Chris Van Hollen: “I am going to read from just two of those letters that expressed the urgency of Senate action on this. This is a letter…”

“I am going to read from just two of those letters that expressed the urgency of Senate action on this. This is a letter from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, from the president and CEO, stating that the Thurgood Marshall College Fund ``strongly encourages the Senate to take-up the FUTURE Act immediately and pass the bill before the opportunity slips away. While we appreciate the prospects of a longer-term or `permanent' solution to Title III, Part F, we are skeptical that such a proposal would receive the requisite approval by Congress before September 30th.'' I think we can understand their skepticism given the fact that the 30th is Monday and the Senate is going to be out this afternoon. They go on to say: Therefore, it is imperative that the Senate act with all deliberate speed on the bi-partisan, bi-cameral FUTURE Act. Mr. President, I have another letter from the UNCF, which is another organization dedicated to supporting these important institutions. Quoting from the letter from their president and CEO: It is imperative that the Senate pass the FUTURE Act because funding for HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and other [minority- serving institutions] expires September 30, 2019. While we support a permanent extension of mandatory funding, H.R. 2846, due to its passage in the House of Representatives, is the surest way for these institutions to maintain funding for FY 2020 and FY 2021.…”