Oregonians to gather in support of bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill at Capitol Today

For Immediate Release
May 11, 2011

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director, 503.984.6816
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director, 503.488.0263

Oregonians to gather in support of bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill at Capitol Today

Salem, Ore.-- Today, supporters of Oregon’s bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill, which includes students, parents, teachers, and members of the business, faith, and the higher education community, will gather on the Oregon State Capitol steps for a graduation ceremony at 1:30pm. The ceremony will recognize the potential Oregon continues to lose during this time of graduations without passage of Senate Bill 742. The ceremony will precede a hearing on the bill in the House Rules Committee.

“I want to make sure that people understand that education is not just a word, it is a belief that we have in the future.” said Hugo Nicolas, a Salem area high school student, who like many others, supports passage of Oregon’s Tuition Equity Bill.

Senate Bill 742 will ensure that every Oregon student has fair access to quality and affordable higher education. It will also make it possible for all Oregon Students, regardless of their citizenship status, to be able to pay in-state tuition. Besides capitalizing on taxpayer investment in Oregon's K-12 students, it will boost the education level of Oregon's workforce and bring in more tax dollars to the state's general fund.

Matt Courtney, the Community Outreach Coordinator at Woodburn School District had this to say, “I believe that Tuition Equity (SB742) will not only encourage more students to finish high school, but will level the playing field so that some of our best and brightest students can continue their education beyond high school and become the type of adults they want to.”

Support for Senate Bill 742 continues to grow in the Oregon State Legislature and around Oregon. Organizations who support passage of the legislation include the Association of Oregon Industries (AOI), Portland Business Alliance (PBA), Oregon Students Association (OSA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Oregon Education Association (OEA), Center For Intercultural Organizing (CIO), CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), Stand for Children, Latino Network, The Bus Project, Basic Rights Oregon (BRO), Gresham Youth Advisory Committee, Adelante Mujeres, Jobs with Justice, Oregon Thrives, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Upstream Public Health, and the Multnomah Youth Commission.

In testimony during today's House Rules Committee Hearing, supporters will encourage lawmakers to pass the bill making Oregon among 11 other states that have already implemented tuition equity. The Committee will begin hearing testimony today at 3:00pm.in Hearing Room E.

Senate Bill 742 (Tuition Equity) Hearing & Graduation Ceremony
Graduation at 1:30pm on Capitol Steps | House Rules Committee Hearing at 3:00pm
Oregon State Capitol
900 Court Street NE | Room 50
Salem, Oregon

###

CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, is the largest Latino and Latina civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit www.causaoregon.org

Posted in: Oregon,Oregon House Rules Committee,Senate Bill 742,Tuition Equity