U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson met with (l to r) FIU's Carlos Becerra, COE Dean Amir Mirmiran, Prof. Walfried Lassar and Governmental Relations intern Zach Ruiz.
Potential funding cuts took center stage this week in Washington, D.C., as leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives announced a proposal to cut $100 billion in federal spending for the current fiscal year. The announcement coincided with President Barak Obama’s presentation of the FY2012 budget proposal.
Included in the House proposal is the largest reduction in the history of the Pell grant program, which would reduce the maximum award by $845 (15.2 percent) to $4,705 from the current maximum of $5,550. While the President’s FY2012 proposal maintains the current maximum award, it seeks to eliminate summer grants — a critical source of funding for FIU students.
College of Engineering and Computing Dean Amir Mirmiran visited with our local delegation to detail the impact of investments by research agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and the Department of Defense on the economy and innovation in South Florida. He also found the time to visit with alumnus Frank Reyes ’08, of the Navy’s Warfare Systems group, to discuss ways to enhance our initiatives in STEM education.
Full Details: http://news.fiu.edu/2011/02/south-florida-students-would-be-hurt-by-proposed-funding-cuts-to-pell-grant-program/