SPRINGFIELD—State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the Senate passed a budget Sunday:

“This is a very deliberate and responsible fiscal plan to help the state of Illinois recover from the devastation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Funds from the CARES Act, a U.S. stimulus package, will help the state of Illinois provide more resources to the communities hardest hit during the pandemic, including $100 million in housing assistance and $636 million for various business interruption grants.

“We are also preserving core services, including $12.6 billion for P-12 education and an additional $1 billion to the state and local health departments.

“As a budgeteer, I saw firsthand how difficult it was to craft this budget during these unprecedented times, but I take pride in knowing that it will provide needed relief and address issues of inequity in marginalized communities throughout the state.”