[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 67 (Friday, April 29, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         LEGACY OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 29, 2016

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities created and fostered a generation of African American 
leaders who would have otherwise been denied an education due to 
segregation. The legacy and impact of HBCUs are far-reaching and 
especially worthy of praise and appreciation. Today, with more than 100 
institutions across the nation, HBCUs still play a vital role in 
educating our youth, nurturing leaders and producing great innovators.
   My district, the 7th Congressional District, is home to some of the 
most prominent HBCUs in the country, and I am very proud to represent 
those universities in the United States Congress through my work on the 
Bipartisan HBCU Caucus.
   Education is the great equalizer that levels the playing field and 
can help break the cycle of poverty that affects families across the 
7th Congressional District, the state of Alabama, and this nation.
   Young people from every background and every walk of life deserve 
the right to reach their full potential.
   As the daughter of two educators, I know firsthand the difference a 
strong education can make in achieving the American dream, regardless 
of race, gender or socioeconomic background.
   HBCUs play a critically important role in educating our youth to 
prepare them in the areas of agriculture, science and cutting edge 
technology. In the State of Alabama alone, we have several HBCU 
institutions: From Alabama A&M, where students are working with 
government agencies to develop new technology to make our country 
safer. To Tuskegee University, where students are working with local 
communities and farmers to increase crop production and efficiencies. 
To Alabama State, where students are being trained as world class 
teachers equipped to educate our youth all across America.
   Miles College, a science, technology, engineering and mathematics 
(STEM) institution located in Fairfield, is an outstanding HBCU that 
also offers quality educational options to traditional students, those 
going back to college, and law students.
   These are just a few examples of the critical work that is being 
done at HBCUs in Alabama. And I must say I am quite proud of all of the 
work that our HBCUs do on a daily basis. The numbers speak for 
themselves when it comes to the value of what is produced by HBCUs:
   22 percent of Black students who earn a bachelor's degree do so from 
an HBCU.
   Among Blacks, 40 percent of Members of Congress graduated from an 
HBCU, 12.5 percent of CEOs, 40 percent of engineers, 50 percent of 
professors at non-HBCUs, 50 percent of lawyers, and 80 percent of 
judges.
   HBCUs are still needed in this country and should be recognized and 
respected for their unique contributions to its students and society as 
a whole.
   As we move forward in Congress, I remain committed to working with 
my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and HBCUs from my 
district and across this country as we fight to promote the value and 
legacy of HBCUs.

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