[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 149 (Thursday, November 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S11369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SESSIONS (for himself, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Edwards, Mr. 
        Shelby, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Lott, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Cochran, Mr. 
        Helms, and Mr. Inhofe):
  S. 1614. A bill to provide for the preservation and restoration of 
historic buildings at historically women's public colleges or 
universities; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, today I rise to re-introduce legislation 
to help preserve the heritage of eight historic women's colleges and 
universities. The legislation would authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to provide restoration and preservation grants for historic 
buildings and structures at eight historically women's colleges or 
universities. The bill directs the Secretary to award $16 million 
annually from fiscal years 2002 through 2006 to the eight institutions. 
Funds would be awarded from the National Historic Preservation Fund and 
are subject to a 50 percent matching requirement from non-federal 
sources.
  The sweeping changes of the industrial revolution prompted Congress 
in 1862, with further action in 1887 and 1890, to provide Federal 
support for the establishment of agricultural and mechanical colleges 
with growing emphasis on industrial and technical education. 
Unfortunately, these ``land-grant'' schools were only for men, leaving 
women untrained as they entered the expanded work force. Women's 
advocates, such as Miss Julia Tutwiler in Alabama, immediately 
recognized the need for institutions where women could receive an equal 
education. Beginning in 1836, eight institutions in seven separate 
States were established as industrial schools for women. These 
institutions include the Mississippi University for Women, in Alabama 
the University of Montevallo, Georgia College and State University, 
Wesleyan College also in Georgia, Winthrop University in South 
Carolina, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Texas Women's 
University, and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. These 
eight institutions remain open, providing a liberal arts education for 
both men and women, but retain significant historical and academic 
features of those pioneering efforts to educate women. Despite their 
continued use, many of the structures located on these campuses are 
facing destruction or closure because preservation funds are not 
available. My legislation would enable these buildings to be preserved 
and maintained by providing funding for the historic buildings located 
at the colleges and universities that I have identified. Funding would 
originate from the National Historic Preservation Fund. No more than 
$16 million would be available and would be distributed in equal 
amounts to the eight institutions. My bill also provides that a 50 
percent matching contribution from non-federal sources and assures that 
alterations in properties using the funds are subject to approval from 
the Secretary of the Interior and reasonable public access for 
interpretive and educational purposes.
  These historically women's colleges and universities have contributed 
significantly to the effort to attain equal opportunity through 
postsecondary education for women, low income individuals, and 
educationally disadvantaged Americans. I believe it is our duty to do 
all we can to preserve these historic institutions and I ask my 
colleagues for their support.
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