"I am extremely pleased that full enrollment growth funding for community colleges in included in the budget approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today. This funding meets a critical need for our community colleges if we are to be successful in playing a major role in the economic recovery of North Carolina. Without this funding our community colleges would be unable to provide the retraining so essential for thousands of unemployed workers who turn to the Community College System in their time of need.

"Our community colleges are already serving an unprecedented number of students and this funding is payment for those students served. It is also imperative that our community colleges receive payment for the more than 800,000 students taught this year because that growth will be sustained next year.

"I am pleased to know that the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee fully understand the importance of the North Carolina Community College System and we are thrilled to have their support.

"We urge full Senate approval of this budget. We hope that the House will accept and also approve this legislation."

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