FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2008
CONTACT: Matt Mackowiak
Senate Passes Higher Education Reauthorization Bill
Sen. Hutchison Helps Secure $69 Million in Mandatory Funding for HSIs
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’ senior senator, today announced Senate passage of the conference report to accompany H.R. 4137, the Higher Education Reauthorization and College Opportunity Act of 2008, which includes $69 million in mandatory funding that Sen. Hutchison secured for grants to Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) graduate schools.
“Since I arrived in the Senate, I have worked to increase funding for HSIs,” said Sen. Hutchison. “These institutions are vital to ensuring that all Texans have the opportunity to advance their education. These grants will provide improved resources for Hispanic students in graduate and professional degree programs.”
The legislation establishes a program to provide competitive grants for HSI graduate schools. The grants could be used for scholarships, fellowships and financial assistance to students, renovations in classrooms, laboratories, and instructional facilities, faculty training and development, and the purchase of new educational materials.
“I applaud HSIs for their vast contributions in providing quality educational opportunities to all Hispanic and non-Hispanic students who attend their institutions,” said Sen. Hutchison. “And I remain committed to opening the doors of higher education to all Americans, and keeping our country competitive in the global marketplace.”
The bill also incorporates new requirements for greater transparency in college costs, increases the authorizations of the maximum Pell grant, expands loan forgiveness programs, includes measures to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), provides in-state tuition for the dependents of members of the Armed Forces who have lived in a state for more than 30 days, and includes numerous new programs that provide teacher quality enhancements.
--END--
|
