SENATOR HUTCHISON DISCUSSES HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS

As the reauthorization process continues, I want to highlight the importance of Hispanic Serving Institutions, and the role they play in educating our young people.

Hispanics should have equal opportunities to receive a first-class education, acquire the great jobs available in America, and pursue careers in any field they desire – whether it’s in medicine, law, business, education, or any other area.

According to the Census Bureau, Hispanics account for 1 out of every 2 people who are added to the nation’s population, and the U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 1 out of every 3 new entrants into the job market is Hispanic.

The percentage of Hispanic students attending college has also increased significantly over the past few years. Because the pace of bachelor’s degrees earned by Hispanics is accelerating rapidly, we must keep pace by increasing the capacity of our institutions of higher education to serve these students.

Our Hispanic Serving Institutions are able to do this.

HSIs continue to grow in stature and importance. They are home to more than half of all Hispanic college students, and are often the only viable opportunity for individuals of modest economic backgrounds to attend college.

I applaud HSIs for their vast contributions in providing quality educational opportunities to all Hispanic and non-Hispanic students who attend their institutions.

And I remain committed to opening the doors of higher education to all Americans, and keeping our country competitive in the global marketplace.

I’ve been proud to serve as co-chair of the HSI Coalition with my colleague Senator Bingaman of New Mexico. The success we’ve had over the past 11 years has us headed in the right direction.

From 1995-2006, we’ve helped increase federal funding for HSIs from $12 Million to $95.8 Million.

The Third Higher Education Extension Act of 2006 removed 2 barriers harmful to Hispanics and HSIs. It eliminated the 2-year wait-out period between HSI grant funding cycles, as well as the requirement that 50% of the Hispanic student population must be low-income for the school to qualify for HSI eligibility.

This allows HSIs to gain funding without costly gathering and reporting of individual Hispanic-student income documentation, which was often impossible for universities to obtain.

Despite the positive increases in college student matriculation, overall, too few Hispanic-Americans graduate from high school or college.

If we fail to properly educate one-half of America’s future workforce, there will be disastrous economic and social consequences for the entire nation.

As we debate the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, I want to make sure that our federally-designated HSIs are not left behind.

I have ensured that the language of the Next Generation Hispanic Serving Institutions Act is included in the Higher Education Act.

I am an original cosponsor of this legislation, which I introduced with Senator Bingaman on February 13, 2007.

This bill provides fellowships and support services for graduates, as well as facility and faculty improvements at HSIs.

It provides new technology for distance education and collaborative arrangements with other institutions.

In addition, the legislation increases the authorization of the current HSI program to $175 million and authorizes $125 million for the new HSIs graduate program for fiscal year 2008.

I strongly urge my colleagues in the Senate to support these provisions.

Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
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