June 2, 2023

HACU testifies at Congressional Briefing on the Farm Bill reauthorization

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities was part of a congressional briefing on the reauthorization of the federal Farm Bill during the Minority Serving Institution Agriculture Colleges and Universities Congressional Briefing on May 31, 2023, advocating for funding for agricultural-related educational programs and opportunities for Hispanic students.

The testimony from HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores took place virtually. President Lamont O. Repollet of Kean University (an MSI, Hispanic-Serving Institution, and Hispanic-Serving Agricultural College University) also gave testimony.

Flores stated in his testimony that HSIs collectively educate over 5 million students and serve approximately 8,750 students per institution, and that the 206 HSACUs educate over 1.8 million students annually.

“HACU is urging Congress to ensure that the future generations of underserved populations educated by HSIs and HSACUs can overcome the disadvantages of low-income, first generation in college, and often limited English proficiency as they create new pathways of success through a quality higher education,” said Flores. “The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that 78% of all the new workers joining the American workforce from 2020-2030 will be Hispanic.”

“I, along with HACU, respectfully recommend that the U.S. Congress equitably strengthens the capacity of HSACUs to implement higher education programs that attract, retain and graduate students qualified to enter a competitive workforce,” Repollet said.

HACU’s Legislative Agenda includes the reauthorization of the Farm Bill of 2023 as a priority issue. HACU urges Congress to equitably strengthen the capacity of HSIs and HSACUs to implement higher education programs that attract, retain, and graduate students qualified to enter a competitive workforce in the nation’s food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences fields. HACU also proposes the creation of a new HSACUs Land Grant category of institutions in the reauthorized Farm Bill of 2023.