Stuart to Prioritize Higher Education, Public Safety Through Committee Work

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, will continue to fight to expand access to affordable childcare and promote enhanced public education, while continuing to work on behalf of first responders as part of several key committees.

“These committees present us with an opportunity to step up and aid our courageous first responders and also to support working families by expanding access to affordable childcare, all while ensuring that our state universities are well funded,” Stuart said. “As a parent, I understand how stressful finding affordable and available childcare can be and as a former educator, I know the importance of early education. That is why I am ready to get legislation passed that will help Illinois’ public schools provide every child a world-class education.”

Stuart’s legislative agenda for the coming session includes bringing attention to—and spurring action on— issues important to working families, such as alleviating the burden of childcare. As a member of the Appropriations: Higher Education Committee, Stuart will fight to keep Illinois’ public universities well-funded and competitive for new generations of college students.

Stuart was also assigned to the Police & Fire Committee, where she will craft policy to support first responders through initiatives such as providing them with enhanced mental health resources while at work.

“I know how important Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville is to our community, and I know that our colleges and universities are key to tomorrow’s good-paying jobs, innovation and economic development. However, we must also look to enhance technical education opportunities in our high schools. That is why I’m working with our high schools and institutions of higher learning to help strengthen their funding and boost enrollments. I am also fighting for better access to mental health services for our communities’ heroic first responders as well as making sure that working families have affordable childcare options. Our state has been through the ringer in the last couple of years, but when we come together to take care of each other and to give back to those who take care of us, that’s how we keep Illinois moving forward.”