[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 129 (Monday, September 14, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H9449-H9450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SUPPORTING HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS WEEK

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 737) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that a National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week 
should be established.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 737

       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions play an important 
     role in educating many underprivileged students and helping 
     them attain their full potential through higher education;
       Whereas there are currently about 268 Hispanic-Serving 
     Institutions in the United States;
       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are actively involved 
     in stabilizing and improving their communities;
       Whereas celebrating the vast contributions of Hispanic-
     Serving Institutions contributes to the strength and culture 
     of our Nation;
       Whereas the achievements and goals of Hispanic-Serving 
     Institutions are deserving of national recognition; and
       Whereas the week of September 20th would be an appropriate 
     week for such recognition: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the achievements and goals of Hispanic-
     Serving Institutions across the country;
       (2) supports the designation of an appropriate week as 
     ``National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week'';
       (3) requests the President to issue a proclamation 
     designating such week; and
       (4) calling on the people of the United States and 
     interested groups to observe such week with appropriate 
     ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate support 
     for Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from the 
Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) and the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 737 into the record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 737, which encourages the 
establishment of the week of September 20 as National Hispanic-Serving 
Institutions Week. Hispanic-Serving Institutions are degree-granting 
institutions with full-time equivalent enrollment that are at least 25 
percent Hispanic. In 1990, there were only 137 recognized Hispanic-
Serving Institutions. Today, there are 268 such institutions, educating 
more than half of all Hispanic college and university students in the 
Nation.
  Hispanic Americans face multiple obstacles in access and completion 
of higher education. While Hispanic high-school graduates are more 
likely than their white peers to go on to college, they are less likely 
to complete their bachelor's degrees because of issues linked to 
poverty, immigration, and enrollment status.
  Hispanic-Serving Institutions play a crucial role in addressing these 
issues and obstacles while remaining committed to educating underserved 
students across the country.
  Working to increase enrollment and retention, Hispanic-Serving 
Institutions have created many innovative programs. At El Camino 
College in California, their ``First Year Experience'' class has rates 
10 to 30 percent higher than the rest of the student body. The program 
provides a learning community through linked classes and a team of 
instructors and counselors who work together to increase student 
success.
  At the University of Texas, El Paso, deep relationships with the 
surrounding K-12 community schools have helped bridge a path for 
students to obtain a higher education and be prepared for college-level 
work.
  Hispanic-Serving Institutions continue to produce extremely 
accomplished members of our society. Their alumni include Members of 
Congress and some of the President's closest advisors in his Cabinet.
  Lastly, it is important to note that September is Hispanic Heritage 
Month. This month celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of 
Hispanics in the United States while honoring the Hispanic culture in 
our country. It is appropriate that we include Hispanic-Serving 
Institutions in this honor.
  I thank Representative Grijalva for his leadership in bringing this 
important resolution forward. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to 
support this important resolution and join me in my commendation of our 
country's Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 737, a resolution 
expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a National 
Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week should be established.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Grijalva, for 
introducing this resolution. Mr. Grijalva recognizes the important role 
that HSIs play for all postsecondary students, especially minority 
students.
  HSIs and their student body are very diverse. The community of HSIs 
includes 2-year and 4-year institutions and public and private 
institutions. In 2007, 46 percent of students enrolled in HSIs were 
Hispanics, and the remaining 44 percent were a diverse mix of students 
from various ethnicities and backgrounds. Even with this diversity of 
the student body, geographical location and population served, the 
principal missions of all of these institutions is to provide a quality 
education.
  HSIs deserve recognition for the contribution they make to the 
education community and the Nation. While comprising less than 10 
percent of the Nation's institutions of higher education, HSIs educate 
over two-thirds of Hispanic students enrolled in colleges and 
universities. Most HSIs do not have access to the resources or 
endowment income that other institutions can draw

[[Page H9450]]

on. However, they are still successful in their effort to provide a 
high-quality education, often to some of our most disadvantaged 
students.
  We have consistently worked to improve the Nation's support for 
Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Just last Congress, the Higher Education 
Opportunity Act, the reauthorization bill for the Higher Education Act, 
included a provision that created a new program designed to allow these 
institutions to improve their graduate and professional programs. We 
also provided more flexibility to HSIs through broadening their uses of 
Title V funds to include activities like the development of 
articulation agreements, the development of distance learning 
technologies, and providing additional financial literacy counseling to 
students and families.
  It is important that we recognize the contributions of HSIs and their 
graduates by celebrating HSI Week. The number of HSIs increases every 
year. From 2006 to 2007, 13 new institutions qualified as an HSI. These 
institutions provide an ever-increasing number of students with a high-
quality education and leadership skills for the future, and they 
deserve recognition for such.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, again, I encourage my colleagues to support 
House Resolution 737.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 737.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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