News from California's Border Congressman

Education


Headlines

 

January 25, 2011  

Congressman Filner Votes Against Deep Cuts to Federal Education Spending

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bob Filner voted against cutting as much as $9.2 billion in education funding, disproportionately hurting low-income students, eliminating teachers’ jobs, slashing Pell Grants and further compounding the financial problems of California’s school systems.

“In the face of record state and local budget shortfalls, they want to shift even more of the burden of education funding to taxpayers in California, or eliminate it entirely,” said Congressman Filner, who was a professor of history at San Diego State University and a member of the San Diego Board of Education. “Our children, our teachers, and our country’s future deserve better than this.”

According to projections from the National Education Association, under these education cuts California would be one of the hardest hit states in the country. For example, spending on Title I funding and Impact Aid could be cut by as much as $246 million, reducing or eliminating support for nearly 340,000 low-income students.

Cuts to state grants for teachers could mean that as many as 1,100 teaching positions are eliminated in California, resulting in larger class sizes.

California’s college students, who already face major hikes in tuition and fees, would be faced with cuts to Pell Grant funding by as much as $448 million, affecting over 115,000 undergraduates in the state.

“We must invest in education in order to make sure our next generation of students is able to compete in the global economy,” added Congressman Filner. “The federal budget needs to be cut, but we can do more to reduce our spending and the deficit by bringing our troops home now.”

H. Res. 38 would rollback spending in fiscal year 2011 to 2008 levels, a cut of $63 billion or 13.6%. These cuts could potentially affect all non-security discretionary spending, affecting not just education, but also veterans, health care, transportation and infrastructure and science research, among other priorities.

Back to Top

Headlines

 

September 29, 2010  

Congressman Filner announces federal funding for Imperial Valley College

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bob Filner announced today that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded $625,886 for programs to improve the academic attainment of Hispanic students at Imperial Valley College.

"Programs that help our students stay in school and reach their potential are essential to their success," said Congressman Filner. "This funding will help make sure programs that support our students will be there for them when they need it most."

The funding comes under the Strengthening Hispanic Serving Institutions program at the Department of Education. The goal of the program is to expand educational opportunities for Hispanic students. It also seeks to expand and enhance the academic offerings, program quality, and institutional stability of colleges and universities that are educating the majority of Hispanic college students.

Back to Top

August 17, 2010  

Congressman Filner: More than $487 million in Recovery Funds for education released for California

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Bob Filner announced that $487,549,876 in additional American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds were made available to California today by the U.S. Department of Education.

"Our education system has been cut to the bone in many places," said Congressman Filner. "That’s why we have made it a priority to secure funding to get our teachers back in the classroom. We can’t afford to shortchange our students when it comes to their education; the future of our state depends on them!"

According to the Department of Education, in addition to the more than $487 million announced today, the ARRA has provided $10,362,084,158 in funding through 12 different programs to the state of California. Including today’s announced funding, the total comes to $10,849,634,034 for education in California.

Back to Top

August 9, 2010  

Congressman Filner announces more than $435,000 for Imperial Valley College

CHULA VISTA, CA - Congressman Bob Filner announced today that Imperial Valley College has been awarded $435,532.00. The funding comes under the Student Support Services Program for low-income, first-generation or disabled college students.

"We have to make sure there is a support system for our students who come into college at comparative disadvantage," said Congressman Filner. "This funding will go to support these students so they are able to graduate from college and go on to start promising careers."

The purpose of the Student Support Services Program is to provide academic and other support services to low-income, first-generation or disabled college students to increase students’ retention and graduation rates, facilitate their transfer from two-year to four-year colleges and foster an institutional climate supportive of the success of these students.

Back to Top

June 29, 2010  

Congressman Filner applauds $9 million grant for algae biofuels research to UCSD led consortium

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bob Filner today applauded the announcement of a $9 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to a UC San Diego led consortium for their research into the use of algae for biofuels.

"This is a major step in making biofuels from algae a viable alternative to fossil fuels," said Filner, who lent his support to the grant proposal. "We are uniquely situated to take advantage of the abundant natural resources, excellent research facilities and some of the brightest minds in the field. I have no doubt that the next generation of advances in alternative energy will come out of San Diego."

The $9 million in federal funds comes on top of $3 million from a consortium of biotechnology and energy companies, making a total of $12 million for the three year research effort that will begin this summer, according to UCSD officials.

According to a San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) analysis, research on algal biofuels employs 410 scientists and other workers in San Diego and provides nearly $28.8 million in payroll and $56.2 million in economic activity for the region.

Back to Top

May 12, 2010  

Congressman Filner supports Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Bob Filner announced his co-sponsorship of H.R.40, the Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act.

"I strongly believe that a commission should be established to study the effects of the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the United States," said Filner. "Millions of African-Americans today continue to suffer great injustices as a result of our country’s sanctioning of slavery. The issue of reparations must be resolved!"

This bill would establish a commission to study slavery and its subsequent racial and economic discrimination against freed slaves, and the impact of these forces on African-Americans today. The commission would make recommendations to Congress on appropriate remedies to redress the harm inflicted on African-Americans.

Back to Top

March 2, 2010  

Congressman Bob Filner Co-Sponsors the Community College Energy Training Act!

Congressman Bob Filner recently co-sponsored the Community College Energy Training Act (H.R. 3731), legislation that will support community colleges as they train a new generation of technicians and other workers in America's renewable energy industry.

"To end our dependence on fossil fuels, we need to start preparing a workforce that can support a sustainable alternative," stated Congressman Filner. "Providing resources to our community colleges focusing on renewable energy job training and education programs will help Southern California become a national leader in renewable energy production."

Investment in community colleges is integral to preparing the workforce for a clean energy economy. This bill will establish annual grants of $100 million provided jointly by the Secretaries of Labor and Energy to community colleges across the country. The grants will be used to create community college programs that focus on the inherent renewable energy resources in a given region, allowing students to train in the fields most likely to affect where they live. Additionally, the grants will also serve to boost and upgrade existing programs that are already providing similar job training and education. This will ensure that more students will receive training, and that the programs at community colleges will remain on the cutting edge of the renewable energy industry.

Back to Top

Headlines

 

September 18, 2009  

Rep. Filner Votes for Single Largest Investment in College Aid in American History: The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bob Filner has voted to make the single largest investment in aid to help students and families pay for college in history – and at no cost to taxpayers. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), H.R. 3221, will expand access to an affordable college education to more American students, transform early education opportunities, and build a world-class community college system. The passage of the SAFRA will help build a stronger, more competitive American economy for the future while saving taxpayers money.

"This is a crucial step toward rebuilding the American economy, making sure young people have the ability to attend college or get career training, and that our work force remains the most highly skilled, cutting-edge and effective in the world," said Congressman Filner.

This bill is a major step forward in President Obama’s initiative to make sure America once again leads the world in college graduates by 2020. SAFRA will reform the system of federal student loans to save the taxpayers $87 billion and will direct $10 billion back to the Treasury to reduce entitlement spending. SAFRA will change the way the student loan system functions by originating new loans through the government’s Direct Loan program, but will maintain competition among private lenders and non-profits to provide top-notch customer service for student borrowers. This simple change will make college loans more reliable for students and families – and ensure that loans operate in the best interests of borrowers by reducing many of the potential conflicts of interest that exist in the current loan system.

Congressman Filner added, "This commonsense reform is long overdue, and I’m proud to join President Obama and my Democratic colleagues in standing up for the American taxpayer by eliminating billions in waste, while at the same time dramatically expanding access to essential educational opportunities."

With the largest-ever investment in higher education, this bill will also significantly increase government grant and loan assistance for college tuition payments. Pell Grants, already distributed to more than 7 million students, will increase to $6,900 by 2019 from $5,350 today. SAFRA also keeps interest rates low on government-subsidized loans, makes substantial investments in early childhood education, expands the Perkins low-cost loan program to every U.S. college, and simplifies the process of applying for student financial aid.

"With tuition costs at both public and private colleges on the rise even as families struggle through a difficult economy, I’m thrilled we could come together to expand critical opportunities for higher education in this country. Allowing our students to graduate with a better education and less debt is the best way to insure that American workers remain competitive long into the future," concluded Congressman Filner.

Back to Top

September 11, 2009  

Congressman Filner Announces Funding for Imperial Valley College, Health Professional Program Scholarships

Congressman Bob Filner is pleased to announce that Imperial Valley College has been awarded a U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Grant of $45,538 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to train health professionals.

"The ARRA funding is the economic stimulus package that Congress passed in February," said Congressman Filner. "I have been working to bring stimulus funds to Imperial County and am glad that Imperial Valley College students will have access to these scholarships."

This grant is one of a program of Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students which provides scholarships to full-time students in the health professions and gives priority to students with financial need.

Back to Top

July 1, 2009  

Rep. Filner Announces New Program to Make College More Affordable

Makes Federal Student Loan Payments More Manageable to Repay

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, July 1, new benefits will take effect that will make student loans more affordable to repay by allowing borrowers to cap their monthly loan payments at a reasonable percentage of their income. Certain eligible low and moderate income students taking out new federal student loans will also see lower interest rates and higher Pell Grant scholarships.

"An affordable college education is essential to the American dream," said Congressman Bob Filner. "This new program gives our students the help they need to get a quality college education that will propel them to future success. It’s is a remarkable opportunity for our young people."

The benefits are all kicking in as part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which Rep. Filner helped enact in 2007 under the new Democratic Congress. The legislation invested $20 billion in college aid for families, at no additional cost to taxpayers – the single largest investment to help Americans pay for college since the GI Bill.

Beginning July 1, for the first time, borrowers will be able to participate in a new Income-Based Repayment program that caps their monthly loan payments at just 15 percent of their discretionary income (defined as 15 percent of what a borrower earns above 150 percent of the poverty level for their family size).

Any current or future borrowers whose loan payments exceed 15 percent of their discretionary income will be eligible. After 25 years in the program, borrowers’ remaining loan balances, including interest, will be completely forgiven.

Other benefits that go into effect today include:

  • Cheaper interest rates on need-based (subsidized) federal student loans. On July 1, interest rates on these loans will continue to drop, from 6 percent to 5.6 percent. This is the second of four annual cuts in this interest rate; it will continue to drop until it reaches 3.4 percent in 2011. Nationwide, about 5.5 million students take out subsidized student loans each year.
  • Higher Pell Grant scholarships for low and moderate income students. Due to funding boosts provided by both the College Cost Reduction and Access Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the maximum Pell Grant scholarship for the 2009-2010 school year will be $5,350 – more than $600 above last year’s award. About 6 million students receive this scholarship each year.

In addition, Americans will continue to be able to enter into a new public service loan forgiveness created under the law. College graduates – or workers of any age – who enter public service professions will have their federal college loans completely forgiven after ten consecutive years of service and loan repayments. Eligible public servants include firefighters, public defenders and prosecutors, first responders, law enforcement officers, early childhood educators and men and women serving in the military, and more. This program can be used in conjunction with Income-Based Repayment.

Recent data shows that Americans’ interest in public service is surging. This year’s applications for programs like Teach for America and AmeriCorps have skyrocketed by 42 percent and 200 percent, respectively.

For more information on these benefits, click here.

Back to Top

July 2, 2009  

Congressman Filner Announces Funding for Imperial Valley College Nursing Scholarships

Congressman Bob Filner announced today that $103,852 has been awarded to Imperial Valley College by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program. Federal funds totaling nearly $53 million will support an estimated 17,089 financially disadvantaged students nation-wide in order to create a more diverse nursing workforce.

"This scholarship program helps students with the greatest financial need and gives them about $3000 dollars to help pay for tuition, uniforms, books, and other equipment," said Filner. "There is a growing need for qualified, local health professionals in the Imperial Valley. This assistance will make a big difference to many of our nursing students!"

The Imperial Valley College Dean of Financial Aid makes a presentation each semester at the nursing student orientation explaining the grant application process to all new and returning students. All IVC nursing students are encouraged to apply.

Back to Top

Headlines

 

November 24, 2008  

Filner Teaches Class

Congressman Bob Filner recently visited classes and led a 12th grade government class discussion at the School of Creative and Performing Arts during the San Diego Unified School District’s "Principal for a Day" program sponsored by Merrill Lynch.

Back to Top

November 4, 2008  

Congressman Filner Delivers $292,000 for Sweetwater Scholarship Program

Congressman Bob Filner recently presented a giant check for $292,000 to the Sweetwater Compact for Success scholarship program for high school students at the "Parents as Partners" Conference. Pictured here with the Congressman are (from left) Pearl Quinones, President of the Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustees, and Jaime Mercado, Vice President of the Board.

Back to Top

August 1, 2008  

Filner Announces Funding for Arts Educators

Congressman Bob Filner today announced a U.S. Department of Education grant awarded to the Imperial County Office of Education. This $313,736 grant will be used in twelve Imperial County School Districts to fund professional development for K-12 classroom and arts educators. One of 24 grants awarded nationally, the near one million dollars over three years will provide Imperial Valley Schools the opportunity to improve arts instruction while improving students’ academic achievement.

"I am extremely pleased to announce this grant, said Congressman Filner. "With funding for education and especially the arts dwindling nationwide, this grant is an important investment in our educators and our children."

John Anderson, Superintendent with the Imperial County Office of Education, said, "We are especially pleased to be working with Dr. Michael Bitz of Columbia University Teachers College and Professor Elizabeth Holster from Cal State Fullerton. It is a wonderful opportunity for our teachers to work with such outstanding experts."

The grant funding will be used to train classroom teachers to create lesson plans that include sequential art graphic novels (commonly known as comic books). This approach allows students to explore drawing, while positively impacting student learning outcomes and simultaneously benefiting the student's use of the English language and mathematics. Teachers will participate in five day summer institutes, Saturday workshops and in class coaching.

Filner added, "As a former educator, I understand the importance of providing teachers with appropriate job security and compensation for their hard work and dedication. Teachers are charged with the most important job: educating future generations, and they must be recognized accordingly. This grant is a step in the right direction."

Back to Top

July 31, 2008  

Filner Votes to Send Landmark Higher Education Legislation to the President

Legislation Addresses Skyrocketing College Tuition Prices, and Creates A More Consumer-Friendly Higher Education System

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bob Filner today joined an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives to approve final legislation that would address the soaring price of college tuition and remove other obstacles that make it harder for qualified students to go to college.

By a vote of 380 to 49, the House approved the Higher Education Opportunity Act (H.R. 4137), which would reform and strengthen the nation’s higher education programs to ensure that they operate in the best interests of students and families. The legislation builds on the Democratic Congress efforts to make college more affordable and accessible for all qualified students. Last year, Congress enacted into law a $20 billion increase in college financial aid over the next five years, the largest increase in student aid since the G.I. Bill of 1944.

The Senate is also expected to take a final vote on the legislation this week; if passed the bill would then be sent to the President’s desk for his signature.

"Higher education is becoming increasingly necessary to finding and maintaining a successful career and life. Congress must do everything in our power to ensure that Americans receive the best education possible in order to compete globally," said Congressman Filner. "As a former educator, I have seen the vast potential in our students. We must give them the tools they need to succeed!"

An October 2007 report from the College Board showed that, over the previous five years, tuition and fees had increased across the board, at public and private colleges and at two-year and four-year colleges. In California, tuition and fees at Public Four-Year Universities grew by 9 percent and tuition and fees at Private Four-Year Universities grew by 6 percent between 2006-07 and 2007-08. The bill would address these rising prices by encouraging colleges to rein in price increases, ensuring that states maintain their commitments to higher education funding, providing students and families with consumer friendly information on college pricing and the factors driving tuition increases, and streamlining the federal student financial aid application process.

The legislation also strengthens provisions previously approved by the House to avoid conflicts of interest in the student loan programs. The bill’s new provisions include requiring better consumer disclosures and protections on private student loans. Together these protections form a Bill of Rights for college consumers.

"Many students graduate from college with tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans. Then, they are often forced to work entry-level low-paying jobs in a recessionary economy while struggling to make their loan payments. Other students decide not to attend college due to the high cost. This is unacceptable. We must offer better futures for our children and this legislation begins to address their needs," added Congressman Filner.

In addition, the Higher Education Opportunity Act would:

  • Make textbook costs more manageable for students by, among other things, helping them plan for textbook expenses in advance of each semester;
  • Allow students to receive year-round Pell Grant scholarships;
  • Strengthen college readiness and support programs for minority and low-income students;
  • Increase college aid and support programs for veterans and military families;
  • Improve safety on college campuses and help schools recover and rebuild after a disaster;
  • Ensure equal college opportunities and fair learning environments for students with disabilities; and
  • Strengthen our nation’s workforce and economic competitiveness by boosting science, technology, and foreign language educational opportunities.

H.R. 4137 is a comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the primary federal law aimed at expanding college access for low and middle-income students. If enacted, this would be the first time the Higher Education Act was reauthorized since 1998. The current law expired in 2003.

Back to Top

July 7, 2008  

Congressman Filner Supports Early Childhood Education and Reach Out and Read!

Congressman Bob Filner recently read to children at the Clínicas de Salud del Pueblo in Calexico to support their Reach Out and Read Program. As part of Reach Out and Read, doctors at Clínicas send their young patients home with free books and advise parents to read with their child everyday. Pictured here with the Congressman is Ashley Gamiz Torres who, at 8 months old, is already very interested in reading!

Back to Top

May 29, 2008  

Filner Delivers Funding for PIQE

Congressman Bob Filner recently joined students and families at the Parent Institute of Quality Education (PIQE) graduation ceremony for graduates of their Nine-Week Parent Involvement program. The Congressman also delivered a giant check for $438,000 in federal funding to help fund PIQE. PIQE is dedicated to bringing parents, students, schools and the community together to ensure that every student receives a quality education. Pictured here with the Congressman are (from left to right): Reverend Vahac Mardirosian, PIQE Founder; Eunice Mardirosian, his wife; and David Valladolid, PIQE President and CEO.

Back to Top

May 23, 2008  

Filner Supports Federal Funding for School Construction and Modernization

Congressman Bob Filner recently co-sponsored H.R. 3021, the 21st Century High-Performing Public School Facilities Act.

H.R. 3021 would authorize a new federal grant and low-interest loan program that would provide funding to local educational agencies for the construction, modernization, or repair of public kindergarten, elementary, and secondary educational facilities.

"Schools across the country are crumbling! If we want to educate our children for the 21st Century, we must ensure they have all the necessary resources available to them, including decent schools," stated Filner.

With the exception of limited funding through the Impact Aid program and through the Department of the Interior for Indian schools, direct federal support for school construction has been virtually non-existent since fiscal year 2001 when, under the leadership of President Clinton, the federal government provided $1.2 billion in emergency funds for school repair.

Back to Top

April 17, 2008  

Filner Supports Bill to Ensure Continued Access to Federal Student Loans for American Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bob Filner today joined a bipartisan majority in the U.S. House of Representatives to approve legislation to ensure that the turmoil in the U.S. financial markets does not keep students and families from accessing the federal student loans they need to pay for college. The Ensuring Continued Access to Federal Student Loans Act of 2008 (H.R. 5715), which carries no new cost for taxpayers, was passed by a vote of 383 to 27.

"Universal access to affordable education has made America great and helped create the middle class. Congress must fight to protect our values and ensure that every American family continues to have access to quality education," said Congressman Filner. "As the global marketplace becomes increasingly competitive, we must provide our children with a viable education, resources and job training to fill the most selective positions. This bill will help us do just that!"

The Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 (H.R. 5715) would provide new protections, in addition to those that already exist under current law, to ensure that families continue to have timely, uninterrupted access to federal college loans in the event that the stress in the credit markets leads a significant number of lenders to substantially reduce their activity in the federally guaranteed student loan program.

H.R. 5715 would:

  • Reduce borrowers’ reliance on costlier private college loans by increasing the annual loan limits on federal college loans by $2,000 for undergraduate students, and by increasing the aggregate (the total loan limit over the course of a student’s education) loan limits to $31,000 for dependent undergraduates and $57,500 for independent undergraduates;
  • Give parent borrowers more time to begin paying off their federal PLUS loans by providing them with the option to defer repayment until up to six months after their children leave school – giving families more flexibility in hard economic times.
  • Help struggling homeowners pay for college by making sure that short-term delinquencies in mortgage payments don’t prohibit otherwise eligible parents from being able to borrow parent PLUS loans. Under current law, parents with an adverse credit history are ineligible to receive a parent PLUS loan, except under extenuating circumstances. The legislation would temporarily classify as an extenuating circumstance delinquencies on home mortgages of up to 180 days, therefore making it possible for parents who are being strained by the current housing market to secure loans for their children.
  • Clarify that existing law gives the U.S. Education Secretary the authority to advance federal funds to guaranty agencies in the event that they do not have sufficient capital to originate new loans, and allow guaranty agencies to carry out the functions of lender of last resort on a school-wide basis. Under the Higher Education Act, these guaranty agencies are obligated to serve as a nationwide network of lenders of last resort if requested to do so by the Education Secretary.
  • Give the U.S. Education Secretary the temporary authority to purchase loans from lenders in the federal guaranteed loan program, ensuring that lenders continue to have access to capital to originate new loans. The Education Department would be authorized to purchase loans only if doing so would not result in a net cost for the federal government.

Back to Top

April 10, 2008  

Filner Announces Teaching American History Grant for Imperial County Office of Education

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bob Filner announced today that the Imperial County Office of Education has been awarded a $995,204 Teaching American History grant from the United States Department of Education. The grant will be used to provide professional, history-specific training for teachers in Imperial County. The program is designed to raise student achievement by improving their teachers’ familiarity and understanding of American History.

"A basic knowledge of American history is absolutely necessary to understanding our institutions, the political and judicial systems, as well as the national decision making process," said Congressman Filner. "I believe that by providing teachers with better curriculum options and a more complete understanding of history, they will enrich our students’ learning experience and help them achieve success throughout their lives!"

John Anderson, Superintendent of the Imperial County Office of Education, stated, "We are pleased to receive this opportunity to build capacity in the area of history for our local teachers. For the past several years we have focused on reading and mathematics. This project enables us to expand our services in the area of history. We are excited and will begin teacher recruitment soon!"

As you probably know, Imperial County is very large (larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined), and it includes 17 separate school districts, five history museums, a university and many dedicated historians. These resources, though spread out, represent a unique opportunity to positively impact the lives of students.

During the course of this 5-year project, 26 teachers from all over the County will participate in two-week summer institutes, focused on history and the development of meaningful curriculum. The program will also include Saturday workshops, mentoring support, and the development of a unique countywide history education organization to sustain the project. During the first few years of the program, the summer institutes will include "Staff Rides" or bus tours to historical sites to immerse teachers in historical content, under the guidance of historians.

Back to Top

March 11, 2008  

Congressman Filner Supports Head Start!

Congressman Bob Filner recently requested adequate funding for Head Start, the most successful, longest-running, national school readiness program in the nation. Filner joined 56 of his colleagues in the House of Representatives in sending a letter to the House of Representatives Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt and Ranking Member Paul Ryan, requesting $7.8 billion for Head Start in the Fiscal Year 2009 budget, $800 million over the President’s budget.

"Understanding the constraints of the federal budget, I believe it is unwise to penalize one of the best performing federal programs with a budget that is lower than what is needed to keep up with inflation," said Congressman Filner. "In addition, Head Start currently serves only 42 percent of the children who are eligible for this program."

Created in 1965, Head Start provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parental involvement services to low-income families. Its purpose is to improve the readiness of low-income children for their entrance into kindergarten by enhancing their development in language, mathematics, science, social and emotional functioning, creative arts, and physical skills.

"Nearly 25 million pre-school children and their families have directly benefited from Head Start," said Filner. "Year after year, Head Start programs have transformed the lives of children and their families in dramatic ways. Enrollment in Head Start can break the cycle of poverty that affects too many American families."

Filner continued, "Because of the comprehensive range of services offered to these families, for every dollar spent on Head Start, the nation realizes almost nine dollars through participants’ increased earnings and decreased welfare dependence."

Back to Top

February 8, 2008  

Filner Votes to Address Rising College Prices & Remove Barriers to College Enrollment

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bob Filner today voted for legislation to address the soaring price of college tuition and remove other obstacles that make it harder for qualified students to go to college.

By an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 354 to 58, the House approved the College Opportunity and Affordability Act (H.R. 4137), which would reform and strengthen the nation’s higher education programs to ensure that they operate in the best interests of students and families. The legislation is the second major step that the new Democratic Congress has taken to make college more affordable and accessible for all qualified students. Last year, Congress enacted into law a $20 billion increase in college financial aid over the next five years, the largest increase in student aid since the G.I. Bill of 1944.

"It is absolutely necessary that we provide every student with the opportunity to attend college," said Congressman Filner. "In the 21st Century, a college education has become as important as a high school diploma was just one generation ago. Unfortunately, the cost of college has also grown rapidly, and more students then ever before graduate with incredible debt, or are unable to go to college due to the high cost. We must put our money where our mouths are and make college education a reality for every American!"

An October 2007 report from the College Board showed that, over the previous five years, tuition and fees had increased across the board, at public and private colleges and at two-year and four-year colleges. In California, tuition and fees at public, four-year colleges grew by 9 percent between 2006-07 and 2007-8. The bill would address these rising prices by encouraging colleges to rein in price increases, ensuring that states maintain their commitments to higher education funding, and providing students and families with consumer friendly information on college pricing and the factors driving tuition increases.

The legislation also strengthens provisions previously approved by the House to avoid conflicts of interest in the student loan programs. The bill’s new provisions include requiring better consumer disclosures and protections on private student loans. Together these protections form a Bill of Rights for college consumers.

"Our nation’s global standing and economy is dependent on the investments we make in our children. This legislation will provide students with the tools and resources necessary to be competitive in an international economy," added Congressman Filner.

In addition, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act would:

  • Streamline the federal student financial aid application process;
  • Make textbook costs more manageable for students by, among other things, helping them plan for textbook expenses in advance of each semester;
  • Allow students to receive year-round Pell Grant scholarships;
  • Strengthen college readiness and support programs for minority and low-income students;
  • Increase college aid and support programs for veterans and military families;
  • Improve safety on college campuses and help schools recover and rebuild after a disaster;
  • Ensure equal college opportunities and fair learning environments for students with disabilities; and
  • Strengthen our nation’s workforce and economic competitiveness by boosting science, technology, and foreign language educational opportunities.

H.R. 4137 is a comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the primary federal law aimed at expanding college access for low and middle-income students. The bill is supported by a broad coalition of students, colleges and universities, consumer rights advocacy groups, minority organizations, and more.

Back to Top

Headlines

 

December 5, 2007  

Congress Enacts Key Bipartisan Bill to Expand and Improve the Successful Head Start Program

Bipartisan Head Start Reauthorization is Another Key Achievement of the New Direction Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Congress held a congressional enrollment ceremony for H.R. 1429, the bipartisan Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act, sending the bill to the President’s desk for his signature. The President is expected to sign the legislation.

Enactment of the bipartisan Head Start Reauthorization bill is a key achievement of the New Direction Congress. The authorization for the Head Start program actually expired in FY 2003. And yet, due to a stalemate, the 108th and 109th Congresses failed to enact a Head Start reauthorization bill. The new 110th Congress has now successfully broken that stalemate and enacted a bipartisan bill.

"I am very proud that the new 110th Congress has enacted this critical Head Start Reauthorization bill," Congressman Filner stated. "Head Start has been the premiere early childhood education program in the U.S. for more than 40 years. It has served more than 20 million children and families in that time. This bipartisan legislation expands and improves Head Start, which research has shown works in raising children’s achievement."

"Americans understand that all of us benefit when we invest in high-quality early education programs for low-income children," Filner added. "The latest science shows that intervening early in a child’s life is the most likely to lead to that child’s future success. This bill is designed to reinvigorate Head Start and help more children arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed."

This critical bipartisan bill improves and expands the Head Start program, with provisions to:

  • Improve teacher and classroom quality, including improving teacher qualifications and increasing teacher salaries;
  • Strengthen the focus on school readiness, including requiring the Head Start program to use the latest and best science on early childhood brain development in its curriculum and materials;
  • Provide access to Head Start for more children, with higher authorization levels for Head Start and a priority on the expansion of Early Head Start, which serves children from birth to age three; and
  • Impose strong accountability measures, to better ensure that Head Start funds are used appropriately and efficiently and that underperforming programs are either replaced or quickly improved.

The research shows that Head Start works. Research finds that children who attend Head Start enter school better prepared than low-income children who do not attend the program. There is also research showing that Head Start students experience IQ gains and are less likely to need special education services, repeat a grade, or commit crimes in adolescence. They are also more likely to graduate from high school.

"This legislation invests in our nation’s young children – and invests in their future success," added Congressman Filner. "As such, it is part of the agenda of the New Direction Congress to strengthen our children and families, create new opportunity, and build a stronger future for all Americans."

Back to Top

November 9, 2007  

Congressman Filner Votes to Support Health Care & Education

Key Legislation Invests in Important Priorities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Filner today joined a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives to approve legislation that will make significant investments in health care and education. The Labor-Health-Education Appropriations bill was approved by a vote of 274 to 141 and now goes to the President.

"For too long, the Republican Congress and President Bush sent billions to Iraq and ignored important priorities here at home," said Filner. "The New Direction Congress is making smart investments in health care and education that will make our country strong."

This bipartisan legislation approved by the House today rejects the President’s cuts in health care, education, job training, and home heating assistance. The increased funding over the President’s request will significantly aid children in California. In California, the legislation would provide funding for 870 more new teachers than the President’s request and provide extra math and reading help to 15,044 more disadvantaged children. Additionally, the funding over the President’s request in the bill would provide access to after-school programs for 18,057 more children.

The bill also makes the following critical investments in our future:

  • Ensuring health care for 1.2 million more Americans through community health centers;
  • Issuing nearly 1,400 more life-saving medical research grants than the President, to potentially find cures for cancer, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimers’ and Parkinsons’disease, with new investments in NIH;
  • Strengthening quality education for our children by training 51,000 more teachers;
  • Increasing the maximum Pell Grant for college to $4,925--$875 more than President Bush; and
  • Helping 173,000 more adults, youth, and dislocated workers with job training and employment.

The Democratic bill also keeps the New Direction Congress’ promise to return fiscal responsibility to Washington, by complying with our five-year balanced budget plan.

"We can invest in America’s future without passing the bill on to our children," added Congressman Filner.

While the legislation enjoys bipartisan support in Congress, President Bush has threatened to veto this and other appropriations bills. The differences between the White House and the Congress on these and other critical appropriations total about $20 billion. At the same time, the President is demanding 10 times that amount to continue to fund the disastrous war in Iraq for another year.

Back to Top

October 2, 2007  

Congressman Filner Applauds Southwestern College and the Step Partnership

Congressman Bob Filner today announced that the National Science Foundation has awarded a grant of $1.9 million to fund the STEP (STEM Talent Expansion Program) Partnership of San Diego. The STEP Partnership seeks to improve cooperation and success within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, and it encompasses Southwestern College (SWC), San Diego City College and San Diego State University.

Dr. Raga Bakhiet, SWC Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) Program Director indicates that, "Southwestern College’s $370,000 share of the STEP award will allow our MESA Program to build on our best practices and empower us to empower our students." Kathy Tyner, Dean of the SWC School of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering added, "The funds will allow this excellent MESA Program to expand services to more students."

Congressman Filner pointed out that, "This program makes the American dream possible for many students who are unsure how to pursue their goals. They are surrounded by other students who share similar goals and they receive encouragement and support from a diverse faculty and the scientific community. I am extremely pleased that we have the STEP Partnership in San Diego County, and I applaud the work of Southwestern College!"

The STEP Partnership creates a clear path from community college, to university education, to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The STEP Partnership also enhances efforts to help economically or educationally disadvantaged students excel academically, develop leadership skills and gain exposure to industry. Team internships are facilitated to provide students with skills for academic and workplace success, and ultimately to become part of the economic development of the region.

"This program is extremely important here in Southern California, because one of our greatest competitive advantages is leadership in the STEM industries. The STEP Partnership will help enhance this existing advantage and bring opportunity to disadvantaged students," said Congressman Filner. "Those are values that we should all embrace!"

Back to Top

September 27, 2007  

Largest College Aid Expansion Since GI Bill in 1944 is Signed into Law

Democratic-led Congress Makes Good on Promise to Make College More Affordable for All Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, President Bush is signing into law historic college aid legislation, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. The bill is another legislative accomplishment for the 110th Congress, and was passed by overwhelming bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate on September 7.

"The legislation signed into law today saves college students an average of $4,400 on student loan interest, increases Pell Grant amounts, and forgives loans for those who provide 10 years of public service," said Congressman Filner. "It is the single largest investment in college financial assistance since the GI Bill in 1944, at no new cost to U.S. taxpayers. The new Congress promised to make college more affordable for all Americans and we have delivered on that promise."

"This new investment in college financial aid is critical," Filner pointed out. "In today’s economy, a college education is as important as a high school diploma was a generation ago. Yet, college costs have grown nearly 40 percent in the last five years. Students are graduating from college with more debt than ever before. And 200,000 students do not go to college every year because they can’t afford the cost. This historic legislation helps restore the American dream for those families."

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act will boost college financial aid by more than $20 billion over the next five years - including boosting financial aid by $3,034,928,000 for the college students in the state of California. The bill pays for itself by reducing excessive federal subsidies paid to lenders in the college loan industry by $20.9 billion. It also includes $750 million in federal budget deficit reduction.

To reduce the cost of loans for millions of student borrowers, the legislation will cut interest rates in half on need-based student loans, from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent over the next four years. Once fully phased in, this will save the typical student borrower - with $13,800 in need-based student loan debt -- $4,400 over the life of the loan. 228,489 students in California take out need-based loans at four-year public colleges and universities each year and will benefit from this interest rate reduction.

In a critical step to expand access to college, the bill will also increase the maximum Pell Grant scholarship by $490 in 2008 and by $1,090 over the next five years. This will restore the purchasing power of the Pell Grant - raising the scholarship from $4,050 in 2006 to $5,400 by 2012, benefiting the 574,226 students in California who receive Pell Grants. 74 percent of Pell Grant recipients have family incomes below $30,000.

In addition, the legislation will prevent students from facing unmanageable levels of federal student debt by guaranteeing that borrowers will never have to spend more than 15 percent of their yearly discretionary income on loan repayments and by allowing borrowers in economic hardship to have their loans forgiven after 25 years.

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act also includes a number of other provisions that will ease the financial burden imposed on students and families by the cost of college, including:

  • Tuition assistance for excellent undergraduate students who agree to teach in the nation’s public schools;
  • Loan forgiveness after 10 years of public service and loan repayment for college graduates that go into vital public service jobs; and
  • Landmark investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and other minority serving institutions.
  • President Franklin Roosevelt signed the GI Bill into law in 1944. The original law enabled 7.8 million veterans of the Second World War to participate in education or job training programs.

The President has signed into law several pieces of legislation that the 110th Congress crafted to take America in a New Direction, including the 9-11 Commission recommendations to better protect America from terrorism, the first minimum wage increase in a decade, an Innovation Agenda to provide tens of thousands of math and science scholarships and create new American jobs, and landmark Lobby and Ethics reforms that public interest groups have hailed as the strongest ethical reforms in Washington since Watergate.

Back to Top

August 15, 2007  

Congressman Filner Stresses the Importance of Reading for Community Youth

Congressman Bob Filner recently stressed the importance of reading with local children at the San Ysidro Health Center, in support of "Reach Out and Read," a national children's literacy program.

Back to Top

June 1, 2007  

Congressman Filner Announces Support for Teach for America

Congressman Bob Filner today announced his support for the Teach for America Act (H.R. 1971), recently introduced in the House of Representatives.

"Teach for America is a national corps of college graduates in all academic fields who commit two years to teaching in our nation's underserved, public schools. Since its 1990 beginning, more than 12,000 college graduates have positively impacted the lives of over 2 million students," said Congressman Filner.

The purpose of this legislation is to cement a partnership between the federal government and this worthwhile program and to authorize $15 million for Teach for America for the 2008 budget, $18 million for 2009, and $20 million for 2010. This funding will enable Teach for America to expand its reach to nearly 650,000 students in 32 urban and rural communities.

"When teachers leave the Teach for America program, 63% remain in education as teachers, principals, and policy advisors," said Filner who is an educator and has previously served as President of the San Diego School Board and as a professor at San Diego State University.

"Teach for America is a program that works. It encourages exceptional students to pursue careers in teaching, and it places them in communities where they are desperately needed. I am happy to support funding to expand the number of college graduates and students who can participate," concluded Filner.

Back to Top

Copyright © 1993-2011. Paid for by Bob Filner for Congress.                                                                                      Political Branding and Web Design by Shubhayan America™.