1:19 PM
CAUSA Communications Department
Tuition Equity Passes Oregon State House
Causa joins with allies around the state in praising Oregon State House of Representatives in Passing HB2787
Salem, Ore.—Today an historic vote on Tuition Equity took place in the Oregon State House. An important milestone for Causa, our allies, our movement and students around Oregon, House Bill 2787 passed by 38 to 18 with broad bipartisan support.
House Bill 2787, Oregon’s Tuition Equity Bill, is bi-partisan legislation that allows long-time, high-achieving Oregon high school graduates who have been accepted to an Oregon university to pay in-state tuition, regardless of their documentation status.
On Monday, HB2787 was passed by a 7-2 margin by the Committee on Higher Education with bipartisan support. Those voting “Yes” included Representatives Michael Dembrow, Chair, Chris Harker, Vice-Chair, John Huffman, Vice-Chair, Joe Gallegos, Chris Gorsek, Mitch Greenlick, Mark Johnson. Those voting “Nay” included Representatives Vic Gilliam and Gene Whisnant.
Lopez added, "We now look toward State Senators to immediately take up this legislation, pass it and send it to the Governor's desk for the good of Oregon Students and our State.”
Members of the Oregon State House voting “YES” on HB2787 today included Representatives Kotek (Speaker), Bailey, Barker, Barnhart, Barton, Bentz, Berger, Witt, Parrish, Read, Reardon, Unger,Vega Pederson, Williamson, Keny-Guyer, Komp, Lively, Matthews, McKeown, Nathanson, Greenlick, Harker, Holvey, Hoyle, Huffman, Johnson, Frederick, Gallegos, Garrett, Gelser, Gomberg, Gorsek, Boone, Buckley, Clem, Dembrow, Doherty, and Fagan.
And those voting “NO” included Representatives Cameron, Conger, Davis, Esquivel, Freeman, Gilliam, Richardson, Sprenger, Thompson, Weidner, Whisnant, Whitsett, Hanna, Hicks, Kennemer, Krieger, McLane, and Olson.
After today's House vote, the bill will then move to the State Senate for vote. Causa urges State Senators to take up passage of Oregon’s Tuition Equity bill by no later than the first week of March.
A copy of HB2787 can be found here: http://www.leg.state.or.us/13reg/measpdf/hb2700.dir/hb2787.intro.pdf
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About Causa Oregon
Causa, Oregon's Statewide Immigrant Rights Organization is the largest Latinaand Latino 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
Speakers this year included Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of Causa Oregon, Ramon Ramirez, President of PCUN, Laura Isiordia, Executive Director, of the CAPACES Leadership Institute, Causa Board Member and attorney Barbara Ghio and several panelists. Topics covered ranged from Driver’s License Restoration, Tuition Equity, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the national Keeping Families Together Legalization Campaign. Family Unity, and Civil and Human Rights for Farmworkers, Children, Women and members of the LGBT community.
activities. Carmen Gutierrez and Jensi Albright, a same-sex couple with mixed immigration status, exchanged vows before the energetic crowd. The special occasion was part of Causa’s commitment to the gay and lesbian immigrant community.
“One of the things we want to do is (emphasize) legal rights should be for everybody,” Causa Executive Director Francisco Lopez said. “We have a couple that loves each other. One is a citizen of the U.S.; one is undocumented.
