[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 23, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONTINUED GRANT PARTICIPATION BY HISTORICALLY BLACK GRADUATE 
                          PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS

  The Clerk called the bill (H.R. 3055) to amend section 326 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 to permit continued participation by 
Historically Black Graduate Professional Schools in the grant program 
authorized by that section.
  The Clerk read the bill, as follows:

                               H.R. 3055

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) The Historically Black Graduate Professional Schools 
     identified under section 326 of the Higher Education Act may 
     receive grant funds if the Secretary of Education determines 
     that such institutions make a substantial contribution to the 
     legal, medical, dental, veterinary, or other graduate 
     opportunity for African Americans.
       (2) The health professions schools which participate under 
     section 326 train 50 percent of the Nation's African American 
     physicians, 50 percent of the Nation's African American 
     dentists, 50 percent of the Nation's African American 
     pharmacists, and 75 percent of the Nation's African American 
     veterinarians.
       (3) A majority of the graduates of these schools practice 
     in poor urban and rural areas of the country providing care 
     to many disadvantaged Americans.
       (4) The survival of these schools will contribute to the 
     improved health status of disadvantaged persons, and of all 
     Americans.

     SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF GRANT RENEWAL LIMITATION.

       Section 326(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 1063b(b)) is amended by striking the second sentence.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia [Mr. Norwood] and the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Clay] each 
will be recognized for 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Norwood].
  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me and my colleague from 
Missouri, Mr. Clay, to bring to the floor a small yet important bill. 
H.R. 3055 corrects a situation going on here in Washington that has a 
big effect on five historically black colleges and universities, 
including two major Georgia colleges that supply health care 
professionals to nearly every county in my district.
  Because of a technicality in the Higher Education Act of 1965, both 
Morehouse School of Medicine and Clark-Atlanta University could stand 
to lose their ability to compete for Federal education grants. Under 
that 1965 Act, grant eligibility is limited to two 5-year grants. These 
schools have received their two 5-year grants.
  This was originally done to make sure a small number of schools 
didn't monopolize the few grants that were available, but over the 
years that situation has proven not to be an issue. At present, the 
other 11 schools covered by the Act have said that they have no 
objection to Morehouse and Clark, as well as the other three schools, 
continuing to compete, yet this unnecessary rule still is on the books, 
which means both colleges will be shut out of the process starting next 
year unless we act now.
  H.R. 3055 will correct this situation. Here's why this is so 
important--the five schools who will lose grant eligibility under this 
rule provide more than half of the entire country's African-American 
physicians, pharmacists, and dentists, and three-quarters of all 
African-American veterinarians.
  For the most part, these health-care professionals practice in poor 
urban and rural areas, where they serve a large number of poor 
Americans regardless of their race. It would be inexcusable to allow 
these colleges' ability to put qualified health-care providers in the 
field to be compromised because of a rule that should no longer apply.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3055 contains no new spending, and does not 
increase the Federal deficit. H.R. 3055 contains no new Federal 
mandates. But what H.R. 3055 does contain is a small measure of help 
for those who would provide medical help to many in rural and poor 
areas. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3055.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I 
rise in support of H.R. 3055 and commend my colleague, Mr. Norwood, for 
cosponsoring this legislation. I am proud to note that this bill was 
favorably reported by the Committee on Economic and Educational 
Opportunities with unanimous, bipartisan support.
   Mr. Speaker, this bill corrects a problem with respect to section 
326 of title III of the Higher Education Act. That section was added to 
the act in 1986 as a way to provide support for historically black 
graduate and professional institutions of higher education which 
perform vitally important services for our Nation.
  As Mr. Norwood stated, the five schools initially included in section 
326 educate more than half of all black doctors, dentists, and 
pharmacists, as well as 75 percent of all black veterinarians each 
year. That is a major return on the small investment provided by the 
Federal Government.
  H.R. 3055 allows those five institutions to continue to do what they 
do so well. It will allow them to remain eligible to receive section 
326 support at no additional cost to the Federal Government.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan effort.
   Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the previous question 
is ordered.
  The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
  The question was taken; and (three-fifths having voted in favor 
thereof) the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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