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POMONA, CA— Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) recently announced more than $184.5 million in Department of Education funding that will benefit residents of California’s 35th Congressional District as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This includes more than $43.5 million going to institutions of higher learning within the district, and more than $140 million for the surrounding region that will benefit constituents who attend commuting schools.
Each institution is allowed to keep a portion of the money it receives to help cover financial losses suffered in the economic downturn, but at least half of all funds must be distributed to students in the form of emergency cash grants to help students pay for housing, food, and other basic essentials.
Rep. Torres is a leading voice in addressing student hunger and homelessness. In November 2019, she introduced the Basic Assistance for Students in College (BASIC) Act, which would provide $500 million in grants to ensure institutions of higher learning have the resources they need to support students’ day-to-day needs, and direct the federal government to streamline data sharing across agencies to help students who qualify for aid access it.
Rep. Torres released the following statement:
“The funding I’m announcing today will help Inland Empire students keep a roof over their head and food on the table throughout the economic downturn – it will also ensure they have a school to return to when the pandemic is over,” Rep. Torres said. “This is urgently needed relief for our young people, and stabilizing support for our region as a whole. As Congress continues to negotiate the next round of COVID-19 emergency relief, Inland Empire residents can rest assured that my singular focus is to bring as many of these vital dollars to our community as possible.”
Funding distribution within California’s 35th Congressional District:
| School | Total Allocation | Minimum Allocation to be Awarded for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students |
| California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | $30,904,089 | $15,452,045 |
| Pomona Adult School | $245,993 | $122,997 |
| Chaffey Community College | $11,446,484 | $5,723,242 |
| Western University Of Health Sciences | $1,105,699 | $552,850 |
| Total: | $43,702,265 | $21,851,134 |
Funding distribution in surrounding region:
| School | Total Allocation | Minimum Allocation to be Awarded for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students |
| Mount San Antonio College | $17,457,959 | $8,728,980 |
| San Bernardino Valley College | $6,732,563 | $3,366,282 |
| California State University, San Bernardino | $26,243,781 | $13,121,891 |
| University Of La Verne | $5,658,977 | $2,829,489 |
| University Of California, Riverside | $29,734,626 | $14,867,313 |
| Fullerton College | $9,700,734 | $4,850,367 |
| California State University, Fullerton | $41,021,512 | $20,510,756 |
| Harvey Mudd College | $516,332 | $258,166 |
| Pomona College | $1,285,644 | $642,822 |
| Claremont Graduate University | $295,107 | $147,554 |
| Claremont Mckenna College | $855,579 | $427,790 |
| Pitzer College | $625,861 | $312,931 |
| Scripps College | $546,083 | $273,042 |
| Keck Graduate Institute Of Applied Life Sciences | $189,117 | $94,559 |
| Total: | $140,863,875 | $70,431,942 |
