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Congressman Rubén Hinojosa Receives the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 2010 Service Award for His Work on Higher Education
Washington D.C.,- U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) on Monday, received one of the highest awards presented by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, (CHCI), the 2010 Service Award in Education for his tireless work towards making higher education more accessible and affordable to low income and minority students. Congressman Hinojosa was presented the award by CHCI Chairwoman Rep. Nydia Velasquez today at an awards luncheon at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C.
“Today’s tribute is a celebration and an honor not solely for me, but for all of us”, said Rep. Hinojosa. “It’s a time to reflect on the critically important milestones that we in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have made to ensure that Latino students of all ages, from cradle to career, have access to a high quality education”.
The ceremony included introductions by former University of Texas-Pan American President Dr. Blandina Cardenas who spoke of the Congressman’s family who immigrated from Mexico to Texas in the early 1900’s to pursue the American Dream. Dr. Cardenas also spoke of the incredible accomplishments the Congressman has made in helping low-income families, minorities, students with disabilities, and children of migrant and seasonal farm workers. This was followed by a video tribute that outlined Congressman Hinojosa’s work on education, housing, economic development and building a well-trained workforce. During Congressman Hinojosa’s time in Washington, unemployment went from 22% in 1997 to 6% in 2008. Congressman Hinojosa has been a powerful voice for communities traditionally left behind in America’s education system.
Through Congressman Hinojosa’s work in Congress, he has propelled Hispanic-Serving Institutions-HISs to a position of prominence in higher education. His 1998 amendments to the Higher Education Act led to the creation of Title V, a budget line for HSIs. Appropriations for Title V Part A during Hinojosa’s tenure went from $12 million in 1998 to $117.4 million in 2010.
As incoming Chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness, he helped guide into law the historic College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, which included a one-time $200 million competitive grant program for HSIs to strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.
Congressman Hinojosa’s collaborative leadership has enabled the passage of an unprecedented number of measures in the 110th Congress that boost the achievement of Hispanics and African Americans in higher education. In 2008, Hinojosa worked with Chairman George Miller and other Members of Congress to pass the Higher Education Opportunity Act. This was a landmark $510 million investment in minority institutions. This Act created a new Graduate school component under Title V and authorized up to $100 million to support HIS graduate programs. It also increased college aid and support for veterans and military families.
On March 30, 2010, Congressman Hinojosa joined President Obama for the signing of the Heath Care and Education Reconciliation Act that included the largest increase in student financial aid ever. This bill invests over $2.5 billion, including $1 billion for HSIs, the largest investment since 1998 in historically Black Colleges and Universities, HSIs and Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other Minority Serving Institutions to increase minority representation in the STEM fields.
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