This week in D.C., Congress passed a troubling budget proposal for federal financial aid, but FIU advocates were not deterred from promoting FIU research, Hispanic-serving education and celebrating new national partnerships.
Funding Pell grants
The federal budget dance continued this week as both the House and Senate approved their respective budget plans, which will now be conferenced between chambers, before the formal appropriations process begins in earnest. Most troubling for FIU are their proposed impact on federal financial aid programs.
Overall, the House Budget Committee FY2016 Resolution will cut $5.5 trillion in spending in 10 years, balance the budget in nine years and keep discretionary budget caps at the sequester level for FY2016. The plan, however, would freeze the Pell grants maximum award for 10 years at the current level of $5,775 – entirely eliminating mandatory funding for Pell grants, about $90 billion between 2016-2025. All Pell funding would have to come through the annual appropriations process.
The Senate Committee FY2016 Resolution would cut $5.1 trillion in spending over a decade, balance the budget in 10 years and also keep discretionary caps at the sequestration level for FY2016. The resolution cuts mandatory funding for the Pell grants program, amounting to a $90 billion cut in 10 years from Pell and eliminates the in-school interest subsidy for loans.
Within these severe constraints, it would be virtually impossible for Pell grants to receive sufficient funding to meet the need that exists at schools like FIU and to maintain current eligibility rules. With more than 21,000 Pell recipients at FIU—and more than half of those Pell recipients not expected to receive family contribution—there will be a disproportionate impact on FIU students’ ability to attend full-time on a consistent basis and graduate on time. Currently, more than eight million students receive federal Pell grants nationwide.
Students and alumni advocates are encouraged to continue contacting their representatives in Congress so they may better understand the impact on the FIU student population.
U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit
The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) is a leading voice for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The organization recently signed a partnership agreement with FIU to join forces in advocacy and research.
This past week, a delegation of seven FIU alumni and small business owners took part in their annual Legislative Summit where they met, engaged and joined forces with industry leaders, business executives, policy experts and elected and appointed government officials.
“Attending the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C. has opened the door to key potential connections, and I am positive it will have a meaningful impact on my small business,” said FIU alumna Lilliam Folgueira, who is a managing partner at Projectability.
“As a small business owner, this was a chance for me to network with government agencies, learn about available resources and, most importantly, have access to contacts and information that otherwise would have been difficult for me to obtain. The FIU Federal Relations office was instrumental in facilitating my participation, and their guidance brought this experience to the next level.”
Also participating in the legislative summit was Congressman Carlos Curbelo of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Hispanic-Serving Education, STEAM & Physics Advocacy
Dean Brian Schriner of the College of Architecture + The Arts was in Washington D.C. for Arts Advocacy Day to promote greater focus on blending the arts into policies on STEM Education. He met with all of the South Florida delegation and both state senators. Additionally, he met with Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici’s office, the co-chair of the Congressional STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Medicine) Caucus.
Lei Guo, a professor in FIU’s Physics Department, attended Congressional Nuclear Physics Day, an annual outreach effort to ensure strong and continued support for nuclear physics research. Guo, joined by Rafael Badui—a physics graduate student—spoke to the South Florida Delegation and staffers about the science FIU does and the impact of national labs on schools that are in different districts. He had successful visits to the offices of Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson, and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson and Congressman Curbelo.
The FIU D.C. team also attended The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) 20th Annual National Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education, held on March 23 at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center. The two-day Capitol Forum in Washington, D.C., included panels on issues of importance to Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).
Graduate Medical Education
As FIU medical students learned where they “matched” for their residencies on national Match Day, Dr. Yolangel “Yogi” Hernandez Suarez, associate dean for Graduate Medical Education at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and chief medical officer for FIU Health, visited with the Energy and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives to provide input on the future of Graduate Medical Education (GME) in Florida.
She emphasized the importance of addressing crucial changes to the field in Florida and the need to meet the state’s deficit of future health care providers in proportion to its population. Seventy percent of residencies are matched outside of the state and, currently, Florida has a need for 3,000 more GME residency slots.
Panthers Spotted in D.C.
- Kevin Hernandez, USHCC Manager for Government Affairs & Policy
- Myriam Ambroise, new legislative aide in Congresswoman Wilson’s office, attending HACU reception
- George Corton, FIU Assistant Vice President for Advancement, attending USHCC conference
Panthers wanted in D.C.
FIU in D.C. Federal Relations teams is taking applications for the summer internships. For details on the application process and deadline to apply, click here.
For more on FIU’s role in D.C. or too see what the office is involved with this fall, stay connected with FIU in D.C. on Facebook and Twitter.
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