SPRINGFIELD- Governor Bruce Rauner signed legislation providing stopgap funding to higher education. Senate Bill 2059 was sent to the governor’s desk Friday after the Senate approved the proposal with bipartisan support. State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) released the following statement.

“It’s a relief to send our universities some of the funding they need in a bipartisan effort, showing that we can work together through tough issues to help stabilize education and the economy in Illinois. This is a step in the right direction, and more importantly, a step closer to implementing a full budget. We can now work on funding social services, which in many communities are just as important as accessibility to higher education.”

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) released the following statement in support of Senator Andy Manar’s education funding reform legislation, Senate Bill 231:

“Our kids throughout Chicago and the South Suburbs are facing some tough issues because of where they live, and receiving a quality education shouldn’t be one of them. Thanks to Senator Manar’s initiative, we have the opportunity to open doors for them and all children living in low-income communities by providing more resources to schools who are most in need. Most would agree that education is the gateway to opportunity, and every child deserves a chance to reach their full potential. I look forward to alleviating some of the disparities created within our current system.”

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SPRINGFIELD – Today, State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) voted for legislation that would fund much needed social service programs and higher education. Senate Bill 2059 provides funding for programs and services that are not currently receiving funding from court orders or consent decrees.

“We’ve left a lot of people in need without support and threatened the education of our young people for far too long,” Harris said. “I was sent to Springfield to help improve our communities. We need to stop the partisan politics and pass a budget to keep our communities from deteriorating.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey) introduced legislation that protects college students’ freedom of speech and would prohibit colleges from revoking athletic and academic scholarships as a result of protesting.

Senate Bill 2279 came about after Republican lawmakers in Missouri filed legislation intended to punish African American football players who demanded the resignation of the head of the university after inaction against racism on campus.

“My athletic scholarship is the reason I was able to get a degree,” said Harris, a former Northwestern University football player. “Putting students in a situation where they have to choose between justice and a scholarship they earned is simply unacceptable.”