[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 13, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1910-S1911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Nelson of 
        Florida, Mr. Martinez, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Salazar, 
        and Mrs. Boxer):
  S. 565. A bill to expand and enhance postbaccalaureate opportunities 
at Hispanic-serving institutions, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the next 
generation of Hispanic Serving Institutions legislation. This 
legislation is critical if we, as a nation, are going to continue to 
compete in a global economy. Education is the key to building a strong 
and dynamic economy, and therefore, it is our obligation to ensure 
quality educational opportunities for all Americans. That is why I am 
introducing, along with my colleague, Senator Hutchison, the Next 
Generation Hispanic Serving Institutions Act of 2007. This legislation 
is supported by the Hispanic Associations of Colleges and Universities, 
and the Hispanic Education Coalition, a coalition of 25 organizations 
dedicated to improving educational opportunities for more than 40 
million Hispanics living in the United States. I ask unanimous consent 
that their letters of support appear in the text following this 
statement. Senators Bill Nelson, Martinez, Clinton, Cornyn, Salazar, 
Boxer, and Feinstein have joined in this effort as cosponsors.
  According to Census Bureau data, the Hispanic population in the 
United States grew by 25.7 million between 1970 and 2000, and continues 
to grow at a very brisk pace. The most recent Census data puts the 
Hispanic population at over 40 million, representing approximately 14 
percent of the U.S. population and making it the Nation's largest 
minority group. Estimates project that the Hispanic population will 
grow by 25 million between 2000 and 2020. By the year 2050, 1 in 4 
Americans will be of Hispanic origin.
  Currently, Hispanics make up about 13 percent of the U.S. labor 
force. While the overall labor force is projected to slow down over the 
next decades as an increasing number of workers reach retirement age, 
the Hispanic labor force is expected to continue growing at a fast 
pace. It will expand by nearly 10 million workers between now and 2020, 
through a combination of immigration and native-born youth reaching 
working age.
  Our Nation's economic and social success rests, in large part, on the 
level of skills and knowledge attained by our Hispanic population.
  I was one of the authors and lead supporters of the original 
Hispanic-Serving Institutions proposal when it was enacted as part of 
the Higher Education Act in 1992 in order to increase educational 
opportunities for Hispanic students. Since then, Hispanic-Serving 
Institutions (HSIs) have made significant strides in increasing the 
number of Hispanic students enrolling in and graduating from college. 
Although Hispanic-serving institutions account for only 5 percent of 
all institutions of higher education in the United States, HSIs enroll 
over half (51 percent) of all Hispanics pursuing higher education 
degrees in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
  While Hispanic high school graduates go on to college at higher rates 
than they did even ten years ago, Hispanics still lag behind their non-
Hispanic peers in postsecondary school enrollment. In 2000, only 21.7 
percent of all Hispanics ages 18 through 24 were enrolled in 
postsecondary degree-granting institutions in the United States.
  We must take HSIs to the next level. While the percentage of 
Hispanics attending college has increased significantly over the past 
few years, Hispanics only earned 6 percent of all bachelor's degrees 
awarded, 4 percent of all master's degrees, and only 3 percent of all 
doctorates. But the pace of bachelor's degrees or higher earned by 
Hispanics is accelerating rapidly, according to the Department of 
Education. Therefore, we must keep pace. We must increase the capacity 
of our institutions of higher education to serve the increasing number 
of Hispanic students.
  The Next Generation HSI bill does just that. Simply, this legislation 
will improve educational opportunities for Hispanic students by 
establishing a competitive grant program to expand post-baccalaureate 
degree opportunities at HSIs.
  Current law only provides support for two-year and four-year Hispanic 
Serving Institutions. This legislation will support graduate 
fellowships and support services for graduate students, facilities 
improvement, faculty development, technology and distance education, 
and collaborative arrangements with other institutions. This 
legislation will build capacity and establish a long overdue graduate 
program for HSIs.
  Hispanic students now account for nearly 17 percent of the total 
kindergarten through grade 12 student population. Estimates project 
that this student population will grow from 11 million in 2005 to 16 
million in 2020. We must provide our institutions of higher education 
with the resources and supports to build capacity and serve the 
increasing Hispanic student population. We must be ready for the next 
generation of students to meet the demands of a competitive workforce 
and to fully participate in the global economy. I ask unanimous consent 
that the text of this bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the materials were ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:


                                                         HACU,

                                San Antonio, TX, February 8, 2007.
     Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Bingaman: On behalf of the Hispanic 
     Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and its 450 
     member institutions, I want to express my sincerest 
     appreciation for your efforts in re-introducing the ``Next 
     Generation Hispanic-Serving Institutions Act.'' You have long 
     been a champion of Hispanic higher education issues and we 
     appreciate all that you do.
       This landmark piece of legislation, first introduced in the 
     108th Congress with bipartisan support, will help to 
     eradicate the chronic shortage of Hispanic professionals 
     lacking advanced degrees. As we both know, the number of 
     Hispanics earning post-baccalaureate degrees at HSIs between 
     the years of 1991 and 2000 increased by 136 percent, thus 
     showing the demand and need to increase graduate program 
     capacity at these institutions. Of the more than 270 HSIs 
     serving half

[[Page S1911]]

     of the 1.8 million Hispanics enrolled in higher education 
     programs, only 44 have graduate programs in place. This 
     failure to provide adequate graduate opportunity is a 
     travesty to the Hispanic community and should be addressed.
       The eagerly anticipated re-introduction of The Next 
     Generation Hispanic-Serving Institutions Act in the 110th 
     Congress will be a central focus of HACU's 2007 Legislative 
     Agenda. As the only nationally recognized voice for our 
     country's fast-growing community of HSIs, HACU fully 
     recognizes the critical importance of this proposal to 
     dramatically expand post-baccalaureate degree opportunities 
     for the country's youngest and largest ethnic population.
       Your past success at winning support for HSIs in Title V of 
     the Higher Education Act and your new efforts to build upon 
     that success with the inclusion of a new graduate education 
     component are extraordinary testimony to your leadership in 
     opening the doors to college and career success for this and 
     future generations of our youth.
       Please call upon our offices for any assistance in support 
     of your important work, which is so critical to building a 
     better future for our Hispanic communities and for our 
     country.
           Respectfully,
                                                Antonio R. Flores,
     President and CEO.
                                  ____



                                 Hispanic Education Coalition,

                                                 February 8, 2007.
     Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Bingaman: On behalf of the Hispanic Education 
     Coalition and its twenty-five member organizations, we 
     express our strong support for your re-introduction of the 
     ``Next Generation Hispanic-Serving Institutions Act.'' You 
     have long been a champion of Hispanic higher education, and 
     we appreciate all that you do to secure equal educational 
     opportunities for Latinos.
       The Next Generation Hispanic-Serving Institutions Act will 
     help to eradicate the chronic shortage of Hispanic 
     professionals with advanced degrees. The number of Hispanics 
     earning post-baccalaureate degrees at HSIs between the years 
     of 1991 and 2000 increased by 136 percent, demonstrating a 
     high demand and need to increase graduate program capacity at 
     these institutions. Out of 262 HACU member HSIs that serve 
     over 50% of the 1.6 million Hispanics enrolled in higher 
     education programs, only 44 currently have graduate programs 
     in place. The Next Generation Hispanic-Serving Institutions 
     Act will help to remedy this deficit.
       The Hispanic Education Coalition and its member 
     organizations commend your leadership and will work with you 
     to secure final passage of this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
     Peter Zamora,
       Acting Regional Counsel, MALDEF.
     Roger Rosenthal,
       Executive Director, Migrant Legal Action Program.

                                 S. 565

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Next Generation Hispanic-
     Serving Institutions Act''.

     SEC. 2. POSTBACCALAUREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISPANIC 
                   AMERICANS.

       (a) Establishment of Program.--Title V of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating part B as part C;
       (2) by redesignating sections 511 through 518 as sections 
     521 through 528, respectively; and
       (3) by inserting after section 505 (20 U.S.C. 1101d) the 
     following new part:

   ``PART  B--PROMOTING POSTBACCALAUREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISPANIC 
                               AMERICANS

     ``SEC. 511. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       ``(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       ``(1) According to the United States Census, by the year 
     2050 one in four Americans will be of Hispanic origin.
       ``(2) Despite the dramatic increase in the Hispanic 
     population in the United States, the National Center for 
     Education Statistics reported that in 1999, Hispanics 
     accounted for only 4 percent of the master's degrees, 3 
     percent of the doctor's degrees, and 5 percent of first-
     professional degrees awarded in the United States.
       ``(3) Although Hispanics constitute 10 percent of the 
     college enrollment in the United States, they comprise only 3 
     percent of instructional faculty in colleges and 
     universities.
       ``(4) The future capacity for research and advanced study 
     in the United States will require increasing the number of 
     Hispanics pursuing postbaccalaureate studies.
       ``(5) Hispanic-serving institutions are leading the Nation 
     in increasing the number of Hispanics attaining graduate and 
     professional degrees.
       ``(6) Among Hispanics who received master's degrees in 
     1999-2000, 25 percent earned them at Hispanic-serving 
     institutions.
       ``(7) Between 1991 and 2000, the number of Hispanic 
     students earning master's degrees at Hispanic-serving 
     institutions grew 136 percent, the number receiving doctor's 
     degrees grew by 85 percent, and the number earning first-
     professional degrees grew by 47 percent.
       ``(8) It is in the national interest to expand the capacity 
     of Hispanic-serving institutions to offer graduate and 
     professional degree programs.
       ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this part are--
       ``(1) to expand postbaccalaureate educational opportunities 
     for, and improve the academic attainment of, Hispanic 
     students; and
       ``(2) to expand and enhance the postbaccalaureate academic 
     offerings, and program quality, that are educating the 
     majority of Hispanic college students and helping large 
     numbers of Hispanic students and other low-income individuals 
     complete postsecondary degrees.

     ``SEC. 512. PROGRAM AUTHORITY AND ELIGIBILITY.

       ``(a) Program Authorized.--Subject to the availability of 
     funds appropriated to carry out this part, the Secretary 
     shall award competitive grants to Hispanic-serving 
     institutions that offer postbaccalaureate certifications or 
     degrees.
       ``(b) Eligibility.--In this part, an `eligible institution' 
     means an institution of higher education that--
       ``(1) is an eligible institution under section 502; and
       ``(2) offers a postbaccalaureate certificate or degree 
     granting program.

     ``SEC. 513. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.

       ``Grants awarded under this part shall be used for 1 or 
     more of the following activities:
       ``(1) Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or 
     laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including 
     instructional and research purposes.
       ``(2) Construction, maintenance, renovation, and 
     improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other 
     instructional facilities, including purchase or rental of 
     telecommunications technology equipment or services.
       ``(3) Purchase of library books, periodicals, technical and 
     other scientific journals, microfilm, microfiche, and other 
     educational materials, including telecommunications program 
     materials.
       ``(4) Support for needy postbaccalaureate students 
     including outreach, academic support services, mentoring, 
     scholarships, fellowships, and other financial assistance to 
     permit the enrollment of such students in postbaccalaureate 
     certificate and degree granting programs.
       ``(5) Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, 
     faculty research, curriculum development, and academic 
     instruction.
       ``(6) Creating or improving facilities for Internet or 
     other distance learning academic instruction capabilities, 
     including purchase or rental of telecommunications technology 
     equipment or services.
       ``(7) Collaboration with other institutions of higher 
     education to expand postbaccalaureate certificate and degree 
     offerings.
       ``(8) Other activities proposed in the application 
     submitted pursuant to section 514 that--
       ``(A) contribute to carrying out the purposes of this part; 
     and
       ``(B) are approved by the Secretary as part of the review 
     and acceptance of such application.

     ``SEC. 514. APPLICATION AND DURATION.

       ``(a) Application.--Any eligible institution may apply for 
     a grant under this part by submitting an application to the 
     Secretary at such time and in such manner as determined by 
     the Secretary. Such application shall demonstrate how the 
     grant funds will be used to improve postbaccalaureate 
     education opportunities for Hispanic and low-income students 
     and will lead to greater financial independence.
       ``(b) Duration.--Grants under this part shall be awarded 
     for a period not to exceed 5 years.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not award more than 
     1 grant under this part in any fiscal year to any Hispanic-
     serving institution.''.
       (b) Cooperative Arrangements.--Section 524(a) of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)) 
     is amended by inserting ``and section 513'' after ``section 
     503''.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 528(a) of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965 (as redesignated by subsection 
     (a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(a) Authorizations.--
       ``(1) Part a.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out part A of this title $175,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 
     succeeding fiscal years.
       ``(2) Part b.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out part B of this title $125,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 
     succeeding fiscal years.''.
                                 ______