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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The economic competitiveness of the United States
3and Illinois in the global economy requires a well-educated
4workforce; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Students in Illinois currently average $28,984 in
6student debt upon graduation, which significantly hinders
7their ability to participate in the local economy; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Current and future young people in the United
9States and across Illinois should have the same opportunity
10offered to those who went to college in previous generations,
11including the ability to attend State colleges and universities
12without taking on burdensome debt; and
 
13    WHEREAS, In 2015, higher education is more important than
14ever because it is an essential step to entering and remaining
15in the middle class; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Because of the importance of higher education, the
17United States and state governments should expand the
18opportunity to pursue and attain higher education to more
19people than had that opportunity in the past; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Public investment in higher education pays off, as

 

 

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1evidenced by the fact the G.I. Bill resulted in a 7-to-1 return
2on investment for our national economy; workers with college
3degrees also earn more money, pay more taxes, and rely less on
4government services; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Student loan debt saddles the very students who
6most depend on a college degree to level the economic playing
7field with a burden that constrains career choices and hurts
8the credit rating of students, prevents people from fully
9participating in the economy by purchasing goods and services,
10and threatens essential milestones of the American dream,
11including the purchase of a home or car, starting a family, and
12saving for retirement; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The Schatz-Schumer-Warren United States Senate
14debt-free college resolution and the Grijalva-Ellison-Clark
15United States House of Representatives debt-free college
16resolution have gained national momentum in recent months and
17has become central in the national dialogue around higher
18education; and
 
19    WHEREAS, A national goal of debt-free college would include
20significant federal aid to states, including Illinois;
21therefore, be it
 
22    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL

 

 

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1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge Congress to
2enact legislation that ensures that all students have access to
3debt-free higher education, defined to mean having no debt upon
4graduation from any public institutions of higher education;
5increases support to states so that those states can increase
6investments in higher education and bring down costs for
7students; increases aid to students to help them cover the
8total cost of college attendance without taking on debt;
9encourages innovation by states and institutions of higher
10education to increase efficiency, lower costs, and enable
11speedy and less-costly degree completion; and reduces the
12burden of existing student loan debt.