Barbara Boxer: “each year Congress appropriates millions of dollars to institutions of higher learning that serve minority students.…”

“each year Congress appropriates millions of dollars to institutions of higher learning that serve minority students. Currently, funds go to historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian- serving institutions. These funds--which exceeded $890 million in fiscal year 2005-- help institutions provide more higher education opportunities for low- income minority students. For schools that serve a large number of low-income Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, however, Federal assistance is not available. A need is not being served. Over 42 percent of Cambodian Americans, almost 35 percent of Laotian Americans and 25 percent of Vietnamese Americans live in poverty. And the graduation rates among these populations are low. Only 13.8 percent of Vietnamese Americans, 5.8 percent of Laotian Americans, 6.1 percent of Cambodian Americans, and 5.1 percent of Hmong have college degrees. So, today, I am introducing the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Higher Education Enhancement Act. I am pleased to be joined in this effort by Senator Akaka. This legislation creates a new Federal grant program for institutions where Asian and Pacific Islander students make up at least 10 percent of the undergraduate student body. Priority will be given based on the number of low-income students.…”