September 27, 2019

Senate inaction derails critical HSI-STEM funding for 4.5 million students

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has issued the following statement on Senator Lamar Alexander’s, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, objection to passage of the FUTURE Act:

“HACU is extremely disappointed in Chairman Alexander’s decision to object to the passage of the FUTURE Act, which will allow $255 million of critical annual funding to lapse not only for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), but also for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, and other Minority-Serving Institutions,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “This decision will impact nearly 6 million students, 4.5 million enrolled at HSIs alone.”

The Senate’s failure to take appropriate and necessary action will result in Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act to expire in just three days on September 30, 2019. Unless the Senate takes prompt action, no new grants under this program will be awarded to HSIs by the Department of Education, which HSIs need desperately to enhance their STEM programs and capacity to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs.

HACU reaffirms its commitment to work with Congress for passage of the House-passed FUTURE Act, and looks forward to finding a permanent solution for the extension of Title III, Part F in the near future.