HACU joins HBCUs, TCUs and other MSIs pushing for prompt passage of the FUTURE Act to restore critical funding

Antonio R. Flores, president and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities was among the leaders of organizations in Washington D.C. on Dec. 10, 2019, urging Congress to promptly pass the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act (H.R. 5363), recently agreed upon by both chambers.

The bill, H.R. 5363, extends mandatory funding of Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). The bill includes the FAFSA Act, which eases the burdens on students when seeking grants and loans from the federal government by allowing for the transmission of data from the Internal Revenue Service.

“The FUTURE Act represents 255 million dollars of critical annual funding to our institutions, and its passage will benefit nearly six million students – of which 4.5 million are enrolled at HSIs alone,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “HSIs impressively produce 40 percent of the STEM bachelor's degrees earned by Latino students. The continued investment in HSIs will strengthen the existing pipeline and increase overall STEM production.”

Leaders and representatives of HACU member institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Title III, Part F grantees: University of New Mexico – Valencia, New Jersey City University, and Miami Dade College, were also in Washington D.C. to make Capitol Hill visits.

Among the leaders of the organizations participating in a joint press conference:

•  Antonio R. Flores, President and CEO, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities

•  Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO, United Negro College Fund

•  Harry L. Williams, President and CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund

•  Lezli Baskerville, President and CEO, National Association for Equal Opportunity

•  Carrie L. Billy, President and CEO, American Indian Higher Education Consortium

•  Rita Pin Ahrens, Executive Director, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates

HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores speaks at a joint press conference in Washington D.C. on Dec. 10, 2019, urging Congress to promptly pass the FUTURE Act (H.R. 5363) to restore critical funding under the Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act of 1965. 

About HACU 
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain and school districts throughout the U.S. The Association’s headquarters are located in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Sacramento, California and Washington D.C. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Information is available at www.hacu.net.