As college costs rise across the nation, Congress is currently considering H.R. 333, a bill that would give federal grants to universities with greater than 10 percent Asian-American or Pacific Islander enrollment. Proposed by Rep. David Wu (D-Oregon), the bill seeks to amend the Higher Education Act, which must be reauthorized by Congress in 2004.
“”Wu believes that education is the gateway to success in the United States and he credits his own education for the success he’s had in life,”” said Cameron Johnson, Wu’s press secretary. “”He’s chairman of the Asian-Pacific Caucus in Congress and he wants to create a program to benefit low-income Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and to give them a second chance in life and to succeed.””
The bill would authorize a total of $30 million and allow colleges and universities to “”carry out activities to improve and expand capacity to serve Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.”” Potential uses for grants include the development of a new curriculum, community outreach programs encouraging elementary and secondary students to attend college, and establishing partnerships with community-based organizations. The full text of the bill can be viewed at the Library of Congress Web site at http://www.gpoaccess.gov.
“”[The bill is] focused on the population of Asian or Pacific Islander Americans, specifically those who have low English skills or are first generation immigrants or refugees,”” Johnson said. “”There’s clearly a need there to serve that population and that’s the focus of this legislation.””
According to the National Asian-American Student Conference, approximately 150 schools would qualify for grants. Under the bill, schools with a significant number of low-income Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders would receive priority consideration.
UCSD receives a significant portion of its applications from low income Asian-Americans, according to UCSD Director of Financial Aid Vincent De Anda.
Since many other minorities receive federal assistance, the bill’s proponents believe that the bill, if passed, would bring about greater racial equality on college campuses.
“”Under current law, the U.S. Department of Education is authorized to provide grants and assistance to historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, and Alaskan native and native Hawaiian-serving institutions, which helps these institutions expand their capacity to serve minority and low-income minority students,”” stated a release on the NAASC Web site. “”This bill seeks equity by providing increased higher education opportunities for low-income and underserved Asian-American and Pacific Islander students.””
The bill, co-sponsored by 43 Congressional Democrats and one Republican, is currently in the Education and the Workforce Committee of the House of Representatives and will not be discussed on the House floor until early 2004. The bill has garnered significant support in California, with co-sponsorship by 16 members of California’s congress. The districts of those sponsoring include many of California’s largest universities, including UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, UC Santa Cruz and USC, all of which would stand to benefit from the legislation. Absent from the list of co-sponsors is Rep. Susan Davis (D-Calif.), whose 53rd District includes UCSD. Davis, who is currently at a conference in San Francisco, was unavailable for comment at press time.
