[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 67 (Friday, April 29, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN RECOGNITION OF THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE HBCU CAUCUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 29, 2016

  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor to speak in 
recognition of the one-year anniversary of the Bipartisan HBCU caucus 
and highlight the great impact of Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities.
  HBCUs continue to stand as a bastion of learning and advancement for 
so many students of color. About 20 percent of African American 
students earning their bachelor's degrees do so from HBCUs.
  HBCUs serve a disproportionate number of low-income, first-generation 
students. More than 75 percent of HBCUs students rely on Pell Grants 
and almost 13 percent of students rely on PLUS loans. It is clear that, 
for many students who would otherwise find higher education out of 
reach, HBCUs provide a strong pathway to success. HBCUs also provide a 
strong value to students and their families, allowing for a small-
college experience with lower tuition and fees than comparable 
institutions.
  This includes schools like Florida Memorial University, located in 
Florida's 24th district. Florida Memorial has the distinction of being 
the only historically black university in southern Florida and one of 
the oldest academic institutions in the entire state of Florida. Under 
the leadership of Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, Florida Memorial continues to 
provide students with the quality education, leadership skills, and 
heart for service they need to become strong global citizens in our 
changing world.
  As a proud graduate of an HBCU, I am proud to work with my colleagues 
to advance policies that benefit HBCUs. I want to thank Congresswoman 
Alma Adams of North Carolina and Congressman Bradley Byrne of Alabama 
for their strong leadership on this bipartisan caucus over the past 
year. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues for the 
betterment of HBCUs in Florida and across the country.

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