Rep. Lisa Hernandez Passes Funding Measures Supporting Scholarships for DREAMers and the United Negro College Fund

CICERO, Ill. –  State Rep. Elizabeth ‘Lisa’ Hernandez, D-Cicero, sustained funding for the DREAM Fund and the United Negro College Fund through two measures recently signed into law, continuing financial aid opportunities for deserving Black and Brown prospective college students.  

“The DREAM Fund serves undocumented students, so that they can earn a degree and provide for themselves and their families. It was critical that we moved quickly and decisively to preserve funding for this vital scholarship opportunity for future college hopefuls,” Hernandez said. “As those across the country seek to bar DREAMers and undocumented communities from building a future, Illinois will continue to stand in solidarity with undocumented and underserved communities, with these two funding measures supporting that ideal.” 

Hernandez’s House Bill 3233 allows customers of currency exchange businesses to round up their bill to help the Illinois DREAM Fund. The fund helps countless undocumented high school graduates receive needed scholarships to attend college. The bill received overwhelming support in both the House and Senate. 

Hernandez also passed Senate Bill 1508, which creates a new Illinois Lottery scratch-off game for the benefit of the United Negro College Fund. This fund helps Black and Brown students become whole as they pay for college tuition. A variety of other causes will also benefit from the special tickets including breast cancer research, HIV/AIDS prevention, the Special Olympics, State Police memorials, STEAM grants, among others. 

“These bills were critical to Springfield’s efforts to meet urgent funding needs,” Hernandez said. “Countless current and future college students were waiting to see if they would be able to afford next year’s college tuition bill, and with these funding measures, they will. ” 

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