impasse,” DeLuca said. “I was the chief co-sponsor of this legislation, because I know how important a higher education is and I want to ensure that students are able to continue to pursue their dreams.”
