ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Monday, calling for nearly $90 million in funding for the school's National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID).

"I've written to the appropriations committee asking them to meet NTID's full request of $89.7 million for the funding of fiscal year 2020 - 2022," Gillibrand said. "That funding will help NTID expand the reach of existing programs and start new ones, creating more opportunities that help deaf and hard-of-hearing students prepare for the careers of today and tomorrow."

This would be an $8.2 million funding increase, going toward ensuring deaf and hard-of-hearing students from around the country will have the resources needed to advance their careers. 

"All of us at RIT, and especially those at our National Technical Institute for the Deaf, thank Senator Gillibrand for taking the time to visit our campus today,” RIT President David Munson said in a statement. “Senator Gillibrand’s steadfast support of NTID’s mission to educate, train and employ our deaf and hard-of-hearing community members is greatly appreciated. Funding from our federal government partners helps this gem on our campus shine and provides superior opportunities for our deaf and hard-of-hearing students, faculty, and staff that are simply unmatched. We are all fortunate to be able to benefit from this unique educational and experiential enterprise that enriches our campus community.”

NTID was created in 1965 and is the first and largest technological college in the world for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.