Student Aid And Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009

Floor Speech

As a professor for over 20 years in the L.A. Community College District, I know firsthand how important community colleges are to helping hardworking Americans achieve their dreams. About one out of every two college students attends a community college, and they are some of the hardest workers I have ever met. My students came from all walks of life. They were immigrants, single moms and laid-off workers, and many of these students were the first in their families to go to college.

Community colleges are the backbone of our Nation's workforce, providing students with technical training to fill our Nation's most critical fields. They excel at meeting the needs of students from all backgrounds and circumstances. The investments in this bill truly reflect the role community colleges play in our economy. Seven billion dollars is provided to reinvigorate the community college experience, to improve instruction, initiate job placement counseling, and create nontraditional programs for students on the weekends, evenings or even online.

There is $2.5 billion in grants provided to renovate community college facilities. It will allow them to accommodate their growing enrollment and provide students with modern equipment and facilities so they are better prepared when they graduate.

In an increasingly competitive world economy, America's economic strength depends upon the education and skill of its workers. This bill will help us to meet that challenge.

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