OR Tuition Equity Bill blocked by obstructionists in House

-- Although the fight for fairness, justice and equality for Oregon students and their families is far from over

Unfortunately, yesterday a petition supporting Senate Bill 742, Oregon's bi-partisan Tuition Equity Bill, was unable to get the necessary signatures to move it from committee to the House floor for a vote. It fell 5 short of the necessary 31 signatures. The fact is, this is just another example of obstructionists in the Oregon State House blocking good legislation this session that would help people of color.

The upside is that this Tuition Equity bill had bi-partisan support and broad support from the business, faith, labor and education communities and made it further in the Oregon Legislature than it ever has in the past. It was what amounted to handful of House Legislators that denied it an up or down vote.

SB742 would have ensured that every Oregon student has fair access to quality and affordable higher education. It will also would had made 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 also would boost the education level of Oregon's workforce and boost our state economy.

This won't be the end of Tuition Equity for Oregon. CAUSA and our allies will continue this fight for fairness, justice and equality for Oregon students and immigrant families until Tuition Equity is a reality and Oregon joins the other 13 states that have already passed similar legislation.

News Articles:
In-state tuition bill dies in Oregon House
Supporters fail in their late session effort to get immigrant tuition bill to the Oregon House floor

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Please make your call for Tuition Equity TODAY

We need your help between now and tomorrow to ensure Tuition Equity receives a vote in the Oregon State House of Representatives!

Senate Bill 742, Oregon's bipartisan Tuition Equity Bill, has by tomorrow (Tuesday) at 5:00pm to get the necessary signatures of support to move it to the House floor for a vote. This bill has gone farther than it has in the past with an 18-11 vote in the Oregon State Senate. We need your help now more than ever to get it passed in the Oregon House.

Call your Representative as soon as possible, and let them know you support SB 742! Tell them you support SB 742 which would allow all children in Oregon to have an affordable education.

Tell them,

“I Support Senate Bill 742 because it’s important for me for the future of Oregon students and for Oregon as a whole. Please help get SB 742 a vote in the House and vote yes on this important bill."

To find your State Representative, please link here: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/

Thank you for your continued support To ensure all our youth have access to Higher education!

Join us tonight at 8:00pm at Mt. Hood Community College (AC1051, 26000 SE Stark St, Gresham) for the final push to get SB742 to the House Floor! Link here for more details: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=215723578449053

Two great articles on Senate Bill 742:
Future of Immigrant tuition bill to be decided soon

AMERICAN GIRL* (*in every way but officially, that is, which may affect Churchill High student's ability to get into college)

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Support Tuition Equity for All Oregon Students and Our State

The Oregon Student Association has released this new video on Senate Bill 742, Oregon's Tuition Equity Bill. SB742 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 boost our state economy.



Senate Bill 742 has already passed the Oregon State Senate and now is in the House.  SB742 is about education, opportunity and advancement for Oregon, AND it deserves a vote on the Oregon House Floor! Check out these amazing supporters testifying for the bill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fStZJ3o_A6o

Link here to contact your State Representative and ask them to support Tuition Equity for ALL Oregon students and for our state.

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Tuition Equity supporters gather for graduation ceremony and hearing

Salem, Ore.-- On Wednesday, supporters of Oregon's bi-partisan Tuition Equity Bill (SB742) gathered at the Oregon State Capitol for a graduation ceremony. The ceremony recognized the potential Oregon continues to lose during this time of graduations without passage of SB742.


After the ceremony, the Oregon State House Rules Committee held a hearing where students, parents, teachers, state legislators and members of the business, faith, and the higher education community testified in favor of the legislation.  Turn-out for those in favor of Senate Bill 742 was 10-1 over those opposed -- reflecting well the bill's bi-partisan support.

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.

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, Multnomah Youth Commission and others.

Please continue to contact state representatives and urge them to support Senate Bill 742 for Oregon Students and Oregon's Future.  Link here to find out how to contact your state representative and members of the House Rules Committee:  http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5535/t/4202/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1470

Related News Coverage:
Push For In-State Tuition Rates For Undocumented Residents Continues OPB News
Ore. House panel takes up immigrant tuition Associated Press
Tuition bill prompts Capitol rally Statesman Journal

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Oregon Tuition Equity Bill Clears Senate Education Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2011

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director: (503) 269-5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director: (503) 488-0263

Oregon Tuition Equity Bill Clears Senate Education Committee

Oregon’s Statewide Immigrant Rights Coalition applauds Senate Committee on their action

Salem, Ore.-- Today, the Oregon State Senate Education Committee voted 4 to 1 to move Senate Bill 742, bipartisan legislation that will ensure that every Oregon student has fair access to quality and affordable higher education, on to the full Senate. The Oregon Tuition Equity Bill will make it possible for every Oregon student, regardless of their status, to be able to pay in-state tuition.

CAUSA applauds the Oregon State Senate Education Committee on their vote to move Senate Bill 742 on to the next step in the process to making this bill law.

“The vote that the Senate Education Committee took today to move this bill forward was the right thing to do”, said Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA Oregon. "The fact that SB742 has broad bi-partisan support in the Oregon State Legislature, and is supported by the Business Community, the Oregon University System and Oregon's Public Education System shows the importance that affordable higher education has for the future of all Oregon students and for Oregon’s economy.”

Senate Bill 742 capitalizes on Oregon’s investment in all K-12 students and will boost the education level of Oregon's Workforce, thereby attracting new businesses and jobs for the state.

Cosponsors of Oregon’s bi-partisan Tuition Equity Bill includes Oregon State Senators David Nelson (R-Pendleton), Frank Morse (R-Albany), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Portland/Beaverton), Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland), Rod Monroe (D-Portland), Chris Edwards (D- Eugene, Santa Clara, and Junction City), Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River) and Chip Shields (D-Portland), and Oregon State Representatives Michael Dembrow (D-Portland), Mark Johnson (R-Hood River), Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton), Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis), Betty Komp (D-Woodburn) and Chris Harker (D-Beaverton).

The next step for the bill is to move to the full Senate for debate and a vote. That process is expected to begin next week.

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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 http://www.causaoregon.org/

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CALL TO ACTION: Committee Hearing on Tuition Equity this Thursday

Time of Truth for Tuition Equity
Committee Hearing on March 3rd, 2011

This Thursday, Tuition Equity (Senate Bill 742) will be heard in front of the Senate Education Committee, and it is our chance to ensure that the truth about Tuition Equity prevails at the Oregon State Capitol once and for all.

What: Senate Education Committee Hearing on Tuition Equity

Where: Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court Street Northeast, Salem, OR

When: 12:00 noon – Gathering in the Capitol Rotunda

We will gather to show that students, teachers, faith leaders, business owners and community members believe in the future of our students. Students wear your caps and gowns!

1:00 pm – Committee Hearing Begins (Hearing Room B)

We need to fill the committee room and halls of the capitol with our support for tuition equity during the hearing.

Many Republicans and Democrats have realized that tuition equity is the right thing to do to follow through on an investment in Oregon’s students beyond the high-school level, to raise the level of education in Oregon and infuse our public universities with more tuition dollars.

These Republicans and Democrats know it’s about guaranteeing that our workforce is well-educated and well-prepared to compete in an ever-changing global economy. Yet we have seen them get distracted by politics before. It is our job to be there and remind them to do the right thing for Oregon’s future.

For information contact: Natalie at natalie@causaoregon.org or 503-915-5701

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