[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16556]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE FOR HISPANICS

  (Mr. CASTRO of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 25th 
anniversary of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for 
Hispanics, a bipartisan effort to increase educational opportunities 
and improve educational outcomes for Latinos in America.
  Over the past 2\1/2\ decades, the initiative has made great progress. 
The percentage of Hispanics with a high school degree has jumped by 
nearly 20 percent. The percentage of Hispanics dropping out of high 
school is nearly 20 percent lower. The percentage of Hispanics with a 
bachelor's degree or higher has nearly doubled.
  Progress like this is possible because of so many committed 
organizations across our Nation. The initiative has identified certain 
``Bright Spots'' in this effort, and I would like to recognize those 
programs that received the ``Bright Spot'' designation in my own 
congressional district.
  They are: The Academy for Teacher Excellence, the Graduate Support 
Center at UIW, IDRA's Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program, Northwest Vista 
College's College Connection Program, and San Antonio College's College 
and Grants Development Department.
  Congratulations to these ``Bright Spots,'' and thank you to all the 
organizations out there helping to make this program a success.

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