In light of these historic inequalities it is appropriate that during National Hispanic Heritage Month. I am cosponsoring the introduction of the Hispanic Access to Higher Education Act. This bill will help increase the college participation and graduation rates of Hispanics by establishing early intervention programs designed to prevent atrisk students from dropping out of high school. by establishing a migrant student minicorps program to provide financial assistance to migrant students in higher education in return for serving as mentors to migrant students in elementary and secondary education. and by enhancing TRIO programs. In addition. the bill requires the Secretary to annually conduct a national survey of factors associated with participation including data on academic progress and college enrollment of racial and ethnic minorities underrepresented In higher education. All of these programs need to be given serious consideration as we enter the Higher Education Act reauthorization process.