FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Melanie Alvord or Aaron Saunders at (202) 224-8456 or 224-3991
Senate Commerce Committee Approves Minority Serving Institutions Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2005
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved S. 432, the Minority Serving Institutions Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2005, by unanimous consent. The bill was introduced by Senator George Allen (R-Va.) and was cosponsored by 11 Senators, including Commerce Committee members Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.), Trent Lott (R-Miss.), and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.).
The bill provides $250 million in federal grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, tribal colleges, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and Hispanic-Serving Institutions for technology upgrades and communications infrastructure. Additionally, the grants can be used to provide education services for technology degrees and educator training, as well as to encourage greater use of information technology to increase scientific, mathematical, engineering, and technology research. The bill is identical to a bill, S. 196, passed by the Senate 97-0 during the 108th Congress.
There were no amendments offered during the Committee’s consideration of the bill today. The legislation now proceeds to the full Senate for its consideration.
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Posted By: Will Moss
Monday, April 18th 2005 at 3:41PM
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