Watch Senator Rosen’s full remarks aquí.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee focused on ensuring student health and safety at colleges during the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) questioned several university presidents on what actions can be taken to provide relief to students who are DACA recipients, as well as student veterans.
“The COVID pandemic has severely impacted Nevada’s colleges and universities and the students they are serving. That is why I was glad to vote for the CARES Act, which provided more than $6 billion to our higher education institutions to provide emergency financial aid to students most affected by the pandemic,” said Senator Rosen. “The new law intentionally provides significant flexibility to institutions in determining how to distribute funding among students, including those who are most in need. Unfortunately, the Department of Education has decided that only students who are eligible to receive federal financial aid qualify for CARES Act assistance.”
“This decision excludes student veterans, individuals who have not completed the FAFSA application, and DACA recipients, many of whom have the added financial burden of supporting their parents and siblings or being the first in their families to attend college,” Senator Rosen continued. “In April, I joined a letter along with several Members of this Committee asking Secretary DeVos to reverse this decision to prohibit institutions of higher education from providing CARES Act emergency financial aid grants to undocumented students, but have not yet received a response.”
“Given this and the extraordinary situation in which we find ourselves, do you agree with the Department of Education’s guidance excluding undocumented students from CARES Act aid?” asked Senator Rosen.
“The Department of Education, in giving out this guidance, excluded our student veterans who have protected our country and served our nation. It is really important that they get any support they need. We want to know how you’re going to help these students and if you agree with that decision [by the Department of Education to exclude student veterans from relief]?” Senator Rosen followed up.
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