[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               HBCU WEEK

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                               speech of

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2006

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in strong 
support of the outstanding contributions that our nation's Historically 
Black Colleges and Universities have given us over the years.
  There are four HBCU's in the state of Florida: Florida Memorial in 
Miami, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in 
Tallahassee, my alma mater, and Edward College in my district in 
Jacksonville, and Bethune Cookman, a great institution in Daytona 
Beach, a school I work very closely with.
  The importance and outstanding work HBCU's do around the country is 
most noteworthy. In addition to educating African American students 
nationwide, they provide resources for our communities, such as 
mentoring and tutoring programs for our youth.
  Around the country, HBCU's enroll 14 percent of all African American 
students in higher education, even though they make up just 3 percent 
of our nation's 4,000 institutions of higher education. HBCU's have 
awarded masters degrees and first-professional degrees to about 1 in 6 
African American men and women, and awarded 24 percent of all 
baccalaureate degrees earned by African Americans nationwide.
  I would also like to add that my Alma Mater, Florida A&M University, 
currently tops the list for black students and was recognized in this 
month's edition of Black Enterprise Magazine for being the #1 
university in the country for black students. It is also the #1 
producer of blacks earning bachelors degrees in the United States!
  FAMU alone has produced many of society's leaders in various fields, 
including myself, Alcee Hastings, Kendrick Meek, other Members of 
Congress past and present, the current mayor of Detroit, Kwame 
Kilpatrick, tennis great Althea Gibson, and football legend Bullet Bob 
Hayes. Most recently, FAMU has produced young leaders such as Mr. 
Andrew Gillum, the youngest City Councilman ever to be elected in 
Tallahassee, Florida, Miss Black Universe 2006, Ms. Kimberlee Borland, 
and an emerging leader on my staff, Mr. Joseph Bastian.
  As you can see, Historically Black Colleges and Universities are a 
staple in our community and are vital to the success of the students 
striving to achieve the American dream. These colleges and universities 
are preparing a new generation of leaders, business people, teachers, 
entrepreneurs and scholars. I urge your continued support of these 
historic institutions as we recognize them and spotlight their 
achievements.




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