SPRINGFIELD – Nearly 120,000 Illinois students are facing an uncertain future as a result of the governor’s veto of Monetary Award Program grant funding last spring.

While many colleges and four-year universities were able to continue to provide funding for students during the fall semester, nearly 1,000 students were unable to return to school in 2016 as some schools’ funding dried up.

To provide some stability for students, the Illinois Senate passed Senate Bill 2043, co-sponsored by State Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

“MAP grant funding is one of the few resources available to working families to make the skyrocketing costs of college tuition more affordable,” said Murphy. “Eliminating this funding is short-sighted and will have a long term impact on students and our state work force.”

The proposal also includes $260 million in funding for community colleges, which remain unfunded during the budget impasse.

“We must continue to invest in our community colleges, like Harper and Oakton Community College, to give students the opportunity to go to school, earn an education and achieve the American dream. Failing to invest in these programs fails an entire future generation,” Murphy said.

The proposal passed the Senate with a vote of 36-12-3 and will now head to Gov. Rauner’s desk.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) released the statement below following Governor Rauner’s State of the State address.

"It's clear that Gov. Rauner has 'unfriended' working families, seniors, Illinoisans with developmental disabilities and college students who, because of his abandonment of higher education, now face an uncertain future.

State government needs reform and Springfield needs to do more with less just like families have had to. But it is profoundly wrong and unfair for the governor to victimize those who rely on state government for quality of life help, to suffer disproportionately because of his misguided policy agenda."

SPRINGFIELD – Due to the ongoing budget impasse, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), the largest social services provider in Illinois, announced last week it will eliminate nearly 30 programs and lay off 750 workers.

The program cuts will affect 4,700 low-income seniors, children and disabled veterans from all areas of the state. In Des Plaines, LSSI is eliminating mental health counseling for children and families. State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines), served as the former director of business services for the Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Program of LSSI for five years in the late eighties and is committed to finding a bipartisan solution to fund these programs.

“These programs are absolutely essential to our community, and eliminating them will have a long-term impact on our state,” Murphy said. “Every dollar that is invested in these services to serve disabled veterans or help seniors stay in their own homes saves taxpayers millions of dollars in the long run.”

Next week, Governor Rauner does have an opportunity to present a new path forward during his second State of the State Address.

“The governor has a chance to start fresh next week and present a plan to the General Assembly to protect low-income seniors, children and those with mental illnesses. It’s time to pass a budget to stop the damage being inflicted on Illinois,” Murphy said.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) toured O’Hare Airport to gather additional information about steps that could be taken to solve the noise pollution that has been troubling communities surrounding the airport.

Murphy said the meeting was productive and she gained valuable information about the airport and committed to working with the Federal Aviation Administration and city of Chicago to work toward solutions.

“This was the first step in finding relief for the families near the airport. I look forward to working with the FAA and the City to finally find a solution to the noise that has been disrupting everyday life for the residents in our communities,” Murphy said.

Area residents are encouraged to call Sen. Murphy’s newly created O’Hare Noise Complaint Hotline at (224) 585-9153 or click here  to file a complaint.