Senator Don Harmon News:

Harmon supports fully funding MAP grants
 
Springfield, IL- State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) co-sponsored Senate Bill 1180, giving Governor Quinn authorization to fully fund the Monetary Award Program (MAP) through the 2010 school year.  The legislation expressly authorizes full funding for MAP grants in the
amount of $205 million.  The bill passed out of the Senate Thursday.
 
"College students all over Illinois were worried that they wouldn't be able to afford their tuition next semester," Harmon said. "I'm glad that we were able to relieve their worries." 
 
State universities and private colleges would lose funding
for several scholarships and grant programs and see dramatic cuts to MAP if funding was not fulfilled.  In Senator Harmon's district, the 2,320 students who
depend on MAP grants would have seen their funding drop from $2,830 to $1,061. 
 
Earlier this year, the General Assembly passed a budget that gave the Governor discretionary funds and he chose not to fully fund the MAP grants. Therefore, the General Assembly has now expressly authorized him to spend $205 million to fund the remainder of the grants.
 
"I have heard from students in my district that, without this funding, they would not be able to return to school," Harmon said. 
 
As enrollment in institutions of higher education has increased so have MAP grant requests. This year, the MAP grant program saw an increase in applications by 28.9%.