Expressing support for designation of the week beginning September 19, 2010, as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week".

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1611) expressing support for designation of the week beginning September 19, 2010, as ``National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week''.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1611 into the Record.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1611, which encourages establishment of the week of September 19 as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week. Hispanic-Serving Institutions are degree-granting institutions of higher education with a student population that is at least one-quarter Hispanic. In 1990, there were only 137 recognized Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Today, there are 268 such institutions, educating nearly half of all Hispanic college and university students nationwide.

Overall, Hispanic students are more likely than their peers to face multiple obstacles in their access to, and completion of, higher education. They are less likely than their white peers to complete their bachelor's degrees due to issues such as poverty, immigration status, language barriers, family responsibilities, and the demands of part-time employment. Hispanic-Serving Institutions play a crucial role in addressing these issues and obstacles by providing the support services necessary to help their students focus on and complete their degrees.

Hispanic-Serving Institutions provide opportunities for their students to get involved in campus and community leadership activities, and also work to prepare students for careers in a 21st century workforce by expanding the ranks of Hispanics in science, technology, engineering, and math fields.

Recently, the nonprofit organization Excelencia in Education began a national initiative known as Ensuring America's Future By Increasing Latino College Completion. This initiative aims to focus attention on serving Hispanic students by organizations, institutions, and policymakers, to delineate degree completion goals, and encourage Federal, State, and institutional policies which promote the success of Hispanic students. The initiative also aligns with President Obama's goal to increase our Nation's degree attainment by 2020.

Over 50 organizations have partnered with Excelencia to support the campaign, including groups such as the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, the Alliance for Excellent Education, and the National Governors Association.

According to the United States Census, only 19 percent of Hispanics in the United States had earned an associate's degree or higher in 2008. In comparison, 59 percent of Asians, 39 percent of whites, and 28 percent of African Americans had earned an associate's or higher in the same year. A report by Excelencia states that 5.5 million Latinos will have to earn college degrees between now and 2020 in order for the United States to reach the Obama administration's degree completion goal. That means 3.3 million more Latinos will have to complete

college than are currently projected. Our Nation's Hispanic-Serving Institutions will help us lead the way to greater access to and completion of higher education for all of America's students.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this important resolution and join me in recognizing the week of September 19 as the 2010 National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week and honoring the important contributions these institutions make to the education of our students.

I thank my good friend Representative Grijalva for his leadership in bringing this important resolution forward.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa), a leader in education for all students, including Hispanic students.

Madam Speaker, I also urge the support of H. Res. 1611.

I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, today I would like to recognize the good work that Hispanic-Serving Institutions are doing both in New York City and across the country. The week of September 19, 2010 was designated as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week under H. Res. 1611, a resolution of which I was proud to be a cosponsor.

New York City is home to a number of world-class educational institutions, many of which have been designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Over 10,000 students from my district alone attend Hispanic-Serving Institutions in Queens and the Bronx, including Bronx Community College, the College of Mount Saint Vincent, Hostos Community College, LaGuardia Community College, Lehman College, Mercy College and Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology. I have had a chance to visit many of these colleges and know firsthand not only the quality education they provide, but also the valuable services they provide as centers of the community.

Hispanics are the youngest and fastest-growing ethnic population group in the nation, and play a major role in maintaining our country's global competitiveness and contributing to our national culture. However, nationally, Hispanic students graduate at lower rates than non-Hispanic students with similar academic backgrounds. We need a strong education system to prepare Hispanic students to enter the workforce, and Hispanic-Serving Institutions are ideally suited to address the needs of this population.

We particularly need to ensure further involvement of Hispanic students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, where they have been historically underrepresented. During consideration of the original America COMPETES Act in 2007, I was proud to champion the creation of a grant program for Hispanic-Serving Institutions to strengthen and develop their undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degree programs.

This program will help educate and train a new generation of experts in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics areas. By engaging Hispanic-Serving Institutions, who serve the majority of the two million Hispanic students enrolled in college today, we are able to reach out to and involve more of the Hispanic educational community.

This Congress has enacted legislation to make college more accessible by improving the way our student loan system works for students and families. However, there is much more we need to do to ensure all students have a chance to achieve the American Dream. We need to continue supporting Hispanic-Serving Institutions and encouraging the vital work they are doing for millions of American students. I am pleased to join Representative Grijalva and the rest of my colleagues in this fight.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1611, expressing support for the designation of the week beginning September 19, 2010, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week.

The act of going to college and earning a degree is more important than ever for today's youth and our society. Research shows individuals with a bachelor's degree earn more than high school graduates, and society as a whole gains from an educated citizenry. Students historically underrepresented at the postsecondary level--students of color, those from low-income backgrounds, and first-generation students--are less likely to prepare for, apply for, enroll in, and complete postsecondary education.

As of July 2009, the estimated Hispanic population of the United States was 48.1 million, making people of Hispanic origin the Nation's largest ethnic or race minority. It is estimated by 2050 Hispanics will constitute 30 percent of the Nation's population.

Currently, there are almost 270 Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HSIs, in the United States answering the call to educate underprivileged students and help them to attain their full potential through higher education. HSIs are degree-granting institutions with a full-time equivalent undergraduate enrollment of 25 percent or more Hispanic students. The HSIs serve a very diverse student body. In 2007, 46 percent enrolled in HSIs were Hispanic, and the remaining 44 percent were a diverse mix of students from various ethnicities and backgrounds.

Although most HSIs do not have access to the resources or endowment income that other institutions can draw on, they provide a quality education for the students they serve. While HSIs comprise less than 10 percent of the Nation's institutions of higher education, these institutions educate over two-thirds of Hispanic students enrolled in colleges and universities. HSIs provide some of the most disadvantaged students with the opportunity to attend college, and as a result, help to supply employers with talented, well-educated employees who can contribute in a competitive global workforce.

Today we honor Hispanic-Serving Institutions across the country for their achievements and goals. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. I urge support of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H. Res. 1611, a resolution designating the week beginning September 19, 2010, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week. As never before, our Nation's Hispanic-Serving Institutions, known as HSIs, play an invaluable role in educating millions of Latinos and low-income students. It is critically important that we recognize their contributions to our Nation's higher education system.

As subcommittee chairman for Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness, it is indeed a privilege for me to congratulate HSI college presidents who strive for excellence and support our students in reaching their full potential, and to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of HSI faculty, administrators, and students.

In these tough economic times, it is imperative that youth and adults receive a high quality education and are equipped with the 21st century skills to thrive in our Nation's economy. By providing accessibility and affordability to Latinos and other minorities in higher education, HSIs are creating pathways out of poverty and access to high-skilled, family-sustaining jobs and lifelong learning.

On March 30, 2010, it was an honor for me to join President Obama for the signing of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. For the first time, Congress has provided $1 billion for HSIs over the next decade to increase the representation and boost the academic achievement of Latinos in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, known as STEM.

This is a big, big deal for the Latino community. I wish to thank Congressman Raul Grijalva from Arizona for being the original sponsor of this resolution, H. Res. 1611.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, I respectfully ask President Obama to issue a proclamation designating the week beginning September 19, 2010, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week.

Madam Speaker, as our Nation strives to build a world-class educational system, increase graduation rates at all levels, and improve college access, persistence and completion, this resolution commends HSIs for preparing youth and workers for success in work and in life.

I strongly urge my colleagues in Congress to support this resolution and ask all Americans to observe National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week.