Durbin Visits El Valor Children And Family Center
CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited El Valor Cantu Children & Family Center in Little Village to meet with staff members and families impacted by recent overreaching executive orders from the Trump Administration.
El Valor serves more than 4,000 children, adults with disabilities, and their families annually. Durbin met with leadership staff at the center to discuss the recently announced federal grant funding freeze, the impact of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions, and other executive orders from the administration, and their effects on the El Valor community.
“Earlier this week, President Trump threw America into chaos when he abruptly announced a freeze on trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans that so many Americans depend on, including at Head Start centers like El Valor,” said Durbin. “This, along with continued threats of ICE action in our city, has deeply impacted communities here in Chicago. I was grateful to meet with staff at El Valor to hear their concerns, and I’ll continue working to ensure Chicagoans are safe and receiving the services and funding they deserve.”
“We thank Senator Durbin and Clerk Valencia for visiting our program, allowing them to see and hear firsthand from our families about the impact of our services. A funding pause affects not only our program but many others like it, making it harder for working families to provide for their loved ones. We greatly appreciate our civic leaders for hearing our concerns and advocating for our community as we navigate challenges from the current administration,” said El Valor President & CEO Rey B. Gonzalez.
"It's important for all of us to see the direct impact the impulsive decisions the Trump Administration is making has on our communities. I'm grateful to Senator Durbin for coming to sit with our children, families and communities to hear directly from those who suffer the consequences when those who are supposed to lead choose politics over people. Thank you to everyone at El Valor for continuing to show up and serve, uplifting our neighbors by doing the work,” said Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia.
El Valor offers dual language instruction, mental health services, and parental support, and 70 percent of its funding comes from federal sources—with Head Start funding making up the majority. This week, Head Start grantees across the state were frozen out of the payment management system that allows them to collect reimbursements and pay staff and rent. Some Head Start centers in Illinois had to send employees home for the day and shutter doors because they could not make payroll.
This week, Durbin spoke on the Senate floor about the impact this federal funding freeze is already having, reading messages from impacted constituents who rely on federal funding to support critical programs and medical research.
Last month, as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Durbin held a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “How Mass Deportations Will Separate American Families, Harm Our Armed Forces, and Devastate Our Economy.” The hearing examined the consequences of mass deportations, as well as stressed the need to shift congressional efforts toward sensible solutions that bring order to the border and provide a path to citizenship to longtime residents with no serious criminal convictions.
-30-