TALLAHASSEE, FL — FWD.us Florida State Director Ted Hutchinson released the following statement today on HB 457 and SB 1234, which make state financial aid and the doors of our universities available to students that we have invested in all their lives. This is a common sense policy initiative that should receive bipartisan support:

“The introduction of these bills by Senator Taddeo (D-Miami), State Representative Driskell (D-Tampa) and State Representative Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) is welcome news for thousands of hardworking young Floridians. These bills build on the progress that the Florida legislature made in 2014 by making in-state tuition rates available to all Florida residents. We are grateful to lawmakers in the state legislature for their leadership on a commonsense policy that will make the dream of higher education a reality for even more young people, while growing Florida’s economy and creating more jobs.

“Florida already invests nearly $9,000 per student every year in K-12 education, and we should be taking advantage of our educational investment by making it easier for all Florida residents – regardless of their immigration status – to access higher education. Expanding educational opportunities increases the talent pipeline for our workforce, boosting innovation and growth, and helps keep talented Floridians here in our state.

“We urge the Florida House and Senate to pass these bills without delay because educating the next generation of Floridians is good for hardworking young people and their families, and good for Florida’s economy.”