Austin News

U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), along with U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas-20), have introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution to designate the week starting on September 9, 2024, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week.

The resolution is co-led in the House of Representatives by Congressional HSI Caucus co-chairs Representatives Jenniffer González-Colón (R-Puerto Rico), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.-07), and Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.-06).

Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) are accredited, degree-granting public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education with 25 percent or higher total undergraduate Hispanic or Latino full-time students. There are 600 HSIs in the United States that enroll over 5.2 million Hispanic students, two-thirds of all Hispanic undergraduates, and 32.2 percent of total Pell recipients. California is home to 172 HSIs and 45 Emerging HSIs.

“As a member of the HSI Coalition in the Senate, I applaud the outstanding work of Hispanic-Serving Institutions to provide quality education for Texas’s growing Hispanic population,” said Senator Cornyn. “I thank educators at these institutions for helping their students achieve their full potential, especially given the challenges of these past few school years.”

“Hispanic-Serving Institutions play a critical role in fostering our nation’s economic growth and vitality,” said Senator Padilla. “California is home to the most HSIs of any state, and I’ve witnessed firsthand how important their work is in providing more equitable access to higher education for Latino students and other underserved student populations. As a founder of the first-ever Hispanic-Serving Institutions Senate Caucus, I’m committed to ensuring HSIs have the support they need to continue uplifting Latino communities across the country.”

“Millions of students across America — including many in San Antonio — benefit from the incredible education that Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) provide,” said Representative Castro. “Today, I’m proud to recognize the critical role these institutions play in opening doors to opportunity for underserved students. This summer, I was glad to see the Biden Harris administration take major steps to bolster HSIs by establishing the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Hispanic-Serving Institutions and the President’s Board of Advisors for HSIs. In Congress, I’m committed to continuing to get HSIs the support they deserve to continue their important work.”

“The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities is grateful for Congress recognizing the vital importance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions during National HSIs Week,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “HSIs are America’s best hope for a vibrant democracy and a future as prosperous and just country. These rapidly growing institutions educate and train the newest generations of professionals, technicians, engineers, scientists, and leaders from diverse backgrounds that are the backbone of the nation’s economic and social advancement.”

This resolution celebrates contributions made by HSIs across America while highlighting their role in educating underserved students.

In addition to Senators Cornyn and Padilla, this resolution is cosponsored by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen(D-Md.) Elizabeth Warren(D-Mass.) Raphael Warnock(D-Ga.) Ron Wyden(D-Ore.)

Representatives Nanette Barragán(D-Calif.-44), Suzanne Bonamici(D-Ore.-01), Julia Brownley(D-Calif.-26), Salud Carbajal(D-Calif.-24), Tony Cárdenas(D-Calif.-29), Greg Casar(D-Texas-35), Lori Chavez-DeRemer(R-Ore.-05), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick(D-Fla.-20), Judy Chu(D-Calif.-28), Emanuel Cleaver(D-Mo.-05), Lou Correa(D-Calif.-46), Jim Costa(D-Calif.-21). Jasmine Crockett(D-Texas-30). Henry Cuellar( D-Texas -28). Danny K.Davis( D - Ill . -07). Mark DeSaulnier( D - Calif . -10). Lloyd Doggett( D - Texas -37). Veronica Escobar( D - Texas -16). Adriano Espaillat( D-N.Y . -13). Teresa Leger Fernández( D-N.M . -03). Maxwell Frost( D-Fla . -10). Ruben Gallego( D-Ariz . -03). John Garamendi( D-Calif . –08 ). Jesús G.“Chuy” García( D – Ill .–04 ). Robert Garcia( D – Calif .–42 ). Sylvia Garcia( D – Texas –29 ). Jimmy Gomez.( Cali f.–34 ). Al Green.( Texas –09 ). Josh Harder.( Cali f.–09 ). Henry C.“Hank” Johnson.( Ga.–04 ) Robin L.Kelly.( Ill.–02 ) Ro Khanna.( Calif.–17 ) Zoe Lofgren.( Calif.–18 ) Lucy McBath.( Ga.–07 ) Gwen Moore.( Wis.–04 ) Seth Moulton.( Mass.–06 ) Kevin Mullin.( Calif.–15 ) Grace Napolitano(California31 Eleanor Holmes Norton)(DC AL Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez(NY14 Jimmy Panetta(California19 Scott Peters(California50 Katie Porter(California47 Delia C.Ramirez(Illinois03 Raul Ruiz(California25 Andrea Salinas(Oregon06 Linda T.Sanchez(California38 Jan Schakowsky(Illinois09 Adam Schiff(California30 Darren Soto(Fla09 Melanie Stansbury(NM01 Michelle Steel(California45 Eric Swalwell(California14 Mike Thompson(Cali04 David Trone(Maryland06 Dina Titus(Nevada01 Rashida Tlaib(Michigan12 Norma J.Torres(Cali35 Ritchie Torres(NY15 Lori Trahan(Massachusetts03 David Valadao(Cali22 Juan Vargas Cali52 Marc Veasey(Tex33 Nydia M.Velázquez(NY07 cosponsored this resolution supported by HACU.