Sample Letter (Please feel free to add personal or institution-specific information!)

Date

The Honorable

Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, and Housing and Urban Development

            <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Senate <st1:placename w:st="on">Office <st1:placetype w:st="on">Building

<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Washington, <st1:state w:st="on">D.C.  20510

Fax:

Dear Senator       :

I am writing to you, as a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, and Housing and Urban Development, to respectfully request your support to increase FY 2006 funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) under the Community Development Programs section of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget.

For FY 2005 Congress appropriated $6.7 million for HSI programs within the HUD budget. Unfortunately the appropriation amount was $10.3 million below HACU’s funding request. The FY 2006 request is for $17 M for two important initiatives that will increase the capacity of HSIs to train community development professionals to improve the quality of life in urban communities. As President of an HSI and a member of HACU, I encourage you to support:

HACU’s request for $17 million for HSIs in the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) FY 2006 budget.  The $17 million appropriation is specifically targeted for competitive grants to be administered by the Office of University Partnerships (OUP) within HUD for two community development programs.

Of this funding request, $12 million will be used for the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Assisting Communities Program (HSIAC) to assist HSIs to expand their role in addressing community development needs – neighborhood revitalization, housing, and economic development.  HSIAC grantees carry out projects designed to benefit low-and moderate-income residents, help prevent or eliminate slums or blight, or meet urgent community development needs in the communities where HSIs are located.

Five million dollars will reinstate the Hispanic-Serving Institution Work-Study Program (HSIWSP) to prepare students for careers in community development, administration of justice, early childhood education, or social service delivery.  The HSIWSP program was discontinued in 2000 but the success of the program warrants its reinstatement.

As a leader in the U.S. Senate responsible for the housing needs of the nation, your support for increased funding for HSIs in FY 2006 will be greatly appreciated by the Hispanic students and other who attend more than 240 HSIs.  An investment in our post secondary education system will provide our nation with a future well-trained workforce that will keep the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> in a leadership position in the world.

Thank you for your consideration of HACU’s and my request.

Sincerely,