Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions
Floor Speech
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Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise in support of the BASIC Act, which I introduced today.
I know how important it is to help students cover the full cost of attending college, including tuition and fees, housing, food, transportation, books, childcare, healthcare, supplies, and more.
In California, even though State and institutional aid programs cover full tuition and fees for about half of the students attending California State University, University of California, and California Community College, students struggle to pay for the remaining cost of attendance. This bill will help accelerate California's work to make college affordable and provide funding to reach more schools across California and our nation.
Last year, the first-ever nationally representative data on student basic needs was released by the National Center for Education Statistics, which indicated that nearly one in four undergraduate students across the country experiences food insecurity. We also know that rates of basic needs insecurity are much higher for historically marginalized students, including Black, Latino, and Indigenous students; parenting students; LGBTQIA+students; first-generation students; Pell Grant recipients; former foster youth; and justice- involved students.
The evidence is clear that addressing student basic needs prevents students from sacrificing their health and well-being to succeed in higher education.
That is why I am proud to introduce this bill to authorize $1 billion for a new grant program to help institutions of higher education meet students' basic needs.
This funding represents an essential aspect of building more equitable paths to higher education, and it represents an investment in our students, our institutions, and our future. The legislation also helps coordinate assistance across Federal Agency lines.
I want to thank Senator Warren and Representative Torres for introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in ensuring that no student is forced to choose between their education and their basic needs.
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