Political Quotes

“I rise to speak in support of the Hispanic Educational Resources and Empowerment Act of 2023, which I reintroduced today. - Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HSIs, provide incredible opportunities for millions of low-income and first-generation students. I am proud that my State of California is home to 170 HSIs and 47 emerging HSIs, the most in the country. That is why I launched the first-ever Senate HSI Caucus with my colleague, Senator Menendez--to spotlight and advocate for the 572 HSIs across our country. These critical institutions educate our future leaders and help to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. During the pandemic, the number of HSIs in our country declined for the first time in two decades due to a decrease in higher education enrollment among Latino students during the pandemic. While the number of HSIs has since increased above prepandemic levels, this previous decrease illustrates the need for further investments in Latino youth. That is why I am reintroducing the HERE Act. If enacted, this bill would support Latino students throughout secondary and postsecondary education. Specifically, the HERE Act would provide $150 million for grants to create partnerships between HSIs and K-12 school districts that serve large populations of Latino students. Schools could use this funding to provide academic support that better prepares students for postsecondary education.…”