[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 86 (Monday, June 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005

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                               speech of

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 18, 2004

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4567) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment by 
Representative Jackson-Lee. We need to ensure that conferees discuss 
the issue of Homeland Security funding for minority institutions of 
higher learning.
  Hispanic Serving Institutions and Community Colleges are crucial 
partners in our country's struggle to protect the homeland.
  Mr. Chairman, there are 242 Hispanic Serving Institutions in this 
country, 79 in California alone.
  We cannot ignore the HBCUs, HSIs and the 1,166 nationwide Community 
College systems in this country.
  They have a unique and important role in serving our communities, 
especially in the area of research and development of homeland 
security-related programs and services.
  Statistically, HSI's and Community Colleges receive significantly 
less government RFP awards than larger educational institutions.
  This amendment would encourage the Appropriations conferees to 
consider adding language to the bill to ensure that HSI's and Community 
Colleges receive a fair share of government grants.
  Mr. Chairman, this is an important issue to all minority-serving 
institutions in this country. I urge my colleagues to support this 
amendment.

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