[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 156 (Friday, October 31, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13714-S13715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SESSIONS (for himself, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Lott, Mr. Shelby, 
        Mr. Cochran, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Inhofe, and Mrs. 
        Hutchison):
  S. 1808. A bill to provide for the preservation and restoration of 
historic buildings at historically women's public colleges and 
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 seven historic women's colleges and 
universities. The legislation would authorize the Secretary of Housing 
and Urban Development to provide restoration and preservation grants 
for historic buildings and structures at seven historically women's 
public colleges or universities. The bill directs the Secretary to 
award $14 million annually from fiscal years 2004 through 2008 to the 
seven institutions.
   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 1884, seven institutions in seven separate 
States were established as industrial schools for women. These 
institutions include the Mississippi University for Women, the 
University of Montevallo in Alabama, Georgia College and State 
University, 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 seven 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 I have identified. No more than $14 million would be 
available and would be distributed in equal amounts to the seven 
institutions. My bill also requires a 20 percent matching contribution 
from non-Federal sources and assures that alterations to the properties 
using the funds

[[Page S13715]]

are subject to approval from the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development 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, many of whom would not have had the 
opportunity otherwise. 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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