[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 2, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H4412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PROTECTING THE NATION'S HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we just finished looking at 
two very important legislative initiatives by the Democratic leadership 
and as well a bipartisan effort dealing with issues like Head Start and 
the National Science Foundation.
  As you look at the question of education, I rise today to talk of the 
plight of historically black colleges in America. It is important that 
we recognize that America's competitive edge will be based upon the 
opportunities for all Americans.
  I am disappointed in the U.S. Department of Education's failure to 
fully enforce the 1964 Civil Rights Act, title VI, and one of the 
victims of that failure of enforcement are schools in Texas, Texas 
Southern University and Prairie View A&M. It has now become a national 
issue, an issue of importance to America because we are falling behind.
  That is why the National Science Foundation legislation was 
important, but it is now also important for the U.S. Department of 
Education to wake up and do its job in protecting the Nation's 
historically black colleges.

                          ____________________