[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S10356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REINSTATEMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE'S ORIGINAL 1980 LAND-GRANT 
                                 STATUS

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, West Virginia State College in Institute, 
West Virginia, was designated by Congress as one of the original 1890 
land-grant schools under the Second Morrill Act. The college was the 
first 1890 land-grant school to be accredited and has been accredited 
longer than any other public college or university in West Virginia.
  West Virginia was one of six states to establish a new land-grant 
college under state control. West Virginia State College faithfully met 
its duties to the citizens of West Virginia as a land-grant college in 
an outstanding manner.
  However, on October 23, 1956, the State Board of Education voted to 
surrender the land-grant status of State College (effective July 1, 
1957). Historical data suggests that this action was taken in an effort 
to enhance State College's ability to accommodate veterans returning 
home with GI benefits. In addition, the decision to surrender the land-
grant status preceded explicit funding by Congress for land-grant 
institutions.
  For thirty-three years, West Virginia State College has sought to 
regain its land-grant status. On February 12, 1991, Governor Gaston 
Caperton signed a bill into law that provided redesignation authority 
for land-grant status from the State of West Virginia. On March 28, 
1994, then U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy informed 
West Virginia Governor Caperton that State College would receive a 
partial land-grant designation that would entitle the college to 
$50,000 annually under the Second Morrill Act.
  It has become clear that funding is the issue that must be addressed 
to reinstate West Virginia State College's land-grant status. I 
authored an amendment to the FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill 
that will provide $2 million in additional funds for 1890 Institution 
entitlements to be used for base line funding for West Virginia State 
College. This amendment does not grant full 1890 land-grant funding 
privileges to State College, but provides a $2 million entitlement. The 
amendment does not cut into the current 1890 entitlement accounts. It 
adds additional funding with an offset from the National Research 
Initiative account.
  My amendment provides fair treatment to West Virginia State College, 
an original 1890 land-grant school, and I thank my colleagues for 
supporting this provision.

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