FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 31, 2006

Hispanic higher education community met March 26-28 in nation’s capital

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The leadership of the country’s Hispanic higher education community met in Washington, DC, March 26-28, 2006 to call for much needed federal funding for the nation’s colleges and universities that educate Hispanics, the country’s largest and fastest-growing ethnic population. Distinguished speakers highlighted the need for Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) presidents, staff and supporters to contact their Congressional representatives and U.S. Senators on a regular basis to encourage them to increase support for HSIs.  The Forum culminated with Capitol Hill visits by the 200 attendees to push for greater federal investment in Hispanic higher education.

Antonio R. Flores, president and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), challenged participants to encourage the Administration and Congress to provide colleges and universities educating Hispanics with the resources necessary to meet the changing workforce needs of the nation. Dr. Flores stated that Hispanics, which by 2025 will make up 1 of every 2 new workers in the U.S. economy, must be better trained in the expanding fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics than workers were in the past.  He asked attendees to remind Congress that everyone has a stake in assuring a highly educated workforce for the 21^st Century.

Key leaders of Congress and the Administration spoke to Forum participants on budgetary and national security needs of the nation.  Other speakers focused on legislative, technology and science related issues and the importance for HSIs to establish and maintain partnerships with federal agencies.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader William Frist (TN) committed to working to eliminate “red tape” provisions that can “stand in the way” of HSIs receiving Title V grants under the Higher Education Act. He singled out the 2 year wait out period requirement between grants and the requirement that 50% of Hispanic students must be low income.  Senator Frist also expressed his commitment to support the inclusion of a graduate program provision within Title V and the inclusion of HSIs in “the crusade to eradicate healthcare disparities” between races and ethnicities.  Regarding appropriations, he said, “I know you’ve worked very hard to reach the $100 million mark (for Title V funding).  And you have my word—I will do everything I can to see that you get there next year.”

Congressman Ruben Hinojosa updated Capitol Forum participants on the status of the HEA Reauthorization Bill and the special provisions within his Bill (HR 761) now included in HR 609, the HEA Reauthorization Bill subsequently passed by the House March 30, 2006.

U.S. Representatives Hilda Solis (CA), John Salazar (CO), and Henry Cuellar (TX) also addressed the audience supporting the work of HACU and affirming their commitment to greater support and funding for HSIs and Hispanic education.  Senator Cornyn from Texas spoke on similar themes and also addressed the pending immigration legislation.

Senators Bob Menendez (NJ) and Richard Durbin (IL) and U.S. Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL) and Grace Napolitano (CA) were featured speakers at a closing reception at the Rayburn House Office Building. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen is Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Conference and Congresswoman Napolitano chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Other keynote speakers included David Pumphrey, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy, who spoke on the 2005 Energy Act initiative that creates a Western Hemisphere Energy Cooperative and will permit HSIs to work with other countries of the Western Hemisphere in pursuing new sources of renewable energy for our nation. Susan Beaudoin, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education for the U.S. Department of Education, emphasized the President’s commitment to increase educational opportunity and success for all youth in America, and the Treasurer of the United States, Anna Escobedo Cabral, drew from her personal experiences in discussing the importance of high school and college achievement.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the Honorable Mike Johanns, was on hand to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between HACU and USDA after which he spoke about the impending reauthorization of the Farm Bill in 2007 and invited HACU to become involved in the reauthorization process. The Honorable Gaddi Vasquez, Director of the U.S. Peace Corps, addressed public service opportunities for students before signing an MOU between the Peace Corps and HACU.  Steven Sauls, Vice President for Corporate Relations for Office Depot, one of this year’s Capitol Forum sponsors, signed an MOU between Office Depot and HACU.

Other speakers included Arthur Rothkopf, Senior Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who spoke on the Higher Education Commission created by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings; Beto Gonzales, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Vocational and Adult Education in the U.S. Department of Education; Reg Weaver, President of the National Education Association; and David Bottegal, CEO of Nelnet Education Solutions, another Capitol Forum sponsor.  Rita Jaramillo, from the National Education Association, and Meg Goetz, Legislative Director for the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), discussed effective advocacy strategies in working with Congress.

The visits to Capitol Hill, according to the HSI delegations, were highly productive.  More than 40 group visits with Senators and Representatives from over 16 states emphasized the growth of the nation’s Hispanic community and the importance of assuring this population access to postsecondary education to meet the workforce needs of a changing economy both in the U.S. and abroad.

In a debriefing session following the Capitol Hill visits, attendees thanked HACU for the briefings on the Administration’s FY 2007 budget recommendations and on the status of legislation key to enhancing Hispanic higher education, as well as for the opportunity to meet with national policy makers.

Antonio Flores, HACU’s President and CEO, expressed appreciation for the tremendous support from member presidents, staff, students and supporters in making the 2006 Capitol Forum the best and largest of past Capitol Forums. He noted that the Forum is only the first step in reminding Congress and the Administration of the critical need for support for HSIs. The Government Relations staff in HACU’s Washington, DC, office will be in contact with HACU’s membership on a regular basis to organize on-going support for the HACU Legislative Agenda for FY 2007.

For more information on the 2006 HACU Capitol Forum, refer to http://www.hacu.net/.

A copy of the HACU 2006 Legislative Agenda for the 2nd Session of the 109^th Congress is available on the HACU web site.