[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 26 (Thursday, March 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       MINORITY COLLEGE STUDENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2001

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, today I join my colleagues to express my 
grave concern over the way minority students are treated by this 
Congress. On February 2, 2001, Republican Education and the Workforce 
Committee members voted to change the manner in which minority higher 
education issues are considered by the committee. Under these changes, 
consideration of issues affecting Historically Black Colleges and 
Hispanic Serving Institutions will take place in a new Select Education 
Subcommittee, while all other higher education issues will be handled 
by a newly formed Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.
  Minority higher education institutions are an important part of our 
nation's educational system. Established under the Higher Education 
Act, these institutions continue to expand educational opportunities 
for financially needy and minority students. However, these new rule 
changes imposed by the Education and the Workforce Committee set 
minority education back at least 50 years, to a time when minorities 
were ``separate but equal''. When the 21st Century Competitiveness 
Subcommittee meets to discuss improving higher education and increasing 
the competitiveness of our college students, they will make crucial 
decisions that affect all students in higher education institutions, 
except those that are served at minority serving institutions.
  These recent changes are unacceptable, and send a dangerous message 
to minority students throughout the nation. Congress must not support 
this blatant inequality, and I call upon the Majority to correct this 
injustice.

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