SPRINGFIELD – To increase young voter engagement, State Senator Mike Simmons secured passage of an elections bill that will allow 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote so they may start voting as soon as they turn 18.

“The young have always played a key part in democracy,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “The younger generations show again and again how engaged they are in social issues — allowing them to pre-register sends a message to youth that their voices are important and allows them to take that activism to the polls.”

Senate Democrats pass responsible spending plan

Building upon the success of the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus passed the Fiscal Year 2024 budget last week, continuing the state on a path toward fiscal responsibility and investing in education from preschool to college.

“This budget continues the work Democrats have done to restore economic prosperity to our state,” said Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). “This was a collaborative effort. I am proud of the work we did, and I look forward to the House sending this balanced budget to the governor so he can sign it into law.”

The budget prioritizes business attraction and development, workforce training, economic assistance programs, and more. It includes funds to support job creation, improve commercial corridors and attract new businesses to the state.

“As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I set a goal that our budget would work to solve the pressing economic issues facing low- and middle-income families,” said State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago). “Because of our responsible fiscal approach, particularly the last few years, our state continues to have fiscal stability while caring for the people of our state.”

The budget includes a $250 million investment into early childhood education. The funding will be used to expand preschool, stabilize the childcare workforce, and provide more early intervention and home visiting programs. It also continues the General Assembly’s commitment of a $350 million increase to K-12 education.

Further, the budget includes additional MAP grant funding, ensuring everyone at or below the median income level can go to community college for free.

“A person’s educational success begins the day they are born. The quickest way to fail a generation is by failing to prioritize their education,” said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood). “In Illinois, I am proud to say we took a positive step toward ensuring our students aren’t failed by an unjust system.”

To address the rising rate of crime and the need for greater public safety initiatives, the budget also invests millions of dollars to support public safety measures, invest in the tools law enforcement need to prevent and solve crimes and strengthen investments in violence prevention programs that keep communities safe.

Overall, the budget is a balanced plan with conservative revenue estimates that builds on the state’s fiscal progress while making transformative investments in early childhood and higher education, workforce development, and efforts to fight violence and poverty.

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Porfirio helped spearhead a measure through the Senate making significant strides to expand the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program.

“Making the AIM HIGH program permanent will have profound impacts for our universities and residents,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “This program gives our residents more in-state opportunities to pursue higher education.”

The Aspirational Institutional Match Helping Illinois Grow Higher Education (AIM HIGH) has provided merit-based, means-tested student financial aid to first-time, full-time undergraduate students and transfer students who are Illinois residents attending any of the 12 Illinois public four-year universities since 2019.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings fought for a significant milestone in the expansion of the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program.

“This monumental legislation makes greater investments in our children,” said Hastings (D- Frankfort). “The cost of financing higher education can be overwhelming. The expansion of this grant program will help increase accessibility for middle class families at our state’s universities and colleges.”

House Bill 301 will make the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program permanent, increase transparency in the program to allow more students to take advantage of it, increase access for part-time students and make changes to the matching requirements for the public universities.

Since the 2019-2020 academic year the AIM HIGH program has provided merit-based, means-tested student financial aid to first-time, full-time undergraduate students and transfer students who are Illinois residents attending any of the 12 Illinois public four-year universities. AIM HIGH-participating universities are required to provide matching funding for institutional awards for students who meet certain eligibility requirements, as well as those established by each individual university.

The initiative adopts changes to help ensure that the AIM HIGH Grant Program targets those most in need, further amplifying its impact.

“Our children are the future leaders of our great state,” said Hastings. “It’s our goal to provide students with the opportunity to be successful – this legislation is a step in the right direction to do just that.”

House Bill 301 passed the Senate and House with bipartisan support.

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) declared the state’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget a positive investment for our state’s children – prioritizing education, youth employment and mental health.

“A person’s educational success begins the day they are born. The quickest way to fail a generation is by failing to prioritize their education,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “In Illinois, I am proud to say we took a positive step toward ensuring our students aren’t failed by an unjust system.”

The budget – backed by Lightford – includes a $250 million investment into early childhood education. The funding will be used to expand preschool, stabilize the child care workforce, and provide more early intervention and home visiting programs.

SPRINGFIELD – During his first year in office, State Senator Willie Preston (D-Chicago) was proud to support a budget that prioritizes education from birth to college, enhances workforce development, and includes efforts to uplift low- and middle-class families.

In response to the Fiscal Year 2024 budget passing the Senate, Preston released the following statement:

“The working class people of the 16th District sent me to Springfield to help shape a budget that provides educational and career opportunities that promote stabilization of our communities, support the re-emergence of entrepreneurship in our most economically challenged communities, and ensure equitable opportunities for all. I am excited to expand these opportunities to many of the residents in the area who have been underserved.”

“The investments in apprenticeship programs, early childhood, and higher education are amongst the highest investments to professional development and our education system in years. This budget uplifts the education system, supports the entrepreneurial spirit, and expands the workforce to ensure that everyone is awarded the opportunity to provide for their families and build their communities.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Porfirio helped spearhead a measure through the Senate making significant strides to expand the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program.

“Making the AIM HIGH program permanent will have profound impacts for our universities and residents,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “This program gives our residents more in-state opportunities to pursue higher education.”

The Aspirational Institutional Match Helping Illinois Grow Higher Education (AIM HIGH) has provided merit-based, means-tested student financial aid to first-time, full-time undergraduate students and transfer students who are Illinois residents attending any of the 12 Illinois public four-year universities since 2019.

House Bill 301 makes the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program permanent, increases transparency in the program to allow more students to take advantage of it, increases access for part-time students and makes changes to the matching requirements for the public universities.

SPRINGFIELD – Building upon the success of the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus passed the Fiscal Year 2024 budget Thursday, continuing the state on a path toward fiscal responsibility and investing in education from preschool to college.

“This budget continues the work Democrats have done to restore economic prosperity to our state,” said Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). “This was a collaborative effort. I am proud of the work we did, and I look forward to the House sending this balanced budget to the governor so he can sign it into law.”

The budget prioritizes business attraction and development, workforce training, economic assistance programs, and more. It includes funds to support job creation, improve commercial corridors and attract new businesses to the state.

“As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I set a goal that our budget would work to solve the pressing economic issues facing low- and middle-income families,” said State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago). “Because of our responsible fiscal approach, particularly the last few years, our state continues to have fiscal stability while caring for the people of our state.”