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ACTION ALERT--November 14, 2005
HACU urges support for HSI Appropriations for HEA-Title V for FY 2006 The appropriations bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education will go to conference committee this evening, November 14, 2005. HACU urges the leadership of every HACU member to immediately contact the Senate and House Conferees for the Appropriations Subcommittee for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. The names and fax numbers of the Request Conferees to support the Senate’s recommended increase of the appropriations level for the Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions program (Title V) for Fiscal (FY) 2006 by $4.95 million. This increase is already included in the Senate version of the appropriations bill HR 3010. A sample letter is below. About the HACU FY 2006 Appropriations Requests: Title V: Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions: For FY 2005 Congress appropriated $95.1 million in Title V grants for HSIs. While the appropriation has helped some HSIs enhance their quality, there remain many HSIs which could also benefit from Title V funding to make higher education possible for Hispanics. Currently there are over 240 HSIs eligible to compete for grants from Title V. HSIs enroll close to one half of all Hispanic undergraduate students. HACU strongly supports the Senate’s recommendation of an additional $4.95 million for HSIs under Title V of the HEA. The modest increase will raise the Title V appropriations level to $100 million for FY 2006. What you can do: Your action will make the difference in convincing appropriations subcommittees to increase funding HSIs for Title V, and other Hispanic Serving Programs. Fax a letter (see attached sample letter), send an e-mail, or make a personal telephone call. Contact HACU’s DC office at (202) 833-8361 for additional information or assistance. Senate appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services and Education: The Honorable Patty Murray, 173 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-2621 Fax: 202-224-0238; House appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services and Education: The Honorable Ralph Regula, 2306 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20510 Phone: 202-225-3876 Fax: 202-225-3059; The Honorable Anne M. Northup, 2459 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-5401 Fax: 202-225-5776; The Honorable Randy “Duke” Cunningham, 2350 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-5452 Fax: 202-225-2558; The Honorable Kay Granger, 440 Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC 20510 Phone: 202-225-5071 Fax: 202-225-5683; The Honorable John E. Peterson, 123 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202-225-5121 Fax: 202-225-5796; The Honorable Don Sherwood, 1131 Longworth House Office Building, Washington DC 20510 Phone: 202-225-3731 Fax: 202-225-9594; The Honorable Dave Weldon, 2347 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202-225-3671 Fax: 202-225-3516; The Honorable James T. Walsh, 2369 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC, 20510 Phone: 202-225-3701 Fax: 202-225-4042; The Honorable David R. Obey, 2314 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC, 20510 Phone: 202-225-3365 Fax: 202-225-3240; The Honorable Steny H. Hoyer, 1705 Longworth House Office Building, Washington DC 20510 Phone: 202-225-4131 Fax: 202-225-4300; The Honorable Nita M. Lowey, 2329 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-6506 Fax: 202-225-0546; The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, 2262 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-3661 Fax: 202-225-4890; The Honorable Jesse L. Jackson, Jr, 2419 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-0773 Fax: 202-225-0899; The Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy, 407 Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-4911 Fax: 202-225-3290; The Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard, 2330 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-1766 Fax: 202-226-0350. HACU Action Alerts are a service of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. SAMPLE LETTER November 14, 2005 Dear Conferee: On behalf of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and more than 240 Hispanic Serving Institutions throughout the By supporting the Senate version of HR 3010 you will be assisting Hispanic children and youth to succeed in all levels of elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education. As you know, Hispanics at all levels face serious challenges throughout the education pipeline. Data published by the U.S. Department of Education continue to show a persistent high school dropout rate and academic achievement gaps for Latino students. When compared to other population groups, Hispanics have lower rates of college matriculation directly from high school, lower probabilities of graduating from college, and longer time periods to degree attainment than their peers. The HSI program, authorized under Title V of the Higher Education Act, provides resources to postsecondary institutions with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment for activities such as academic and faculty development, student support services, and outreach to K-12 schools and communities. HSIs enroll close to one half of all Hispanic undergraduate students. As president of an Hispanic-Serving Institution, I am joining HACU in asking that you support our effort to provide greater postsecondary opportunity and success for Hispanics by voting to increase the funding level of Title V of the HEA to $100 million for FY 2006. The total amount of this request is $4.95 million. It is indeed a small increase which will have an enormous impact on the lives of millions of Hispanic students. The Senate has already supported the increase by accepting it as part of the floor debate on the Department Labor-HHS-Education appropriations legislation. I hope you will support this modest funding increase in the final Labor, Health & Human Service, and Education Conference Report. Sincerely, College President |