[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 156 (Thursday, September 26, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5731-S5733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               FUTURE Act

  Mr. President, earlier today on this Senate floor, our colleague, the 
junior Senator from Alabama, Mr. Jones, asked unanimous consent for the 
immediate passage of the FUTURE Act.
  The FUTURE Act is an important bill that is essential to the success 
of minority-serving colleges and universities across the country, 
including historically Black colleges and universities.
  The House bill passed within the last couple weeks. The bill number 
is H.R. 2486, and it is at the Senate desk, meaning we could take it up 
and pass it at any moment if the leader would simply allow us to vote 
on that measure. What it does is it extends an existing mandatory 
funding program that provides essential resources to these 
underresourced schools.
  We, as the Congress, the Senate and House, Republicans and Democrats, 
recognize on a bipartisan basis the value of these institutions of 
higher learning and the importance of this mandatory funding because we 
enacted this program a number of years ago on a bipartisan basis. The 
goal was to make sure that we provided additional resources for 
academic pursuits, to improve management, and to ensure that they had 
the resources for high-demand areas of study in the areas of science, 
technology, engineering, and math--the STEM disciplines.
  In my State of Maryland, we have four terrific HBCUs: Morgan State, 
Bowie State, Coppin State, and the University of Maryland Eastern 
Shore. We also have a number of other schools with a high number of 
students receiving need-based aid, like Allegany College in Western 
Maryland and the College of Southern Maryland. All of these colleges 
and universities need the resources that are provided through the 
FUTURE Act.
  It not only has a bipartisan heritage, but right now in the Senate, 
it has a bipartisan cosponsorship. In fact, Senator Scott is the lead 
Republican on this bill. It passed the House of Representatives 
unanimously on a voice vote.
  The reason I am on the floor now and the reason the Senator from 
Alabama, Senator Jones, asked for unanimous consent to take this up and 
vote on it earlier today is because the current mandatory program 
expires on Monday. It expires at the end of this month. There is no 
reason for delaying action. It is possible that we can buy ourselves a 
little bit more time with respect to the funding, but there is no 
reason that we should put this important program at risk.
  I have a number of letters. In fact, I have 43 letters from 34 
schools and advocacy organizations supporting this bill. I ask 
unanimous consent to have some of them printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

         National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher 
           Education,
                                                September 1, 2019.
     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Chuck Schumer,
     Minority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer: In less than two 
     weeks, congressional authority and vitally needed funding for 
     Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), 
     Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Tribal Colleges and 
     Universities (TCUs) Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs), 
     Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-serving 
     Institutions (AANAPISIs), will end, unless Congress acts by 
     September 30, 2019, to extend the authority and funding. 
     Yesterday, the United States House of Representatives moved 
     the Nation toward extending the funding for another two 
     years, when it voted with bipartisan support, to pass the 
     Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for 
     Education (FUTURE) Act, a bipartisan measure to preserve 
     funding for the referenced quintessential American equal 
     educational opportunity institutions.
       I am writing as President & CEO of the National 
     Associational for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education 
     (NAFEO). I am writing to respectfully request and urge that 
     you schedule for a vote the Senate companion of the House-
     passed FUTURE Act, introduced by Senators Tim Scott (SC) and 
     Doug Jones (AL), and that you support this measure that has 
     made critical investments in HBCUs and MSIs, enabling them to 
     graduate more excellent and diverse students, 
     disproportionate low-income, first generation and under-
     represented minority students, in growth and high need 
     disciplines. With your support the Senate FUTURE Act will 
     pass.
       The FUTURE Act will be wholly paid for. It preserves and 
     extends vital investments in institutions that collectively 
     enroll more than 4.8 million undergraduate students in the 
     U.S.--one-quarter of all students--and represent over 800 
     richly diverse American universities: 106 Historically Black 
     Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), 50 Predominantly Black 
     Institutions (PBIs); 523 Hispanic-Serving Institutions 
     (HSIs), 37 Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and over 
     200 Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-
     Serving Institutions (AANAPISls), including Kentucky State 
     University, and CUNY Medgar Evers College, CUNY York College, 
     CUNY LaGuardia, CUNY New York City College of Technology, 
     Metropolitan College of New York, and Long Island University-
     Brooklyn Campus.
       As you know, HBCUs, PBIs, HSIs, TCUs, and AANAPISIs are an 
     essential part of America's higher education system. For the 
     past decade, Title III, Part F has played a vital role in 
     strengthening their capacity and increasing credentialing and 
     degree attainment, including in important STEM fields. If 
     this critical funding stream is allowed to expire on 
     September 30, 2019, millions of students will be left behind, 
     in the margins of our nation, without the opportunity to earn 
     a college degree or credential. Please do not let this 
     happen. Title III, Part F is the lifeblood for these 
     institutions. The most certain way, the most effective and 
     efficient way of extending the only mandatory congressional 
     funding for HBCUs and MSIs, is to vote for the Senate 
     companion of the House-passed FUTURE Act, introduced by 
     Senators Scott (SC) and Jones (AL). Please lead the United 
     States Senate in making this happen.
           Sincerely,
                                                Lezli Baskerville,
     President & CEO.
                                  ____

         United Negro College Fund, Inc.,
                                               September 19, 2019.
     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Charles E. Schumer,
     Minority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Lamar Alexander,
     Chairman, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
         (HELP) Committee,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Patty Murray,
     Ranking Member, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
         (HELP) Committee,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, 
     Chairman Alexander, and Ranking Member Murray: UNCF (the 
     United Negro College Fund, Inc.) submits this letter urging 
     you to cosponsor, support, and pass the House-passed H.R. 
     2486, the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking 
     Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act. This bipartisan, 
     bicameral bill passed the House Floor on September 17th by 
     voice vote and has now been sent to the Senate for 
     consideration.
       UNCF is a non-profit organization with a mission to build a 
     robust and nationally recognized pipeline of underrepresented 
     students who, because of UNCF support, become highly-
     qualified college graduates and to ensure that our network of 
     37-member, private Historically Black Colleges and 
     Universities (HBCUs) is a respected model of best practice in 
     moving students to and through college.
       The 101 HBCUs that exist today are valuable institutions 
     with a large economic footprint. Despite only representing 3 
     percent of all two-and four-year non-profit colleges and 
     universities, HBCUs (1) enroll 10 percent of all African 
     American undergraduates; (2) produce 17 percent of all 
     African American college graduates with bachelor's degrees; 
     and (3) graduate 21 percent of all African Americans with 
     bachelor's degrees in STEM fields. Moreover, these 
     institutions have a strong economic impact, especially on the 
     regions in which they are located, by creating 134,090 jobs, 
     producing $10.1 billion in terms of gross regional product, 
     and having a total annual economic impact of $14.8 billion.
       Despite the large economic impact of these institutions, 
     they continue to be underresourced and have endowments that 
     lag behind those of non-HBCUs by at least 70 percent. 
     Unfortunately, this is common for HBCUs and Congress has 
     recognized this and sought out ways to find parity between 
     HBCUs and non-HBCUs. One strategic way in attempting to help 
     HBCUs receive adequate resources was initially through the 
     College Cost and Reduction Act of 2007. This bill allowed for 
     HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic-
     Serving Institutions (HSIs), and other Minority-Serving 
     Institutions (MSIs) to receive $255 million annually in 
     mandatory funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 and FY 2009. These 
     mandatory funds were directed in the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 to be used solely for science, technology, education, 
     and mathematics (STEM) education, among other uses largely 
     centered around STEM. Instead of allowing this funding stream 
     to expire, Congress continued to recognize the need of these 
     institutions to offer quality STEM programs on their campuses 
     and continued this funding stream in the Student Aid Fiscal 
     Responsibility Act (SAFRA) of 2009. SAFRA extended funding

[[Page S5732]]

     for these institutions from FY 2009 to FY 2019 at $255 
     million annually and was included in the Health Care 
     Reconciliation Act of 2010 that ultimately passed both the 
     House and Senate to became law. Every vote taken on the 
     mandatory funding stream for these institutions has been 
     bipartisan, and it is our desire to have the same outcome for 
     H.R. 2486.
       It is imperative that the Senate pass the FUTURE Act 
     because funding for HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and other MSIs expires 
     September 30, 2019. While we support a permanent extension of 
     mandatory funding, H.R. 2486, due to its passage in the House 
     of Representatives, is the surest way for these institutions 
     to maintain funding for FY 2020 and FY 2021. We strongly 
     believe that passing this bill now will address the immediate 
     funding needs of our institutions and allow Congress to 
     continue to work towards a permanent extension of this 
     funding moving forward.
       Should you have any additional questions regarding this 
     letter, please feel free to reach out to Emmanual Guillory, 
     Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs.
           Sincerely,
                                           Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D.
     President and CEO.
                                  ____



                                   Tennessee State University,

                                               September 25, 2019.
     Hon. Lamar Alexander,
     Chairman Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, 
         Member, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Alexander: I am writing to you in my official 
     capacity as President of Tennessee State University, and as a 
     member of the Board of Directors of the United Negro College 
     Fund (UNCF). I ask you to join in the effort calling for 
     unanimous consent to vote to pass the Scott-Jones FUTURE Act, 
     the Senate companion bill to the FUTURE Act that passed the 
     House last week by unanimous consent.
       I understand and appreciate the noteworthy components to 
     the bill you are proposing, however my request is for you to 
     consider the timing aspect which presents a challenge that 
     threatens the Title III F provision in the Higher Education 
     Act that will end on September 30th unless it is extended. 
     Again, I am appreciative of the various provisions that you 
     are proposing that will have a positive effect on HBCUs. In 
     fact, I am personally excited that you are advancing HEA 
     reauthorization as a priority, as well as broadening Pell 
     eligibility. Hopefully, that proposal will be debated shortly 
     after the immediate future of HBCUs and MSIs are secured.
       My primary issue at this point is the timing of your 
     legislation which could cause an inordinate delay that would 
     affect Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) 
     and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). I am quite 
     concerned that with only a few days remaining before Title 
     III F ends, the only way we can ensure passage of this FUTURE 
     Act is by a unanimous consent by the Senate.
       Based on your long, illustrious and rich record of service 
     to our state as Governor of the State of Tennessee, and to 
     the country as Secretary of the United States Department of 
     Education, I am sure you would agree that it is a priority to 
     continue the Title III F funding for HBCUs, thereby providing 
     much needed assistance to students around the country. Many 
     of this population are low-income, first-generation college 
     students, all with a strong desire to be successful in 
     college. If Title III F sunsets on September 30, 2019, it 
     will cause irreparable harm to the very students you 
     represent in our great State of Tennessee. I urge you to 
     support the FUTURE Act today and engage in further 
     discussions on other aspects of the legislation in the near 
     future.
       Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please 
     feel free to contact me.
           Sincerely,
                                        Dr. Glenda Glover, JD, CPA
     President.
                                  ____

                                  American Indian Higher Education


                                                   Consortium,

                                               September 19, 2019.
     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Chuck Schumer,
     Minority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Lamar Alexander,
     Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
         Pensions,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Patty Murray,
     Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
         and Pensions,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, 
     Chairman Alexander, and Ranking Member Murray: On behalf of 
     the nation's 37 Tribal Colleges and Universities, which are 
     the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), we 
     respectfully request that you to support swift Senate passage 
     of the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources 
     for Education (FUTURE) Act, H.R. 2486, as passed by the House 
     with strong bipartisan support, while working to secure a 
     permanent extension of Title III Part F of the Higher 
     Education Act 1965.
       Since FY2010, the Strengthening Institutions--Tribal 
     Colleges and Universities program (HEA Title III Part F) has 
     provided $30 million per year to help TCUs address the higher 
     education needs of American Indian and Alaska Native 
     students, TCUs use this funding for vitally needed student 
     support services, faculty development, curriculum and program 
     development to strengthen tribal nations, library services, 
     facility modernization and construction and other important 
     education activities. Without these funds, TCUs will be 
     forced to reduce services, jeopardizing student completion 
     and success, and some of our smaller institutions may face 
     closure.
       Tribal Colleges and Universities truly are developing 
     institutions--the oldest TCU recently reached its 50th year; 
     we are located in some of the most rural, remote, and 
     economically challenged regions of the country; we are 
     severely under-resourced; and yet, we are committed to 
     affordable, high quality, place-based and culturally grounded 
     higher education. Our ability to achieve our collective 
     vision--strong sovereign Tribal nations through excellence in 
     Tribal higher education--would be impossible without the 
     Title III Part F program.
       We have always supported and worked for permanent 
     reauthorization of the Title III Part F program for Tribal 
     Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and 
     Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and other 
     minority serving institutions. We are not wavering from this 
     critical goal. However, the House-passed FUTURE Act, H.R. 
     2486, is the best path forward at this time. Indeed, the 
     House-passed FUTURE Act is the only tangible strategy before 
     us, and time is running out.
       Thank you for your attention to this request and for your 
     support of our institutions and the students we serve.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Carrie L. Billy,
                                                  President & CEO.
                                            David E. Yarlott, Jr.,
     Chair, AIHEC Board of Directors.
                                  ____



                               Thurgood Marshall College Fund,

                                               September 18, 2019.
     RE: Title III Part-F Funding to HBCUs and MSIs

     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate.
     Hon. Chuck Schumer,
     Minority Leader, U.S. Senate.
     Hon. Lamar Alexander,
     Chair, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and 
         Pensions.
     Hon. Patty Murray,
     Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education 
         Labor and Pensions.
       Dear Senators:
       The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is incredibly 
     pleased and grateful that the Title III, Part F funding that 
     is currently slated to expire on September 30th has garnered 
     considerable interest from and corresponding action this week 
     in Congress. As you may be aware, his critical stream of 
     funding helps eligible colleges and universities enhance 
     their fiscal stability, improve their institutional 
     management, and strengthen their academic programming, 
     including, in particular, programming focused on high-demand 
     careers, like careers in STEM fields.
       As you may know, on Tuesday, September 17th, the House of 
     Representatives passed the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by 
     Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act by voice vote. 
     If passed by both houses of Congress and signed into law by 
     President Trump, the FUTURE Act will renew Title III, Part F 
     (a/k/a SAFRA) funding for an additional two years, and 
     thereby preserving critical funds upon which our HBCUs and 
     other MSIs rely to improve the lives of our students.
       TMCF strongly encourages the Senate to take-up the FUTURE 
     Act immediately and pass the bill before the opportunity 
     slips away. While we appreciate the prospects of a longer-
     term or ``permanent'' solution to Title III, Part F, we are 
     skeptical that such a proposal would receive the requisite 
     approval by Congress before September 30th. Therefore, it is 
     imperative that the Senate to act with all deliberate speed 
     on the bi-partisan and bi-cameral FUTURE Act. Following the 
     Senate's passage of FUTURE Act, TMCF is willing to work with 
     leaders on both sides of the aisle to develop a longer-term 
     solution for Title III, Part F and for other HEA-related 
     issues.
       We greatly appreciate your attention to this matter, and 
     thank you for your historic and, we anticipate, continued 
     commitment to our Nation's HBCUs, other MSIs and our 
     students.
           Sincerely,
                                            Dr. Harry L. Williams,
                                                  President & CEO.

[[Page S5733]]

     
                                  ____
                                  Hispanic Association of Colleges


                                             and Universities,

                                               September 19, 2019.
     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate.
     Hon. Lamar Alexander,
     Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and 
         Pensions.
     Hon. Charles Schumer,
     Minority Leader, U.S. Senate.
     Hon. Patty Murray,
     Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
         and Pensions.
       Dear Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Chairman Alexander, 
     and Ranking Member Murray: In just 10 days, on September 30, 
     2019, Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     will expire unless the Senate acts before then to extend it. 
     I strongly urge you and your Senate colleagues to act swiftly 
     in passing the FUTURE Act (H.R. 2486), which was passed by 
     the House two days ago, to ensure that critical funding is 
     uninterrupted for the more than 4.5 million undergraduate 
     students enrolled at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) 
     alone. In addition, hundreds of thousands of students at 
     Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal 
     Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and other Minority-Serving 
     Institutions (MSIs) would be impacted.
       The House-passed FUTURE Act represents the best path to 
     ensure the above institutions don't lose critical funding on 
     September 30, 2019.
       HSIs, HBCUs, TCUs, and other MSIs are an essential part of 
     America's higher education system and workforce development. 
     For the past decade, Title III, Part F has played a vital 
     role in strengthening the STEM pipeline at these institutions 
     and increasing their capacity for credentialing and degree 
     attainment.
       The mandatory funding for Title III, Part F was initially 
     included in the 2008 College Cost Reduction and Access Act 
     for two years and was extended until FY 2019 in the Health 
     Care Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010. Title III, 
     Part F of the legislation has always had bipartisan and 
     bicameral support because of its important role in increasing 
     student persistence and graduation rates, particularly in 
     STEM fields, at HSIs, HBCUs, TCUs, and other MSIs. Thus, it 
     is imperative that Congress extends Title III, Part F via the 
     FUTURE Act since it is a lifeline for these institutions.
       HSIs alone account for 15 percent of all non-profit 
     colleges and universities, and yet enroll 66 percent of all 
     Hispanic students and nearly one-fourth of all U.S. students. 
     Despite having access to fewer resources compared to other 
     institutions, HSIs impressively produce 40 percent of the 
     STEM bachelor's degrees earned by Latino students. Their 
     future is in the balance.
       As our nation becomes increasingly diverse and the number 
     of HSIs continues to grow, Title III, Part F funding is more 
     essential than ever to ensure that we can prepare today's 
     students for tomorrow's jobs and reduce our nation's 
     dependence on foreign talent.
       With time running out, we appeal to you to use the power 
     and influence of your leadership positions to pass the House-
     passed FUTURE Act before September 30, 2019. We look forward 
     to continuing our shared efforts to find a permanent 
     extension of Title III, Part F.
       If you have any questions please feel free to contact 
     Alicia Diaz, HACU's Interim Chief Advocacy Officer.
       We thank you in advance for your time and look forward to a 
     timely passage of the FUTURE Act.
           Sincerely,
                                                Antonio R. Flores,
                                                  President & CEO.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I am going to read from just two of 
those letters that expressed the urgency of Senate action on this.
  This is a letter from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, from the 
president and CEO, stating that the Thurgood Marshall College Fund 
``strongly encourages the Senate to take-up the FUTURE Act immediately 
and pass the bill before the opportunity slips away. While we 
appreciate the prospects of a longer-term or `permanent' solution to 
Title III, Part F, we are skeptical that such a proposal would receive 
the requisite approval by Congress before September 30th.''
  I think we can understand their skepticism given the fact that the 
30th is Monday and the Senate is going to be out this afternoon.
  They go on to say:

       Therefore, it is imperative that the Senate act with all 
     deliberate speed on the bi-partisan, bi-cameral FUTURE Act.

  Mr. President, I have another letter from the UNCF, which is another 
organization dedicated to supporting these important institutions.
  Quoting from the letter from their president and CEO:

       It is imperative that the Senate pass the FUTURE Act 
     because funding for HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and other [minority-
     serving institutions] expires September 30, 2019. While we 
     support a permanent extension of mandatory funding, H.R. 
     2846, due to its passage in the House of Representatives, is 
     the surest way for these institutions to maintain funding for 
     FY 2020 and FY 2021. We strongly believe that passing this 
     bill now will address the immediate funding needs of our 
     institutions.

  This is a bill that has broad support. This is a bill where--the 
program expires on Monday, just a few days from now. There is really no 
excuse for not taking this up and voting on it now. I hope, since that 
is obviously not going to happen--my colleague tried to get unanimous 
consent earlier today to take up and vote on this bill--I hope we will 
move with all deliberate speed as soon as the Senate reconvenes so that 
we can get this important work done.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Missouri.