With the White House proposing cuts for their favored programs next year, leaders of Hispanic-serving colleges and universities descended on Washington, D.C., this week to state their case for more, not less, funding for fiscal year 2009.

“It’s a critical election year, and the time to speak up on behalf of Hispanic higher education is now,” said Antonio Flores, president and chief executive officer of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

In its 2009 budget plan, the Bush administration proposed a $20 million cut for the Title V HSI program at the U.S. Department of Education. The budget also seeks cuts for HSI-related programs at the departments of agriculture and housing and urban development, HACU noted.

“This is our single most important opportunity to present a unified voice for Hispanic higher education,” Flores said.

Attendees at the HACU Capitol Forum on Monday heard from a variety of speakers and received briefings on the association’s legislative agenda. For fiscal 2009, which begins Oct. 1, HACU is requesting $175 million for the Title V HSI program under the Higher Education Act.

By comparison, the White House has proposed only $74 million — $20 million below current funding.

In proposing cuts, the administration has said that HSIs are getting a large net gain in support thanks to the College Cost Reduction Act, legislation passed last fall to increase student financial aid and aid to minority-serving institutions. However, while the bill has an extra $100 million for HSIs, these are mandatory dollars that last only two years and target specific needs, such as science and technology education, HACU stated.

The president’s 2009 budget is now on Capitol Hill, where the House and Senate are conducting hearings. Lawmakers will propose spending bills for education programs later this year.

As part of their visit, the HACU leaders were scheduled to visit Capitol Hill Tuesday to make their case with lawmakers and their staffs.