[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 21 (Thursday, March 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   STATEMENT REGARDING THE HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY ACT

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 5, 1998

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in Title III of the 
Higher Education Act, Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
(HBCUs) will be adversely affected if HR 2495, the Higher Education for 
the 21st Century Act is passed. I requested, therefore, that my name be 
removed as a co-sponsor of this bill.
  If this legislation were to pass with a new definition of Hispanic-
Serving Institutions (HSIs) incorporated, every college with a 25% 
Hispanic enrollment would receive funding; thus, 160 colleges would be 
made eligible. Alternatively, if HBCUs were defined as every college 
with an African American enrollment of 25%, 356 colleges would be 
deemed HBCUs versus the current number of 104. Obviously, there is 
insufficient funding available to HSIs but their funding should not be 
appropriated at the risk of taking funds from HBCUs which currently 
receive a relatively small amount of funds.
  I have received numerous calls and correspondence from the presidents 
and alumni of HBCUs who have expressed their concern about this issue. 
If we are going to give funds to institutions based on a set percentage 
of an ethnicity as stated in HR 2495, then I will support giving 
dollars to all of the 364 colleges that would become HBCUs and the 160 
HSIs that would be eligible to receive resources under this bill.
  Because I have made a commitment to balance the budget and no monies 
can be appropriated to additional institutions, I am unable to support 
HR 2495. Accordingly, I have requested that my name be removed as a 
cosponsor of HR 2495, the Higher Education for the 21st Century Act.

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