SPRINGFIELD-- Two initiatives led by State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes would ensure high school students have access to more supports when applying for college and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA.

“Applying for financial aid through FAFSA can be a difficult and confusing process for students,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This initiative will give students more resources to help them in this process, ensuring they are able to submit their FAFSA and potentially receive financial support so they can pursue higher education.”

After many students struggled to complete FAFSA applications for the 2024-2025 academic year, Cervantes and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission developed legislation to offer assistance for students wishing to fill out the FAFSA. First, House Bill 3096 would require high schools to designate a member of their staff to serve as a point of contact for students on matters concerning the application. This would create clarity on who young people can turn to if they have questions or need assistance with the process.  

Additionally, House Bill 3097 would require that schools provide time during the school day for students to fill out or ask questions about their financial aid applications. Each school may determine how they will provide this time, whether it is included in personal finance classes, offered in one-on-one sessions, or focused workshops, but any method would give students more time to work on these important applications and help set them up for future success.

BERWYN – State Senator Javier Cervantes secured nearly $22,000 for seven local public school libraries.

“Young people need access to a wide variety of reading materials and technology to fuel their curiosity,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “Investing in our libraries will ensure young learners have access to the materials they need to succeed, and develop a lifelong love of reading."

More than $1.3 million was awarded to 2,484 Illinois public school libraries through the Secretary of State’s School District Library Grant Program. Resources and services supported through the grant include library books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual materials, technology and programs.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes’ legislation expanding protections for immigrant workers from wrongful workplace retaliation due to issues with their paperwork has passed the Senate, making it one step closer to becoming law.

“As the son of a single immigrant mother, I know firsthand how committed immigrant workers are to doing good work and creating a better life for themselves and their families. Their place in the workforce should not come into question due to misfiled paperwork,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago).  “I am proud this bill will ensure immigrant workers can receive support from legal experts if their E-Verify status is called into question, and help them sort out discrepancies before losing their livelihood over a misunderstanding.”

Federal immigration law requires employers to verify the legal work status of their employees through the E-Verify system, which compares information from an employee’s I-9 Form to records available to the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm eligibility. If discrepancies are found, immigrant workers have the possibility of receiving a “no match” letter for a variety of reasons, including instances where the individual changed their name due to marriage. Many employers terminate employees upon receiving this notice, even though they could be legally working in the United States.

SPRINGFIELD – Applicants for the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) grants may soon see faster turnarounds on their approvals, thanks to a new initiative led by State Senator Javier Cervantes.

“Grant applicants and workers are suffering from the burden of relying on volunteers to grade ICJIA grant applications,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “With this legislation, both parties will see a faster turnaround time, and not need to deal with unnecessary stress.”

Currently, ICJIA is required to utilize volunteer workers to score grant applications, a rule intended to keep the process unbiased. However, this can lead to lengthy delays due to dips in volunteer work, or unreliable expertise levels in the grading process.