House Passes McKeon Resolution Honoring Hispanic Serving
Institutions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a
resolution, authored by Education & the Workforce 21st Century
Subcommittee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA), honoring the important
contributions Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) provide to America’s
postsecondary students.
“It is important to salute Hispanic Serving Institutions and to
recognize the vital role they play in helping America’s youngest and
fastest growing population gain access to higher education,” McKeon said
during debate today. “Each year the nation's 200-plus HSIs graduate
thousands of students who go on to positively impact American life.”
HSIs are postsecondary institutions with a student enrollment that is at
least 25 percent Hispanic and with at least 50 percent of its Hispanic
students coming from low-income families. In 1998, Congress created a
program designed to aid HSIs in strengthening their institutions by allowing
institutions to use federal money to build their endowments, and to provide
scholarships and fellowships for needy students. Since 1998, Congress has
increased funding for HSIs to $86 million. Furthermore, President Bush’s
budget, passed by the House in March, would increase support for these
institutions by an additional 3.5 percent.
Last January, President Bush created the “President’s Commission on
Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans” to recommend ways the
federal government can help Hispanic parents prepare their children to
graduate from high school and pursue a postsecondary education.
“The Bush Administration and this Congress have proven their commitment
to the education of our nation’s youth. I would like to commend Mr. McKeon
for introducing this important resolution. It is important that the House
recognize the invaluable services HSIs provide to this nation,” said
Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH). “This
resolution honors the important work of the HSIs in this country as we look
forward to helping students from all walks of life learn and prepare to
pursue the American Dream.”
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