Expressing the sense of Congress that August 30, 2025, be observed as the 135th anniversary of the 1890 Institutions.

Expressing the sense of Congress that August 30, 2025, be observed as the 135th anniversary of the 1890 Institutions.

Whereas former Senator Justin Morrill helped lead the passage of the Second Morrill Act of 1890 on August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), to establish and support land-grant institutions for African Americans to attend;

Whereas the mission of the 1890 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)) is educational instruction, agricultural research, and statewide extension efforts;

Whereas the universities that were founded and form the 1890 Institutions include—

(1) Lincoln University, in Missouri, in 1866;

(2) Alcorn State University, in Mississippi, in 1871;

(3) The University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, in Arkansas, in 1873;

(4) Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, in Alabama, in 1875;

(5) Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University, in Texas, in 1876;

(6) Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, in Louisiana, in 1880;

(7) Tuskegee University, in Alabama, in 1881;

(8) Virginia State University, in Virginia, in 1882;

(9) Kentucky State University, in Kentucky, in 1886;

(10) The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, in Maryland, in 1886;

(11) Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, in Florida, in 1887;

(12) Central State University, in Ohio, in 1887;

(13) Delaware State University, in Delaware, in 1891;

(14) North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, in North Carolina, in 1891;

(15) West Virginia State University, in West Virginia, in 1891;

(16) Fort Valley State University, in Georgia, in 1895;

(17) South Carolina State University, in South Carolina, in 1896;

(18) Langston University, in Oklahoma, in 1897; and

(19) Tennessee State University, in Tennessee, in 1912;

Whereas the Council of 1890 Universities is comprised of the 19 presidents and chancellors of such universities and provides leadership to advance the interests of the 1890 Institutions;

Whereas, collectively, such universities have over 88,000 undergraduate and graduate students in disciplines including—

(1) agriculture and related sciences;

(2) computer and information sciences;

(3) biological and biomedical sciences;

(4) physical and social sciences;

(5) the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) areas; and

(6) other majors and degrees;

Whereas the Association of 1890 Research Directors helps lead research activities at the 1890 Institutions, and the Association of Extension Administrators serves the extension needs of individuals, families, and communities;

Whereas the 1890 Universities Foundation was established in December 2016 to help facilitate strategic initiatives across the 1890 Institutions;

Whereas, in successive farm bills, including the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–334), Congress made new Federal investments in the 1890 Institutions, such as—

(1) the program providing scholarships for students at 1890 Institutions under section 1446 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222a);

(2) the recognition of at least 3 centers of excellence at 1890 Institutions under section 1673(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926(d)); and

(3) allowing for the carryover of funds for extension at 1890 Institutions under section 7114 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–334);

Whereas, in the ongoing Federal-State partnership to provide support for the 19 historically Black 1890 Institutions, sections 1444 and 1445 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221, 3222), the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), and the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.) require the States to fully match the Federal funding provided under such provisions of law;

Whereas in Executive Order 14283 (90 Fed. Reg. 17543; relating to the White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities), section 3(b)(ii)(C) of such Executive order encourages fostering private-sector initiatives and philanthropic partnerships to promote centers of academic research and program excellence at historically Black colleges and universities, and section 3(b)(ii)(H) of such Executive order encourages States to provide the required State matching funds for 1890 Institutions;

Whereas Congress has provided significant Federal funding and resources to support and supplement agricultural research, education, extension, farmer and rancher assistance, and facility improvements, as well as scholarships and programs that provide internships and pathways to agricultural sector or Federal employment for 1890 Institutions;

Whereas, in 2025, Congress provided $60,000,000 in scholarship support for students at 1890 Institutions;

Whereas the Department of Agriculture has worked collaboratively with the 1890 Institutions through the USDA–1890 Task Force established in 1988, enabling such Institutions to work across the Department of Agriculture, and through a June 2022 memorandum of understanding, has reaffirmed and strengthened the ongoing relationship between the 1890 Institutions community and the Department of Agriculture; and

Whereas the Department of Agriculture, in partnership with Congress, has worked with 1890 Institutions and other organizations to ensure that disadvantaged farmers and ranchers receive the assistance they need to better serve their communities: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That Congress—

(1) recognizes the 135 years of significant and meaningful contributions the 1890 Institutions have made to the United States;

(2) encourages that the 135th anniversary of the 1890 Institutions should be observed with Federal and State ceremonies and other appropriate events around the country;

(3) celebrates the collaborative work the 19 historically Black 1890 Institutions have undertaken to address the agricultural research and extension needs of the country;

(4) supports the efforts of the Department of Agriculture and other Federal agencies to build stronger partnerships with the 1890 Institutions;

(5) encourages the creation of task forces similar to the USDA–1890 Task Force across other Federal agencies; and

(6) commits to working in a bipartisan way to address the past funding and program inequities of the 1890 Institutions.