Wu Re-Introduces Legislation to Create AAPI Serving Institutions (HR 333)
Congressman Wu (D-OR), chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, reintroduced legislation this month (H.R. 333) that would authorize the Department of Education to designate higher education institutions with an undergraduate enrollment of at least 10% Asian American and Pacific Islander American students as "Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AAPISI)." Congressman Robert Underwood (D-GU) originally introduced the legislation last year. Institutions so designated would become eligible for federal funding to improve their capacity to provide higher education opportunities to these populations.
The Department of Higher Education already designates Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU). In addition to the Department of Education, other federal agencies use these designations to target funding and implement a variety of programs. For example, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made grants to HBCUs and HSIs for minority health services research. AAPI serving institutions would be encouraged to work with community-based organizations in carrying out their programs. For a copy of the bill, visit thomas.loc.gov and search for bill number "HR 333".
For more information, contact the APIAHF Policy Division staff:
Gem Daus, Legislative and Government Affairs Coordinator, GDaus@apiahf.org
