[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 125 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1696]]
INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISPANIC-
                          SERVING INSTITUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 2002

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a House resolution 
honoring the contributions made by this country's Hispanic-serving 
institutions (HSI). In my congressional district in California, 
California State University-Northridge has been designated as a HSI and 
it is my privilege to recognize the dedication and service that it 
provides to the Los Angeles community.
  Under Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, a Hispanic-serving 
institution (HSI) is an institution of postsecondary education with a 
student enrollment that is at least 25 percent Hispanic, with at least 
50 percent of its Hispanic students coming from low-income families. 
These institutions play a vital role in providing a quality 
postsecondary education for all Americans, and are deserving of our 
recognition and continued support.
  I am proud of the role that this body has played in aiding these 
important institutions. The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 created 
a program designed to aid HSIs in strengthening their institutions 
under Title V of the Higher Education Act. These chances included 
allowing institutions to use Federal money to build their endowments, 
and to provide scholarships and fellowships for needy students. Since 
1998, we have increased our support for HSIs to $86 million. President 
Bush's budget, passed by the House in March, would increase support for 
these institutions by an additional 3.5 percent.
  We have also taken other important steps to serve not only minority 
students, but all American students. For example, the Pell Grant 
program is, and has always been, our highest priority for postsecondary 
education. Since 1995, we have increased the maximum Pell Grant every 
year. For Fiscal Year 2002, the maximum Pell Grant reached a record 
high of $4,000; up from just $2,340 in FY 1995, and a 33 percent 
increase from FY 1998 level.
  We have also passed the Higher Education Amendments of 198 to make 
college more affordable, simplified the student aid system, and 
stressed academic quality. That legislation ensured that student loans 
would continue to be available for all qualified students, and resulted 
in the lowest student loan interest rate in the history of the program. 
It also provided increased aid to the neediest students, strengthened 
important financial aid programs such as College Work Study, SEOG, 
Perkins Loans, and TRIO, and created the government's first Performance 
Based Organization (PBO) to improve service to schools, students, and 
parents.
  This Nation's HSIs play a vital role in educating America's citizens. 
It is my goal and the goal of the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce to build on the record of academic excellence of students 
attending HSIs. This resolution honors the important work done at HSIs, 
and encourages all students to attend college and prepare for the 
challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century. I urge my colleagues 
to support this resolution.

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