Rep. Ritchie Torres Joins Hostos Community College to Announce $700,000 in Federal Funding for Library Renovations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) joined leaders and students from Hostos Community College to announce $700,000 in federal funding Rep. Torres’ secured to renovate the college’s library, a central academic and community space serving more than 6,000 students.

The investment will support upgrades to the library’s infrastructure and study spaces so students have a modern, reliable place to learn and complete their work. The renovation will expand access to updated technology and improve the overall learning environment, ensuring students have the tools they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. The library serves as a daily resource for thousands of students, and these improvements will help it better meet the demands of a growing campus.

The funding was secured through the Community Project Funding process, which allows local institutions to receive direct federal investment for projects that expand access to education and opportunity. This funding reflects Rep. Torres’s continued focus on strengthening public higher education and delivering resources that directly benefit Bronx students and their families.

Celebrating the announcement, Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis said: 

“The 19^th century abolitionist and clergyman Henry Ward Beecher once observed: ‘A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.’

“Beecher’s observation still holds true. Libraries offer access to all that the human mind and spirit have created over thousands of years. They are quiet places for study and reflection, and a portal to the cyber world. They play an essential role in the full and free dissemination of knowledge. And they do this without cost, as a contribution to the common good.

“But, whether it’s providing a researcher with an 18^th century volume of poetry or purchasing the newest equipment for a speedier internet connection, library services do come at a cost – often a quite substantial one. In academia, adapting to a changing educational landscape and updating existing systems can be expensive.

“This is where the passionate advocacy of someone like Congressman Ritchie Torres is crucial. He knows the importance of the Hostos mission, and he knows that an up-to-date, top-of-the-line library is a vital part of fulfilling that mission. And so, Congressman Torres has secured $700,000 in community funding to furnish our students with the kind of library services required today to pursue their studies and transform their lives.

“This is the not the first time his efforts on our behalf have borne magnificent fruit. Congressman Torres is a long-standing supporter of the College. It is, however, one of the most substantial, and its positive impact will be felt for many years to come. We are grateful to him for his belief in Hostos and in the South Bronx. Thanks to all he has done for the College, we are able to better achieve our goal: helping our students achieve theirs.”