[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 195 (Friday, December 6, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE DIVERSIFYING BY INVESTING IN EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS 
                   TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH ACT

                     HON. JESUS G. ``CHUY'' GARCIA

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 6, 2019

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the 
Diversifying by Investing in Educators and Students to Improve outcomes 
For Youth (DIVERSIFY) Act.
  It should be a guarantee that all students in our country are taught 
by expert teachers and attend schools where the teacher workforce 
reflects our nation's rich diversity.
  However, research tells us that while people of color comprise 40 
percent of our nations' population and majority of our public school 
students, only 20 percent of all teachers are people of color.
  One of the barriers to a well-prepared and diverse teacher workforce 
is the high cost of college and student loan debt.
  High quality teacher preparation is also more likely to be 
financially out of reach for students of color, while the high cost of 
college and increasing student loan debt burdens hits students of color 
especially hard as they are more likely to come from families that are 
unable to contribute financially to their higher education.
  These facts come at a time when college affordability has reached 
crisis levels.
  Today, more than two-thirds of individuals entering the field of 
education borrow money to pay for their higher education, resulting in 
an average debt of about $20,000 for those with a bachelor's degree and 
$50,000 for those with a master's degree.
  Our nation's service scholarship for teachers--The TEACH Grant 
Program--has not increased to keep up with the rising cost of college.
  While college cost have increased, the TEACH Grant has been cut each 
year for most of its existence.
  Failing to protect and increase the TEACH Grant limits the program's 
potential to support high needs schools in ensuring that all students 
are taught by a well-prepared and diverse educator workforce.
  I urge this body to pass this bill.

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