[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E52]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E52]]
  INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO AMEND THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 TO 
 AUTHORIZE GRANTS FROM INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION SERVING ASIAN 
                    AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 8, 2003

  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific 
American Caucus, I am proud to introduce legislation to improve 
educational opportunities for Asian American and Pacific Islander 
American (AAPI) communities across the nation. This legislation would 
authorize the Department of Education to designate schools with an 
undergraduate enrollment of at least 10 percent AAPI students as Asian 
American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions to improve their 
capacity to provide higher education. By so doing, we increase 
educational opportunity for all Americans because this bill adds to our 
commitment to education for all and takes resources from none.
  Title III and Title V of the Higher Education Act were established to 
aid colleges and universities in expanding educational opportunities 
for historically underrepresented and financially needy students. They 
have enabled the Department of Education to designate minority serving 
higher education institutions for Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities, American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and 
Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Native Hawaiian Serving 
Institutions, and Alaska Native Serving Institutions. However, there is 
no such program for Asian American and Pacific Islander Americans. As 
Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans are one of the fastest 
growing populations in the nation, legislation is needed to help low-
income AAPI students left behind so that they can have an equal 
opportunity toward quality education.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues on this issue.

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