Assembly Higher Education Committee

DIEGNAN: HIGHER ED COMMITTEE WILL HOLD HEARINGS ON SCI REPORT

(TRENTON) - Assembly Higher Education Committee Chairman Patrick Diegnan, Jr., today issued the following statement in response the State Commission of Investigation report that found the state's system of colleges and universities "vulnerable to waste, abuse and violations of the public trust:"

DIEGNAN: CAMPUS SECURITY TO BE FOCUS
OF MAY 10 HIGHER ED COMMITTEE MEETING
Panel to Examine Safety Issues, Emergency Procedures
In Wake of Virginia Tech Shooting Rampage

(TRENTON) - Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan, chairman of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, today announced that the panel's May 10 hearing will focus exclusively on the issue of security and emergency preparedness at New Jersey's college and university campuses.

REPUBLICANS REPEAT CALL FOR
PUBLIC HEARING ON UMDNJ REFORMS
SAY UMDNJ'S INTERIM PRESIDENT HAS AGREED
TO PARTICIPATE IN MEETING

ASSEMBLY PASSES MEASURE TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS
FOR KIN OF RESPONDERS WHO DIE FROM 9/11-RELATED ILLNESSES

(TRENTON) - The General Assembly today passed legislation Assembly members Pamela R. Lampitt, Fred Scalera, Mike Panter, and Patrick J. Diegnan sponsored to provide college scholarships to surviving family members of New Jerseyans who die from illnesses caused by exposure to the 9/11 terrorist attack sites.

Ginty Pledges Support for "Border Security First"
As Senate Rejects Vital Amendment to
"Immigration Reform" Bill

Isakson Amendment is Voted Down
By Menendez, Most Democrats and Liberal Republicans

Bill Favored by Bush and Kean Allows
200 Million to enter USA
Over the Next 20 Years

BECK AND MERKT REQUEST PUBLIC HEARING
ON UMDNJ REFORMS
WANT REASSURANCE THAT TAX DOLLARS WILL NOT BE WASTED

Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck and Assemblyman Richard Merkt today expressed their frustration with the lack of action by the Assembly Higher Education Committee on the growing University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) scandal. The legislators noted that the Republican members of the committee have already sent two written requests to Chairman Patrick Diegnan calling for a public hearing on the matter.

MERKT: BAR ILLEGAL ALIENS FROM NEW JERSEY CAMPUSES!

- BILL WOULD REQUIRE COLLEGES TO VERIFY STUDENTS' STATUS -

Assemblymen Richard A. Merkt (R. - Morris) today announced plans to introduce legislation in the Assembly to prohibit New Jersey colleges and universities from admitting or enrolling illegal aliens as students.

"Both American citizens and lawful immigrants who hope to attend college here in New Jersey are being denied this opportunity and displaced by students who are in this country illegally," declared Merkt, adding, "This situation is neither acceptable nor fair to those who obey our laws and follow the rules."

Merkt's draft legislation would require New Jersey colleges and universities to verify that those they admit as students are American citizens or foreign nationals who are present in the United States legally.

"College admissions officials can readily determine an applicant's status simply by requiring submission of appropriate documents as part of the application process," noted Merkt.

The draft legislation includes stiff and progressive monetary penalties for any institution of higher learning that disregards the prohibition on admitting illegal aliens, including personal fines against the school's chief executive officer.

"No college or university in New Jersey should be allowed to accept as a student someone whose presence here breaks our nation's laws," asserted Merkt. "If they do, the person in charge should be held personally accountable for the violation."

Merkt pointed out that permitting illegal aliens to attend a college or university in New Jersey not only denies opportunity to citizens and lawful immigrants, but also undermines the rule of law in America.

"What kind of message does it send when those in charge of our institutions of higher education abet lawbreakers," queried Merkt, continuing, "This obviously goes double for public colleges and universities that depend on taxpayer dollars to support them."

Merkt warned that New Jersey must guard against perverse incentives that reward those who flout the law, while punishing others who play by the rules.

"One can certainly sympathize with the desire of illegal foreign nationals to come here to join in the American Dream," said Merkt. "Nonetheless, we must take care that our institutions of higher education not encourage people to violate our laws, nor assist them at the cost of denying fair treatment to our own students and invited guests from other lands."

Merkt serves on the Assembly Higher Education Committee and is in his fifth term as a member of the Assembly.

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