Rep. Cisneros Praises Appropriations Committee Passage of English Language Acquisition Grant Funding

FULLERTON, CA - Representative Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) praised the passage of English Language Acquisition grant funding in the House Appropriations’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee funding bill. After the President proposed to eliminate dedicated federal funding for these grants, Reps. Cisneros and Andy Kim (NJ-03) led a 22-Member letter to the House Appropriations Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee urging to protect this funding. 

“English-language learners are the fastest-growing student population group. With this pandemic straining education budgets, it’s important we do everything we can to fund initiatives that support our students,” said Rep. Cisneros. “Despite the President’s proposal to eliminate this program, I’m grateful the Appropriations Committee provided funding for English Language Acquisition grants. This resource not only helps English-language learners succeed in the classroom, but also supports professional development to increase the pool of teachers needed to assist our students.”

The Committee approved $797.4 million for the English Language Acquisition grants, $10 million over the level provided in FY 2020. The Appropriations Labor-HHS-Education bill will now head to the House floor for a vote.