FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2021
House passes minibus spending bills, including funding for Labor, Health, Education, and Agriculture departments
SAN ANTONIO – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has released the following statement on the House’s passage of H.R. 4502, a minibus of seven Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bills, which includes funding for the U.S. Education and Agriculture departments. The House passed H.R. 4502, on a 219 to 208 vote. The spending package is approximately $620 billion.
The U.S. Department of Education funding includes $3.43 billion for higher education. Of these funds, $265.57 million will be allocated for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) ($236.7 million for Title V, Part A and $28.8 million for Title V, Part B). The appropriations package also provides $6,895 for a maximum Pell Grant in academic year 2022-2023, a $400 increase over the FY 2021 enacted level. The language also allows Dreamers and students with temporary protected status to be eligible for Pell Grants, as well as other categories of student financial assistance, including Federal student loans.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture funding also includes $1.06 billion for the research and education activities of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This includes $20 million in education grants for HSIs, which is $7.5 million above the FY 2021 enacted levels.
“HACU commends the House for passing H.R. 4502, a Fiscal Year 2022 spending package that includes critical funding for HSIs. The increased investment in programs that prioritize diversity and inclusion is much needed funding for these institutions,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “HSIs remain severely underfunded. The number of HSIs continue to grow from 311 in 2010 to 569 in 2019 and their role in preparing the U.S. workforce is critical since they educate and train nearly 5 million students annually.”
About HACU
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain, and school districts throughout the U.S. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Association’s headquarters are in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, California. This year HACU celebrates its 35th Anniversary since its founding. Additional information is available at www.hacu.net.
###
HACU Media Contact:
Norma Jean Revilla-Garcia
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
210-576-3206
njgarcia@hacu.net
Christopher de Hoyos
Assistant Director of Communications and Social Media
Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
210-576-3242
chris.dehoyos@hacu.net