WASHINGTON— Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced over $500 million in funding for educational programs supporting migrant and farmworker students. With this funding, Texas educators will be able to continue to dismantle barriers to education for our migrant families.

The funding was included in an appropriations package comprised of the FY19 Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bills. The legislation passed both chambers and was signed by the President into law in late September.

Education for Migrant Students

Congressman Cuellar fought to secure $374.7 million towards the State Agency Program for Migrant Education. This program supports special educational and related services for children of migrant agricultural workers and fishermen. These services include supplementary academic education, remedial or compensatory instruction, English for limited English proficient students, testing, guidance counseling, and other activities to promote services for migrant children whose education is interrupted by frequent moves. These funds are critical to families who make their living in agriculture and whose children should not be penalized in any manner due to frequent relocations.

High School Equivalency Program and the College Assistance Programs

The Congressman also helped include $44.6 million dollars in funding towards the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), special programs supporting migrant students. These programs make grants to colleges, universities, and non-profit organizations to support educational programs designated for students who are engaged in migrant and other seasonal farm work.

HEP provides academic and support services to help students obtain a high school equivalency certificate and subsequently gain employment or admission to a postsecondary institution or training program. CAMP provides tutoring and counseling services to first-year, undergraduate migrant students and assists those students in obtaining student financial aid for their remaining undergraduate years. These programs will provide access and expand opportunities to higher education for South Texas migrant students who deserve the same opportunities as other children in the U.S.

Job Training for Migrant Workers

The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) will also receive $88.9 million due to Congressman Cuellar’s efforts. The NFJP provides job training, employment assistance, and other supportive services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents with the goal of helping farmworkers secure full-time employment. Farmworkers who depend primarily on jobs in agricultural labor and who have experienced unemployment and underemployment as a result will benefit greatly in their pursuit of stable employment due to this funding.

“I understand the situation of students who are migrant workers or seasonal farmworkers because my own parents were migrant workers,” said Congressman Henry Cuellar. “Everyone deserves an equal chance to reap the benefits of higher education, even those students whose grades suffer because they are working in the fields. These federal funds are an investment in our younger generation and our future local workforce. I will continue to work to secure funding for programs that empower our community and open the doors of opportunities for those who are not familiar with collegiate life.”

Congressman Cuellar added, “I want to thank my fellow Appropriators and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tom Cole and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro for helping include this funding that will help migrant workers and their families receive the means of obtaining a quality education.”

Congressman Cuellar additionally secured:

• $1.49 billion for Impact Aid ($47 million increase from FY18);
• $124.4 million towards developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program ($1 million increase from FY18); and
• $11 million for the Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Program.

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