Jill Biden discusses higher education investments in Illinois visit

The Pantagraph

Grace Barbic

April 19, 2021

SPRINGFIELD — First lady Jill Biden and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visited Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon on Monday to discuss how the American Rescue Plan will support higher education in Illinois.

After touring the facility, Cardona and the first lady announced President Joe Biden’s investment in higher education through the American Rescue Plan, the latest federal COVID-19 pandemic relief package, which includes $40 billion for higher education infrastructure projects and programs to make education more accessible.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker was also in attendance for the visit on Monday, along with other Illinois lawmakers, but did not speak publicly.

As a professor at Northern Virginia Community College, Biden is a longtime advocate for education, especially community college education.

During her husband’s former vice presidency, Biden was appointed by President Barack Obama as honorary chair of the College Promise program, a national initiative to make two-year community college education free.

“What starts in one community college classroom can create a chain effect that is eventually felt by every single American,” Jill Biden said.

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