Tuition Equity Advocates Testify during House Committee Session

Salem, Ore. - - On Tuesday, a large crowd gathered at the Oregon State Capitol to show support for Tuition Equity. Those in attendance included students, parents, teachers, and members of the business, faith, and the higher education community.

Tuition Equity will ensure that every Oregonian 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. And besides capitalizing on the investment in Oregon's K-12 students, it would boost the education level of Oregon's workforce and bring in more tax dollars to the state's general fund. 

 

Tuition Equity Advocates were at the State Capitol to participate in an informational session with members of the Oregon House Higher Education Committee to lay the groundwork for introduction and passage of Tuition Equity Legislation in 2013. Three panels offered testimony to Representatives Chris Harker, Michael Dembrow, Alissa Keny-Guyers, Dave Hunt, and Mark Johnson.

Tuesday’s Day of Action for Tuition Equity also gave an opportunity to those who sat on the sidelines last session to join the popular support of this very important legislation for Oregon. In 2011, Republicans and Democrats in the Oregon State Legislature came together in support of tuition equity. Although Oregon’s Historic Tuition Bill SB742 passed the Senate, in the end it was blocked by process and opposition in the House-- failing short by just 5 votes needed for passage.

Organizations involved on Tuesday included Causa Oregon, the Bus Project, Oregon Student Association (OSA), Center for Intercultural Organization (CIO), Stand for Children, Northwest Immigrant Youth Alliance NWIYA, DREAMer's, and students from Portland State University, Willamette University, University of Oregon, Mount Hood Community College, and others.

Posted in: Informational Session,Oregon State Legislature,Tuition Equity