Congresswoman Torres Leads Letter in Support of Funding for Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program
Washington, D.C. – Last month, Representative Norma J. Torres (CA-35) led 20 of her House colleagues in a letter to the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee requesting $40 million in funding for the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program at the Department of Education. This program is based on the BASIC Act, introduced by Congresswoman Torres.
As a Member of Congress, Torres has repeatedly heard from students about the difficulties of affording college, including students sleeping in their cars and making difficult choices such as paying for books or buying food. Basic Needs Grants provide funding to eligible institutions of higher education to support programs that address students' needs. These programs include resources to improve access to food, stable housing, affordable childcare, physical and mental health services, technology, and transportation so that students can focus on learning and achieve success.
"…nearly three in five students in higher education do not have enough to eat or a stable place to live," the lawmakers wrote in the letter. "Rates of basic needs insecurity are much higher for historically marginalized students, including students of color, parenting students, LGBTQIA+ students, first-generation students, Pell Grant recipients, former foster youth, and justice-involved students. Students at community colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities also experience higher levels of basic needs insecurity."
"Reflecting the substantial demand and the range of areas institutions can use these funds for, we ask the Committee to increase support for this program to $40 million and that the awards shall continue to be prioritized for at least 25% of grants going to community colleges and at least 25% of grants going to four-year Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and other Minority-Serving Institutions," the lawmakers continued. "Increased funding will allow more colleges and universities across the country to fund comprehensive support for students, while building a set of models and promising practices that can be replicated by other institutions across the nation."
Congresswoman Torres was joined in sending the letter by Representatives Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Mike Levin (CA-49), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Deborah K. Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Katie Porter (CA-47), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Scott H. Peters (CA-50), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01).
In the FY23 government funding bill, $10 million was included for Basic Needs Grants with at least 25 percent for 4-year HBCUs, HSIs, and MSIs. Earlier this year, the Department of Education announced additional funding for Basic Needs Grants for colleges and universities in states and territories such as Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Tennessee.
For the full letter text, click here.