SPRINGFIELD — After hearing the governor’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2027, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) issued the following response:

“Today’s budget proposal is an important starting point, but it is just that — a starting point. As we move forward, we must ensure the final budget makes meaningful investments in the communities that have been historically underfunded and overlooked. That includes strengthening education, expanding access to affordable housing and protecting health care — but it also means making violence prevention and community safety a central priority.

“While nothing in this proposal is final, I will not pretend that every community’s needs are fully met. As chair of the Revenue Committee and an organizer who has spent my life listening to working families, I know we must fight for a budget that truly elevates those voices. That means continuing to invest in violence prevention programs, youth services, workforce development so we address root causes — not just symptoms. At the same time, we must safeguard housing assistance and health care programs, particularly as federal threats to withhold funding create uncertainty around critical services like SNAP and Medicaid. Illinois cannot afford to retreat from the progress we’ve made.

“This budget process will require tough conversations and thoughtful compromise. I am prepared to work with my colleagues to deliver a fair and responsible budget that prioritizes working families, protects immigrant communities, advances economic justice and ensures every neighborhood has the resources it needs to thrive.”