Congressman Henry Cuellar announced today that Texas colleges and universities stand to gain an estimated $408,415,000 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed yesterday on a 244-188 vote.

The funding estimate appeared in a recent report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the nonpartisan research arm of Congress.

The funding represents Texas’ share of $6 billion in 2009 funding for state higher education agencies (SEAs) to use for school modernization, renovation, and repair.  SEAs may make subgrants to public and private not-for-profit postsecondary schools to modernize, renovate, or repair facilities that are primarily used for instruction, research, or student housing.

Congressman Cuellar said, “Not only is this an historic investment in Texas students – it’s also smart economic policy.  These funds will create jobs right away, and the infrastructure they build will improve Texas education and strengthen our economy for years to come.”

The recovery legislation includes several further momentous investments in Texas students:

• Expands the “Hope Credit” for college tuition costs.  The bill temporarily expands the maximum federal “Hope Credit” from $1,800 to $2,500 and makes it partially refundable, allowing the credit to reach an additional 346,000 Texans.
• Increases the maximum Pell Grant by $500.  The increase is expected to invest $15.6 billion in higher education nationwide over the next two years, benefiting 7 million students nationwide.
• Adds $490 million to the College Work-Study Program.  The new funding will offer an additional 200,000 students nationwide the opportunity to afford a higher education through their own hard work.
• Raises the limit on unsubsidized Stafford loans by $2,000, helping students living on the financial edge to afford a college degree.

As the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities has stated, “Together these proposals mean that low-income students and families on the brink of stopping or dropping out of their higher education plans can stay in, and that unemployed workers can choose retraining for a new job.”

Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the House Homeland Security and Agriculture Committees in the 111th Congress.  Accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development, and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Senior Whip and member of the Blue Dog Coalition.

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