A Florida Republican congressman has been tapped to help lead the Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Caucus in Congress.
On Monday, Antonio Flores, the president and CEO of the Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Caucus and the president of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), announced that U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., will help lead the caucus. He joins U.S. Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif., U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., and U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Tex., to cochair the HSI Caucus.
The caucus “aims to educate members of Congress about the prevalence and importance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions in their districts and communities, and about the importance of allocating adequate resources and legislative opportunities for these institutions.” There are almost 525 HSIs across the nation and more than 325 emerging HSIs.
“The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities commends Congressman Mario Diaz Balart for his commitment to Hispanic higher education and welcomes him as one of the co-chairs of the Congressional Hispanic-Serving Institutions Caucus,” said Flores “We look forward to working with him as he joins this important bipartisan HSI Caucus. His leadership and expertise within the U.S. Congress will serve to propel the work of the Caucus and enhance advocacy efforts on behalf of Hispanic-Serving institutions and the more than 4.4 million undergraduate students they serve.”
“With 25 established and 31 emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the state of Florida alone, we must ensure that federal funding and investments match the growing number of HSIs in our nation,” said Diaz-Balart. “I’m eager to join Representatives Davis, Hurd and Grijalva to advocate for the Hispanic community in our universities.”
After holding seats in both chambers of the Florida Legislature, Diaz-Balart was first elected to Congress in 2002. He currently leads Republicans on the U.S. House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee which he chaired when the GOP had control of the House.
