Remembering 9/11, Hispanic Heritage Month, the American Jobs Act and Making College Affordable -- September 16, 2011
Dear Friend,
Thank you for reading the Carson Courier! For additional information, please visit my website at https://www.carson.house.gov.
In this week's Carson Courier:
- Remembering 9/11
- Hispanic Heritage Month
- The American Jobs Act
- Working to Make College More Affordable
Remembering 9/11
Last Sunday marked the 10th Anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. On that day, many brave Americans sacrificed their own lives in the service of others. With heavy hearts, we remember and pay our respects to the Americans we lost that day. This 10th Anniversary of 9/11 serves as a reminder that we must remain vigilant in our pursuit of those who would do us harm. As a former officer with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, I know firsthand about the security threats facing the United States and our allies around the world. This week, Americans paid tribute to our fallen brethren and reaffirmed our commitment to protecting this great nation from threats, both foreign and domestic.
For more information, visit my website here.
Hispanic Heritage Month
September is Hispanic Heritage Month, which provides us with an opportunity to honor the Hispanic community and pay tribute to the extraordinary contributions they make to America every day. Over several generations, American life has been enriched by Hispanic influences in business, education, government and the arts. As the fastest growing ethnic group in our country, the 50 million-strong Hispanic community is a vital part of our nation not only culturally, but economically as well.
In Indianapolis we see how strong and vibrant the Hispanic community is during Fiesta Indianapolis. This event is in its 31st year and has grown to become the largest Latino Festival in Indiana. I am looking forward to joining the approximately 30,000 people who come to the American Legion Mall in downtown Indianapolis to celebrate Hispanic heritage.
For more information about Fiesta Indianapolis, click here.
The American Jobs Act
In these tough economic times, too many Americans are struggling with unemployment or under-employment. Congress must take action and pass legislation that will help the millions of Americans who are struggling to find a job. Last week, President Obama unveiled the American Jobs Act—a comprehensive strategy to put Americans back to work and grow our economy. The American people are tired of waiting. The American Jobs Act offers a clear path forward that we should act upon immediately.
Working to Make College More Affordable
As millions of Americans have started or returned to college it's important to look at the rising cost of tuition. While the price of a higher education continues to increase, so too does the demand for highly skilled workers. For the United States to once again lead the world with its college graduation rate, resources must be made available to make higher education more accessible and affordable for American families. Below are just a few ways my Democratic colleagues and I have sought to expand college opportunities for working- and middle-class Americans:
- Increasing the maximum Pell Grant award available to high school graduates by more than 37 percent.
- Making student loan repayments more affordable by capping federal student loans at 15 percent of their discretionary income and forgiving remaining balances after 25 years of repayment.
- Rewarding public service by forgiving loan balances of individuals who work in public service or nonprofits for at least 10 years.
Thank you for reading the Carson Courier. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and concerns. For more information, visit my website at https://www.carson.house.gov, my Congressional Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CongressmanAndreCarson and follow me on Twitter @RepAndreCarson. I value your views and your input, which help me better represent the people of Indiana's 7th District.