SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - To reduce the pain resulting from the absence of a full year's state budget, state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, voted to pass legislation on Wednesday passing over $4 billion of federal money to Illinois' most vulnerable residents.
"Much of the aid that many families need is available as a result of our partnerships with the federal government, and this funding shouldn't be held up due to Illinois' current budgeting problems," Smiddy said. "There is more work to be done to craft a fiscally responsible budget that helps those in need, but passing these federal dollars on to our most vulnerable will help reduce the suffering caused by the current budget dispute."
Smiddy voted to pass Senate Bill 2042, which spends $4.8 billion of federal funds on services in Illinois, including disaster relief, school funding grants, elder abuse prevention, community services for developmental disabilities, and domestic violence victim services. This bill is expected to receive the support of the Senate and the governor to become law.
Smiddy also approved an amendment that contained additional dollars to support heating and cooling assistance for low income families, home delivered meals for seniors, breast and cervical cancer screenings, support for veteran's homes and other vital services. Many of these programs have not been able to serve those in need as a result of Illinois' lack of a state budget. However, the governor and House republican members refused to support this money, and the final bill did not include it.
"The first step to any compromise is finding common ground, and I appreciate the collaboration we reached to release billions of dollars in federal money that many people depend on," Smiddy said. "In the process, however, many Illinoisans were still left by the wayside. People are in desperate need, and I will continue working to meet the basic needs of children, homebound seniors, cancer survivors and working families even if not everyone agrees they are a priority."
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