[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 3, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H9212-H9219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN SUPPORT OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 3, 2019, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams) is
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to be here this evening to
address a very important topic. I rise to advocate, along with my
colleagues who have come, for the 300,000 students that attend our
Nation's historically Black colleges and universities, known as HBCUs.
As Congress looks to agree on a funding agreement for fiscal year
2020, we must keep in mind our Nation's 102 HBCUs that specialize in
providing opportunity for low-income, first-generation African American
students.
When I entered Congress, one of my first tasks when I got here was to
launch the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus to bring greater
attention to the issues that affect HBCUs and their students. I did so
because more than anything I know the importance of HBCUs, not only in
the African American community, but for our economy as a whole.
For more than 150 years, HBCUs have paved a way where there is no way
for America's most talented Black minds. Despite discrimination and
neglect, HBCUs have continued to pull above their weight. We know the
facts and the figures, but it never hurts to repeat them.
HBCUs produce 27 percent of all African American STEM graduates; 40
percent of all African American engineers; 50 percent of all African
American lawyers; 50 percent of all African American public school
teachers; and 80 percent of all African American judges; despite only
educating 10 percent of all African American college students.
In my home State of North Carolina, we have 10 HBCUs currently
operating and educating over 33,000 students: Bennett College;
Elizabeth City State University; Fayetteville State University; Johnson
C. Smith University--in my congressional district; Livingstone College;
the North Carolina A&T State University, which is my alma mater and the
largest public HBCU that produces African American engineers and the
largest public HBCU in the Nation; along with North Carolina Central
University; Saint Augustine's University; Shaw University; and last but
not least, Winston-Salem State University.
They make a total of $1.7 billion of economic impact in the State,
supporting over 15,000 jobs and guaranteeing for their graduates $20.7
billion in lifetime earnings.
They are more than a worthy investment for this body and for our
State legislatures back home. And over the last 50 years, Congress has
taken strides to correct for the historic lack of engagement and
investment in these schools that contribute so much.
When enacted in 1965, the Higher Education Act represented the
Federal Government's first recognition of the important mission that
HBCUs serve. The HEA of 1965 first authorized Title III Institutional
Aid, which is the key program that supports academic quality,
institutional management, and financial stability at HBCUs.
Through multiple reauthorizations, Congress has sought to strengthen
and to supplement this law by providing low-interest loans for schools
to make infrastructure improvements. And, yes, by authorizing mandatory
funding to help HBCUs prepare students for STEM careers, a mission that
is sorely needed in a workforce that screams for diversity and
inclusion.
So tonight, Madam Speaker, we will hear from this body's most
tireless advocates for HBCUs and our students, many of whom are members
of the HBCU Caucus, which now includes almost 100 Members of the House
and Senate, and many of whom are alums of our Nation's HBCUs, and many
of my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus, because we know
firsthand what these schools mean to an aspiring student of color
looking at education as a ticket to the middle class.
Madam Speaker, I stand tonight as a living testament to the necessity
and to the importance of HBCUs. My mother, who raised me, was not an
educated woman. She wasn't able to obtain a high school education and
certainly not to attend an HBCU or any CU for that matter. But she
understood how important education would be in my life.
My mom did domestic work. She cleaned other folks' houses for many
years so I wouldn't have to do that. But like those visionaries who
founded these schools after surviving the horrors of slavery, my mother
dreamed of a better future for me as her daughter. And when I could not
fully recognize the potential in myself, it was an HBCU in North
Carolina, North Carolina A&T State University, that saw something in me
and made a committed investment towards my success.
A&T gave a poor, Black girl from the ghetto of Newark, New Jersey, an
opportunity, because that school believed in opportunity and the
fundamental importance of education that W.E.B. Du Bois spoke about.
When he said, ``Of all of the civil rights for which the world has
struggled and fought for 500 years, the right to learn is undoubtedly
the most fundamental.''
That HBCU took me from where they found me and got me to where I
needed to be. They shaped and molded me into what they knew I could
become, just as all of our schools have for millions of Americans since
the founding of the first HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in
1836.
General Leave
Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
David Scott).
Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman
Adams. Let me just commend her as our leader of the HBCU Caucus up
here. She does a marvelous job, and it is a pleasure to work with her.
And I know all the people of North Carolina are very proud of the
leadership that she is providing.
Madam Speaker, this is a particular honor for me, because I stand
here as a premier example of why our historically Black colleges and
universities are so important.
When I graduated from high school, my mother and father had no money.
I got a job washing dishes in a Daytona Beach hotel, and the people of
Daytona Beach, Florida, got together and raised $350, and they said,
``Here, go to the college of your choice.'' And thank God there was a
Florida A&M University. And you know what, Madam Speaker? Florida A&M
was on the trimester system. And guess what it cost for one trimester?
$350.
God is wonderful. And God has blessed this Nation because we have a
Florida A&M, a Tuskegee, a North Carolina A&T, a Fort Valley, a
Tennessee State. All of these great institutions to get a way out of no
way for folks just like me.
That is why this is important. I wouldn't be in Congress today if it
weren't for Florida A&M University,
[[Page H9213]]
because that is why I wanted to tell how I got here. And I wouldn't
have been able to meet my loving partner and wife, Alfredia, had it not
been for Florida A&M University.
So what I am saying is: our historically Black universities have
provided the foundation for the Black family structure. That is where
you meet your wife. And I will tell you what, we took a survey one
time, and those individuals that met their wives at college last a long
time. And that is what is so important, in addition to the great
education that we have.
And I just want to say, also while I am here, of the great
achievement that we Members of the Congressional Black Caucus achieved,
a historical event, $80 million in scholarships for the 19 African
American land-grant colleges and universities, a bipartisan historic
effort. And you know what, Madam Speaker, it is in the farm bill now.
Five years from now it will come back. And we have laid the foundation
to make it a permanent appropriation. That is our goal. This floor is
crowded with African Americans who have helped make this dream a
reality.
I am very grateful for all that our colleges have done. And I just
want to say thank God for our historically Black colleges and
universities. And thank Ms. Adams.
Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank gentleman from Georgia.
And he is absolutely right, HBCUs take you where they find you and
mold and shape you.
I had the privilege to serve on the faculty and to serve as an
administrator at Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, for 40
years. So the thousands of students that I had an opportunity to impact
certainly have made a lasting impact on me.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr.
Clyburn), our very capable whip.
Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the chair of the HBCU
Caucus for yielding to me this evening.
Madam Speaker, we usually approach almost everything in this body by
looking at the economic impact that it may have on the budget, on our
economy, and sometimes on just a small community.
So let's take a look at the economic impact that HBCUs have on our
Nation's economy: $15 billion annually goes into the national economy
as a result of the more than 100 HBCUs that exist in the country. These
colleges provide pathways of opportunity for millions of Americans,
many of whom are first-generation college students.
So investing in HBCUs is something that could be very important for
our Nation. And that is why I am a little bit concerned tonight that
the FUTURE Act, a piece of legislation that passed this House
unanimously, is now sitting in the Senate. We made some attempt when we
passed this current continuing resolution to attach that act to the
continuing resolution, but for some reason, the Senate, in its wisdom,
has decided not to attach that deal to the continuing resolution.
{time} 1945
This continuing resolution will expire on December 20. I have no idea
what we will do after that to fund the budget. Will there be another
continuing resolution? Will we do an omnibus? Will we do a series of
minibuses?
Whatever the vehicle may be, I call upon the Senate tonight to attach
the FUTURE Act to whatever the next vehicle may be because HBCU's
funding of $255 million under title III is wrapped into that act. If it
is not enacted, we will see many of these colleges and universities
lose their funding.
Irrespective of what the economic impact might be, I want to spend a
few minutes talking about the personal, human impact of HBCUs.
Our illustrious chair of the task force, as mentioned, graduated from
North Carolina A&T. She graduated two times, as a student and as a
professor.
I often tell the story of someone most people in this country either
knew or knew about, Ronald McNair.
Ron McNair was from the little town of Lake City, South Carolina, in
my congressional district. I just happen to have a congressional
district that contains seven HBCUs.
Ron and I were pretty good friends, and as he was about to go up in
his final, fatal flight, he stopped by my office. We talked that day
because he was talking with the people at the University of South
Carolina, who were hopeful that when this flight was over, he would be
joining their faculty. Well, we all know that it was a fatal flight.
Ron said something to me on that day that I talk about very often. He
said to me: Every time I go someplace to speak or am in attendance,
people always talk about my Ph.D. in physics from MIT, but that is not
what made the difference in my life.
He said to me that when he left Lake City, South Carolina, and Carver
High School, he went to North Carolina A&T. It was on that campus that
those professors who had similar backgrounds and experiences that he
had, who understood what it was to come from a little rural community,
took the time to nurture him and to prepare him for his journey through
life.
I told the story to the current president of South Carolina State
University, from which I am a graduate. He said to me that he knew Ron
McNair up at MIT, where he graduated. He said to me that of all the
students on that campus, Ron McNair was better prepared for the journey
at MIT than anybody else. That is because these HBCUs take the time not
just to explore what may be in the textbooks, but they look at what may
be in the life experiences of these students who come there.
I think about those students growing up on the Sea Islands of
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, in what we call
Gullah Geechee country, who come to colleges and universities not
knowing a whole lot about what we call common English, but they know
the Gullah Geechee language. They are very smart students who know what
to do with calculus and math, and sometimes, they may have problems
making a subject and verb agree because of their experiences. They go
to these colleges and universities where the teachers, professors, and
other students have a similar background.
I know so well because that day that Scott just mentioned, I met my
spouse of 58 years on that campus. She was a Gullah woman, but she went
on to get a master's degree in library science.
When she passed away a couple of months ago, no one in the State of
South Carolina ever got the send-off that she got. Why? Because of the
contributions she made.
Come January or February, I believe, whatever the date may be, they
are naming the Honors College at South Carolina State University in her
honor. Why? Because she demonstrated in her life pursuits that she was
worthy of such recognition.
Through our family foundation, she left an endowment at her alma
mater of $1.7 million, that for a little Gullah woman who went to an
HBCU that took her from where she was and made her what she could be.
That story is repeated time and time again all over this country.
Madam Speaker, I want to say to my friends in the other body, the
FUTURE Act is all about the future of people whose experiences may be
different from theirs but whose intelligence may even surpass theirs.
Let's do what we can to make sure that this country continues to
benefit from their life experiences. They are willing to give back if
only given the opportunity.
Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for that
not only inspiring but moving speech.
I would say, Madam Speaker, that I had the privilege of meeting Mr.
Clyburn's wife. Certainly, all of those tributes are really due to her.
We are not only proud of the work that she did but of the life that she
led.
Madam Speaker, I say to my colleagues who talked about getting
married, I got married at North Carolina A&T to my first spouse. It
didn't last all but 6 or so years, at least not that one. But you do
have an opportunity to not only interact but to meet folks for a
lifetime, and that is really, really important.
I want to mention as well that of all the universities, HBCUs are
about 3 percent, yet we educate 10 percent of all students of African
American descent. That means that we do a lot with a little. We don't
get the kind of equitable funding that we have needed, but clearly, we
have continued to press on. These are wonderful examples we have been
hearing tonight.
[[Page H9214]]
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott),
the chair of the Committee on Education and Labor, a gentleman who has
worked hard to make education valuable and important also.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for
yielding. I thank the Congressional Black Caucus and Representative
Adams in particular for dedicating this time to discuss an issue
affecting so many communities across the country, and particularly
Representative Adams for her leadership in congressional support for
historically Black colleges and universities.
Since their conception, HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions
have played a vital role in expanding access to higher education for
low-income students and students of color.
Many present leaders, like physicians, dentists, lawyers, judges, and
other professionals, and many elected officials, would not be where
they are today but for the opportunity provided by HBCUs, especially
the two in the Third District of Virginia, Hampton University and
Norfolk State University.
That is why earlier this year, the House unanimously passed the
FUTURE Act, a proposal to preserve funding for these institutions that
expired on September 30. The FUTURE Act is fully paid for, and it would
provide an immediate 2-year extension of funding, averting a financial
crisis that could eventually result in lost jobs, program cuts, and
reduced financial support for students.
A month later, the Committee on Education and Labor advanced the
College Affordability Act, a comprehensive overhaul of the Higher
Education Act that would increase access and affordability to higher
education and specifically would increase and permanently reauthorize
mandatory funding for historically Black colleges and other minority-
serving institutions.
HBCUs and minority-serving institutions collectively serve more than
one-quarter of all undergraduate students each year. That is more than
6 million students, including many from our Nation's most underserved
communities.
It is important that we pass legislation extending the funding for
these colleges and universities so that they can continue to fulfill
their mission.
Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for not
only his comments but for his labor and his support for these very fine
institutions.
Madam Speaker, I do want to acknowledge the chairwoman of the
Congressional Black Caucus, Karen Bass, who had to leave. She left her
comments and asked me to read them, so I am going to do that.
She begins by talking about the Special Order hour tonight and the
support that we need to give to our historically Black colleges and
universities and minority-serving institutions. Congress, she says,
must provide mandatory funding for these institutions.
Fighting for historically Black colleges and universities is one of
the Congressional Black Caucus' highest priorities because HBCUs are
critical contributors to the strength of the Black community and our
country.
Many members of our caucus, the CBC, have attended great HBCUs, such
as American Baptist College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta,
Fisk University, Florida A&M, Howard University, Jackson State
University, Morehouse College, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina
Central, Prairie View A&M University, South Carolina State, Texas
Southern University, Tougaloo College, Tuskegee University, Virginia
State University, Virginia Union University, and Wiley College, among
others.
In the 115th Congress, the CBC launched a tour of HBCUs called CBC on
the Yard. The goal of the tour was to listen, to involve and mobilize
students to effect change in their communities, and to get their
thoughts on the direction of the country and the issues that impact
their lives. The CBC hosted events at Morehouse College, Xavier
University, Bowie State University, and Howard University.
According to the Thurgood Marshall Foundation, HBCUs account for 22
percent of the current bachelor's degrees granted to African Americans.
Moreover, among African Americans, 13 percent of CEOs, 40 percent of
engineers, 40 percent of healthcare professionals, 50 percent of
teachers, 50 percent of non-HBCU professors, 50 percent of lawyers, 80
percent of judges, and 90 percent with bachelor's degrees in STEM
subjects graduated from HBCUs.
The economic impact of HBCUs, as the gentlewoman says, is equally
impressive. A report by UNCF called ``HBCUs Make America Strong'' said
the positive economic impact of historically Black colleges and
universities show that HBCUs generate $14.8 billion in economic impact
annually.
HBCUs are vital to the students who attend them and to the entire
country, which makes use of the valuable skills that these graduates
bring to the private and public sectors. Our Nation must continue to
invest in HBCUs and minority-serving institutions.
{time} 2000
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K.
Davis).
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, let me, first of all,
congratulate Ms. Adams on the tremendous leadership that she has been
providing to those of us who are concerned about Historically Black
Colleges and Universities, as well as education in general. I certainly
thank the gentlewoman for being able to share this moment as we talk
about the importance of these very viable, valuable institutions.
I represent a congressional district that has some of the most
outstanding educational institutions in the world, without a doubt. We
don't have an HBCU in my district, but I was fortunate, as were so many
members of my family, on my 16th birthday to enroll in Arkansas AM&N
College with no money--as a matter of fact, on credit. I had $20 when I
got there in my shirt pocket.
We had a president at the time, Dr. Lawrence Arnette Davis, that all
of us just simply called ``Prexy,'' kind of saying that he was a father
surrogate and a father figure for every one of us who hit that campus.
My parents were sharecroppers. We lived in rural Arkansas, a very
important State because it is the only State in the Bible Noah looked
over his ark and saw.
But we were able to have Arkansas AM&N College. Four of my sisters,
myself, two of my brothers, three of my nephews, three of my nieces,
and an assortment of first cousins all went to UAPB. Even today, in the
community where I live, large numbers of students want to go there, and
they do.
They go because there is something unique about these institutions.
They have the capacity to provide individual attention, in many
instances, where larger universities may not have the same. They have
the understanding to know that they are individuals who come from
environments where they may need a little extra attention and a little
extra help, and they provide it.
These are inspirational settings where individuals go and learn their
profession, develop their abilities, and know that, when they leave,
they leave with the inspiration.
And so, again, commendations. So I end by just thinking of some of
the words of our anthem. The person who wrote it said:
State college, we greet thee with love and devotion;
Our hearts and our treasures we bring to thy shrine.
With arms that are strong from all harm, we defend thee;
Thy name shall we cherish, dear mother of mine.
We cherish our Historically Black Colleges and Universities and urge
that they receive the funding that they need.
Madam Speaker, God bless Representative Adams for leading the charge.
Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Davis very much for his
eloquent presentation. As I think about many of the songs that we sing
at our schools, they have a certain relevance, strength, and meaning
for the students that we serve.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee),
who has been out on this battlefield for a very long time. I am so
happy to share this hour with her and all of my colleagues.
Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for
yielding, and I thank her for her tireless leadership on this issue and
so
[[Page H9215]]
many issues, and also for forming the bipartisan caucus as it relates
to our HBCUs; because this bipartisan caucus, once she got here, she
hit the ground running, and it has never been the same. I am a proud
member of the caucus, and I just want to thank her for her tremendous
leadership.
Also, I thank our chair of the Congressional Black Caucus,
Congresswoman Karen Bass, for her leadership in helping to put together
this Special Order tonight.
It is really an honor to be here tonight to support our Nation's
Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and, of course, I am in
full support of the FUTURE Act.
Madam Speaker, Malcolm X once declared: ``Education is our passport
to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it
today.''
For over 150 years, Historically Black Colleges have provided these
passports for students. One of the largest populations of students at
HBCUs come from my home State of California. In fact, it may be the
largest number of students at HBCUs are from California, including my
grandson, Jonah, whom you know.
Black students in California would never have the opportunity to go
to college if it were not for HBCUs. So, for them and for their
families, I am deeply grateful.
HBCUs have always offered African American young men and women a
quality, affordable education at times when access to institutions of
higher learning was limited or completely closed off to African
Americans.
With over 101 HBCUs across the Nation and 9 percent of all African
American college students attending HBCUs, they are more important than
ever in providing students a superior education.
And, yes, it is the manifestation of the fact that Black lives do
matter. They do matter.
Now, as a member of the funding committee, the Labor-HHS-Education
Appropriations Subcommittee, I know just how important HBCU funding is.
That is why we fought each and every year to increase HBCU funding,
this year by $93 million above fiscal year `19 levels and the
President's request.
Let me say, also, that I did not have the honor of attending an HBCU,
but I come from a family with deep roots at HBCUs. My grandfather and
two aunts graduated from then Huston-Tillotson College in Austin,
Texas.
I just have to tell you, my 99-year-old aunt, Aunt Lois, whom I spent
Thanksgiving with, spent her whole time talking to me about her
education at her HBCU, at Huston-Tillotson College. She wants more
young people to receive the stellar education that she received, and
she is 99 years old. She is an unbelievable woman.
HBCUs provided her that educational foundation for her life. She did
an amazing job working and setting up businesses. She attributes that
to everything she learned at HBCUs.
Also, my mother attended Prairie View A&M University and also
Southern University.
I have been the beneficiary of the values and the academic foundation
provided to me through my family's attendance and involvement at these
great institutions.
Two of my nieces, Michelle and Nicole, graduated from Prairie View.
They are amazing young Black women making their mark in the world.
HBCUs have a rich history to look back on and a vibrant future ahead,
so I am proud tonight to join my colleagues in supporting HBCUs.
I thank Congresswoman Adams for her commitment and her leadership to
the education of our young African American students because she truly
is securing the future, not only for our students and their families,
but for our country and for the world.
Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for
not only her contributions, but the contributions of her family.
I am a proud two-time graduate. My daughter is a graduate of North
Carolina A&T State University, as well, and my grandson decided he
wanted to be a Bison, so he is at Howard this year as a freshman. I am
just delighted that he has joined the HBCU family.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).
Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership
on this subject. Since coming to Congress, she has been one of the
foremost advocates for education, specifically HBCUs. Prior to her
arriving, it has always been an issue that has been very important, but
she has really raised awareness and highlighted and been consistent in
her leadership in this area.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the FUTURE Act in minority-
serving institutions. I thank Representative Adams once again for
anchoring tonight's discussion of this very important subject.
Minority-serving colleges and universities--not to be mistaken as
HBCUs--serve a critical role in our society. I, in New Jersey, do not
have an HBCU, but we have many minority-serving institutions, and
several in my district. These are students who find more support with
teachers and professors who come from their culture.
Studies have shown that they get better grades in classes with
teachers of the same culture and race. This starts even before the
students enter college.
Minority students in the same race classes have fewer behavioral
problems, regardless of income level or family structure. They are far
more likely to end up doing well and coming along on the collegiate
level at HBCUs. They are more likely to be held to a higher academic
standard and pushed harder to excel in these schools. They perform
better in reading, mathematics, and other core courses.
That is where MSIs become vital to their continued success. Low-
income, low-performing students' upward mobility skyrockets on these
campuses.
Take Bloomfield College, for example. And let me commend its new
president, Marcheta P. Evans, for her vision for Bloomfield College.
Bloomfield is a minority-serving institution of almost 1,700 students
located in my 10th District, in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Of these
students, 70 percent are low-income or first-generation college
students; 95 percent get financial aid; and 75 percent are eligible for
Pell grants. They come from families and communities that do not have
many advantages. One Bloomfield college student was even homeless and
struggled for meals before entering college.
But the college steps in and addresses more than their academic
needs. Instead, they come out of MSIs and become engineers. They become
nurses, teachers, and professors. Bloomfield College even graduates
simulation designers for video games and medical technicians.
Like most MSIs, Bloomfield takes low-income students and turns them
into middle- to high-income graduates, and they do it at rates that far
exceed other universities. In other words, they solve several social
problems at once.
HBCUs are criticized in this country for their necessity, but the
creation of HBCUs comes out of the inability for the larger population
to accept minority students at colleges that were already in place.
{time} 2015
So where do they have to go?
So it is disingenuous to criticize HBCUs for remedying a problem of
equality that still exists in this Nation. They keep today's low-income
students on a path to success. They help close the wealth gap between
Whites and non-Whites, and they provide hope and a future to a segment
of America that needs it so much.
So, in closing, Madam Speaker, we will continue to advocate for these
institutions because, although I did not go to an HBCU, so many of my
distinguished colleagues--the whip, Ms. Adams, and so many others--were
educated at HBCUs. We see their talent and their brilliance every day
on these floors of the House of Representatives.
So we need HBCUs to continue to strive and be strong and continue to
do the service that they have done for this country for decades.
Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New
Jersey--where I grew up--for not only his service there, but for his
contributions tonight.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lawson).
Mr. LAWSON. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak for HBCUs. I would like to
thank my colleague, Ms. Adams, for all her input and how she has worked
extremely hard to put HBCUs at the forefront.
[[Page H9216]]
I grew up in a rural area in the country where we were let out of
high school early so that we could work in the tobacco fields in
Gadsden County. I had no idea what college was really like until
Florida A&M gave me the opportunity to attend college there.
For 132 years Florida A&M has been educating a large number of
baccalaureate degree-holders in this country, as well as engineers,
pharmacists, and you just name it, especially in the school of business
where we had one of the greatest leaders in this country of all time to
head up that school that really contributed to corporate America.
Without HBCUs, I know that I wouldn't be here. A boy walking bare-
footed in the countryside had the opportunity to represent HBCUs, not
only in the State legislature but now in Congress. They have made a
major impact on this country and on economics that many of my
colleagues have talked about today.
When you think about it, where would this country be without that
impact?
On September 30 of this year, the funding was not authorized. But
that $255 million that the House unanimously passed is now sitting in
the Senate. It is imperative that we encourage our Senators to approve
this because many of these schools would not be able to function
without that funding. I happen to represent not only Florida A&M
University but Edward Waters College where it is critically needed for
these schools to survive.
Over the past 30 or 40 years, the issue also comes up, Madam Speaker,
about where HBCUs are going. Many of today's HBCUs have taken
minorities and international students from all over the country, more
so than some of the majority institutions, and they have done well. In
the area of STEM and technology, in science, we need more and more
people in STEM around the country.
Where can they come from?
They come from HBCUs.
When you look at the number of Ph.D. candidates and the number one to
get Ph.D.s in this country, where do they come from?
They come from HBCUs.
I am really proud of the fact that HBCUs, especially Florida A&M
University, molded me into the leader that I am today. It made me
appreciate hard work. I had the opportunity to have professors that
really cared about me and a goal. So for some 30-some years I have been
a part of this leadership.
I applaud Congresswoman Adams for all of her hard work and for
bringing it to the forefront. We stand here tonight to send a message
out there that we are a part of America. We are part of the American
Dream, and we urge our colleagues to support it.
Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Florida.
Madam Speaker, how much time is remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman has 10 minutes remaining.
Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from
Pennsylvania (Ms. Scanlon).
Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I am honored to take part in this Special
Order hour tonight in which we honor the Nation's HBCUs and highlight
our support for the FUTURE Act.
My district, Pennsylvania's fifth, is home to the oldest HBCU in the
United States, Cheyney University. Founded in 1837, Cheyney is also a
charter member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
Cheyney is a historical, cultural, and academic beacon in our
community, where it has long provided academic and professional
opportunities for students in Pennsylvania and beyond. The university
boasts tens of thousands of loyal and accomplished alumni who share
their diverse talents with the Nation.
Unfortunately, in recent years, Cheyney has faced financial
instability, and 3 years ago nearly lost its accreditation. But last
week there was good news. Based on strong leadership from Cheyney's new
president, Aaron Walton, increased community and alumni engagement and
strong enrollment numbers, Cheyney learned that its accreditation had
been renewed.
Moving forward, Cheyney is increasing academic offerings and
developing innovative public-private partnerships that will help
students to graduate and be ready to compete in the 21st century.
I am extremely proud to represent Cheyney and to testify to the
importance of HBCUs across the United States.
Lastly, I am also proud to be a new member of the Congressional HBCU
Caucus led by my colleague, a fierce supporter of these institutions,
Representative Alma Adams.
Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from
Pennsylvania. I know Cheyney very well. The gentlewoman is right. It
was the first university, and I want to congratulate Cheyney on that
accomplishment.
When we talk about that, it should not be funding that separates our
students in a way that they are not able to get the education that they
need. We have had since 1873 18 HBCUs that have closed. All of us who
have gotten together tonight and continue to work this area don't want
to see another school close, especially because of money.
When you look back at those who have had difficulty, it hasn't been
because the academics weren't in order. There are strong academic
programs at these colleges and universities, and we want to continue
that tradition. We want not only these schools to survive but to
thrive. That is really important, and that is where we need to go.
Having said that, I want to read a couple of letters because they are
very important. They are from two of my colleagues from the CBC.
The first is from Eddie Bernice Johnson who has been very involved
with HBCUs well before I got here, and I want to just thank her for her
leadership as well.
She writes, Madam Speaker:
Historically Black colleges and universities, HBCUs, have
played an important role in our Nation's history. These
places of higher education have given opportunities to
millions of young people to get a quality post-secondary
education. Many of these students are the first in their
family to attend college.
I am proud to say that one of these institutions, Paul
Quinn College, is located within my district.
Currently, the top priority for HBCUs is to ensure that
they have the resources needed to prepare students for a
competitive, globalized workforce. The FUTURE Act, which
passed in this Chamber some time ago, does exactly that. The
bill reauthorizes critical funding for all minority-serving
institutions for the next 2 years.
Sadly, like most of the legislation that has passed the
House of Representatives this Congress, the Senate refuses to
do their job and vote on this noncontroversial bipartisan
bill.
The College Affordability Act, which was introduced in
October, would go beyond what the FUTURE Act does and provide
HBCUs more flexibility, so that they can strengthen their
endowments, academic quality, and institutional management.
The College Affordability Act also provides States with
incentives to lower the cost for students to obtain a quality
college education by raising the maximum amount for Pell
grants and simplifying the student loan repayment program.
These two bills are great examples of what we should strive
for to guarantee the best outcome for students attending
HBCUs and other MSIs.
Madam Speaker, we need to make sure our higher education
system serves all the students that hope to receive a degree.
Historically Black colleges and universities, along with
other minority-serving institutions, play a vital role for
African Americans and other minority students. We need to
continue passing legislation that provides true educational
opportunities for those who desire to learn and who are
unable to afford it.
Madam Speaker, one of my colleagues from Ohio, Representative Marcia
Fudge, who is a former CBC chair, states the following:
Madam Speaker, more than one-quarter of all undergraduate
students in the United States attend historically Black
colleges and universities and other minority-serving
institutions. These schools play a critical role in unlocking
higher education opportunities for millions of degree
seekers, including students of color and low-income students
of which many are the first in their family to attend
college.
To protect these essential institutions from the threat of
closure and financial despair, we must continue to provide
them with the resources they need to prepare students for the
modern economy.
Title III, part F of the Higher Education Act authorizes
important mandatory funding for historically Black colleges
and universities, Tribal colleges and universities, and
minority-serving institutions to educate and prepare students
for professions in the sciences, technology, engineering, and
math, or STEM, fields.
Unfortunately, these critical sources of funding expired on
September 30, and this lapse jeopardizes the viability of
these institutions, as well as the STEM readiness of the
[[Page H9217]]
students they serve. At a time when diverse representation is
low in the STEM economy, Congress must immediately restore
mandatory funding to prevent permanent and irreversible
damage to STEM programs at these historical institutions that
give students from underserved communities an opportunity to
rise above their circumstances.
On September 17, 2019, the House passed the FUTURE Act, an
extension of the $255 million in essential mandatory funding
for HBCUs and MSIs. Despite receiving unanimous support in
the House, the bill has yet to be considered by the Senate,
and it was not included in the continuing resolution that
passed in November.
So as Congress considers spending bills for next year, we
must restore this vital resource of funding that expands
opportunities for underrepresented students. It is past time
to uphold our promise to support these historic institutions
and the students they serve.
Madam Speaker, I want to at this point close with these comments.
First of all, I thank all of my colleagues for their comments
tonight, those who have stood up tonight for our Nation's 102 HBCUs,
and MSIs.
{time} 2030
We are at a critical crossroads tonight. We are in the midst of
negotiating a government spending agreement that can confer over $500
million to all HBCUs.
For too long, the schools have dedicated themselves to the futures of
low-income, first-generation students of color, like me, who have been
neglected by their government. Over the last 50 years, this body has
made strides to correct that lack of investment and engagement, but
none of those strides came easy. They were achieved in moments when
many still questioned the purpose of having schools dedicated to that
mission.
I have heard the question asked over and over: Why do we need HBCUs?
I will say that my response is: What in the world--and I use another
word--would we do without our HBCUs?
When we think about it, as has been stated by several of my
colleagues, our schools were achieved in moments when many still
questioned the purpose, when Federal and State investments in higher
education are still consistently under attack.
Our HBCUs, in particular, still suffer from impacts of historical
discrimination and underinvestment, low endowments, outdated
infrastructure, a lack of opportunities for growth compared to their
PWI counterparts.
The House of Representatives approved $375 million for title III,
part B, the Strengthening HBCUs program last summer, the first time
this program was appropriated at the authorization limit. It approved
$40 million of loan authority for the HBCU Capital Financing Program.
It also passed the FUTURE Act, which authorizes $85 million of
mandatory funding for HBCUs.
We illustrated our support for HBCUs, and now we need to guarantee
that it is in the negotiations with the Senate. We want to make sure,
as I said before, that our schools not only survive but that they
thrive. When we fight for these programs, we show our belief in the
futures of low-income, first-generation students of color.
Madam Speaker, I am proud that I had a mother who stood up for me, in
spite of the fact that we didn't have the funds. There was an HBCU in
North Carolina that allowed me to come and made that investment in me.
I was able to complete my bachelor's and master's degrees there at
North Carolina A&T, and then, I was able to go on to receive my Ph.D.
from The Ohio State University only because of the North Carolina A&T.
Madam Speaker, let's not give up the fight now. We are going to
continue to do it. I thank all of my colleagues, again, for being here
tonight.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and
Support of Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for
Education (FUTURE) Act
Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my
colleagues to underscore the need for Congress to support continued
funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and
Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). I was honored to support the
Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education
(FUTURE) Act when the House passed this legislation unanimously in
September of this year. The FUTURE Act would provide $255 million for
Minority-Serving Institutions, including Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU),
Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Asian American and Native
American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), and
Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Unfortunately, despite the
unanimous bipartisan support for this bill here in the House, my
colleagues in the Senate have blocked this legislation from
consideration. This is unacceptable. HBCUs, and all MSIs, deserve our
continued support and should not be treated as a political football.
Since 1837, HBCUs have trained generations of African American
students and scholars. The economic benefits of HBCUs extend beyond the
students they educate. They're equally important to the local and
regional economies served by these institutions. Today, there are
nearly 300,000 future scientists, teachers, entrepreneurs and
researchers preparing for their professional endeavors at more than 100
HBCUs throughout the country. HBCUs account for 17 percent of all
bachelor's degrees earned by African Americans and 24 percent of the
degrees earned by African Americans in the STEM fields. HBCUs have an
inspiring past and a dynamic present in their unique role of raising up
new academic leaders against the legacy of Jim Crow and decades of
persistent and systemic racism. Annually, HBCUs support 134,000 jobs
and provide $14.8 billion in economic output.
The amazing work done at these schools has also been supported by
investments through the Department of Defense, which has helped HBCUs
contribute some of the most cutting-edge defense and national security
research in the country. To advance these efforts, I introduced an
appropriations amendment in the House that would increase the funding
level to HBCUs by $4 million above current levels. My amendment, which
passed the House on June 19, 2019, the 154th anniversary of Juneteenth,
will increase the Department of Defense's investments in the physical
sciences, mathematics and engineering programs at HBCUs and the
national security benefits they provide.
As my House colleagues and I continue to urge the Senate to pass the
FUTURE Act and my amendment to increase HBCU funding, I will continue
to champion our nation's investments in HBCUs as a critical part of
enriching our culture and economy. When HBCUs succeed, America
succeeds.
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCU's) have played an important role in our nation's
history. These places of higher education have given opportunities to
millions of young people to get a quality postsecondary education. Many
of these students are the first in their family to attend college. I am
proud to say that one of these institutions, Paul Quinn College, is
located within my district.
Currently, the top priority for HBCU's is to ensure they have the
resources needed to prepare students for a competitive, globalized
workforce. The FUTURE Act, which passed in this chamber some time ago,
does exactly that. The bill reauthorizes critical funding for all
Minority Serving Institutions (MSI's) for the next two years. Sadly,
like most of the legislation that has passed the House of
Representatives this Congress, the Senate refuses to do their job and
vote on this noncontroversial bipartisan bill.
The College Affordability Act, which was introduced in October, would
go beyond what the FUTURE Act does and provides HBCU's more flexibility
so that they can strengthen their endowments, academic quality, and
institutional management. The College Affordability Act also provides
states with incentives to lower the cost for students to obtain a
quality college education by raising the maximum amount for Pell Grants
and simplifying the student loan repayment program. These two bills are
great examples of what we should strive for to guarantee the best
outcome for students attending HBCU's and other MSI's.
Madam Speaker, We need to make sure our higher education system
serves all the students that hope to receive a degree. Historically
Black Colleges and Universities along with other Minority Serving
institutions play a vital role for African Americans and other minority
students. We need to continue passing legislation that provides true
educational opportunities for those who desire to learn and are unable
to afford it.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues in the
Congressional Black Caucus to celebrate and recognize the importance of
educational opportunities that HBCU institutions create for thousands
of young men and women from all walks of life.
I am a member of the Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus because it
promotes and protects the interest of HBCUs by: creating a national
dialogue, educating Members of Congress and their staffs about the
issues impacting HBCUs, drafting meaningful bipartisan legislation to
address the needs of HBCUs, and supporting students and graduates of
HBCUs by increasing access and career opportunities.
[[Page H9218]]
One important solution must be access to affordable 7 quality
education for every person in this nation.
I am proud to count Texas Southern University as a constituent, a
great HBCU--located in my home city of Houston.
I routinely partner with Texas Southern University to promote
education opportunities and collaborate on community projects
routinely.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, I led the initiative to get
financial aid relief for the students and campus of Texas Southern
University in the amount of $13 plus million dollars.
I continue to keep the university community informed about major
issues impacting citizens of my city of Houston, Texas.
Issues like Health Care, Economic Development, Education, and Social
Security are of great importance to TSU academic programs.
I initiated the digitization projects for former U.S. Members of
Congress Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland who both have permanent
archives at Texas Southern University.
I also assisted with the establishment of several scholarship
Endowments at Texas Southern University.
I helped create a partnership with Comcast at TSU's School of
Communication, which offers scholarships, internships and in-kind
marketing.
I helped establish the Center for Transportation, Training and
Research in TSU's College of Science, Engineering, and Technology.
On September 17, 2019, the House passed House H.R. 2486, the
Fostering Undergraduate Talent Using Resources for Education (FUTURE)
Act, which I cosponsored and supported.
Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act (HEA) provides funding
to HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and MSIs to improve their self-sufficiency and
strengthen their ability to serve low-income students, particularly in
the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
professions.
These funds advance these institutions' academic quality and fiscal
stability.
Unfortunately, funding for these institutions, as authorized by the
HEA expired on September 30, 2019.
It is crucial that these funds do not lapse.
H.R 2486, the FUTURE Act, ensures that this will not happen.
Under the FUTURE Act, HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and MSIs will continue to
receive $255 million for the next two years.
Without this funding, these institutions will suffer, particularly
smaller institutions that will have to lay off staff and faculty and
possibly face imminent danger of closure.
Additionally, H.R. 2486 is completely paid for by eliminating Account
Maintenance Fees, a proposal supported by Democrats, Republicans and
the White House.
It is time that the Senate takes up this important bill and pass it
so that HBCUs can continue to do the important work of educating the
next generation.
HBCUs are more than just places of higher learning that are part of
the nation's economy by contributing 15 billion dollars to the national
economy annually.
HBCUs provide pathways of opportunity for millions of Americans, many
of whom are first generation college students.
This underscores the need for the government to engage with HBCUs and
other MSIs, and ensure these schools have the resources they need--
after a legacy of discrimination and neglect.
The Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for
Education (FUTURE) Act reauthorizes crucial mandatory funding for HBCUs
and all Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) for the next two fiscal
years; $255 million a year, in total.
Sustaining these funds is critical to supporting HBCUs and the
students they serve.
The FUTURE Act is intended to prepare HBCU students for careers in
STEM professions--at a time when diverse representation is low in the
STEM economy.
Additionally, without this funding, small schools with small
endowments will have to lay off staff and faculty in order to stay
afloat; other schools will face imminent danger of closure.
This bill represents the number one priority of all HBCUs in the
country.
This bill passed the House by a unanimous vote on September 17, 2019
but is being held up by the Senate due to the objections of Senator
Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, the Chairman of the Senate Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
Senator Alexander has claimed he has a bill that will permanently
reauthorize FUTURE Act funds.
He did not offer his bill until FUTURE passed the House of
Representatives.
The Senate has failed to come to an agreement on comprehensive
reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA).
In contrast, the House Education and Labor Committee has advanced the
College Affordability Act, which will incentivize states to lower the
cost of college tuition, strengthen federal financial aid programs, and
simplify income-based repayment plans for student loan holders.
The HEA contains all the federal programs that provide a pathway for
low-income, first generation students into college.
Senator Alexander's bill in total is a micro-version of HEA
reauthorization that does very little to reduce the cost of college or
address rising student loan debt.
For example, Senator Alexander's bill would raise the maximum Pell
Grant award by $20--and not index the award to inflation.
Currently, the maximum Pell Grant award is $6,195.
The average tuition at a public college is approximately $15,000.
The purchasing power of the Pell Grant has decreased by 70 percent
since 1979.
Senator Alexander has packed his bill with a lot of other priorities
because he's attempting to leverage the fate of 4 million students of
color to create a legacy for himself.
Senator Alexander has also said he does not like the way the FUTURE
Act is paid for.
The bill is paid for with the elimination of Account Maintenance Fees
paid to Guaranty Agencies; an offset that is supported by Democrats and
Republicans in Congress, as well as the White House.
Given the significantly pared back services provided by guaranty
agencies, and their ability to generate significant fee income through
debt collection activities, this funding is no longer needed.
Guaranty Agencies generate around $4 billion in annual revenue.
They can fulfill their mission without these funds.
Finally, Senator Alexander and the Department of Education has
claimed they have funds to continue awarding grants through the end of
Fiscal Year 2020.
But that's only true because the Department has failed to award all
Fiscal Year 2019 funding.
In any case, institutions of higher learning need to budget at least
a year in advance--without certainty, staff layoffs and a paring back
of services will accelerate.
On September 14, 1927, the Houston Public School Board agreed to fund
the development of two junior colleges: one for whites and one for
African-Americans.
On September 14, 1927, the Houston Public School Board provided
$2,800 in seed capital to form a Junior College for African American
students.
The initial enrollment for the first summer was 300 students.
On June 1, 1951, the name of the school was changed from Texas State
University for Negroes to Texas Southern University after students
petitioned the state legislature to remove the phrase ``for Negroes.''
When the university opened its doors in September 1947, it had 2,300
students, two schools, one division and one college--the Law School,
the Pharmacy School, the Vocational Division, and the College of Arts
and Sciences.
In 1973, the 63rd Legislature designated Texas Southern University as
a ``special purpose'' institution for urban programming, which added
four more academic units: the College of Education, the School of
Public Affairs, the School of Communications and the Weekend College.
Today, Texas Southern University offers bachelor's, master's and
doctoral degree programs in the following academic colleges and
schools: the College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences; the
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; the College of Science and
Technology; the College of Education; the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland
School of Public Affairs; the School of Communication; the Thurgood
Marshall School of Law; the Jesse H. Jones School of Business; the
Thomas Freeman Honors College; and the College of Continuing Education
and the Graduate School.
Currently, Texas Southern University is staffed by approximately
1,000 faculty members and support personnel.
HBCU's have come a long way to be where they are today.
The most significant milestone for HBCU's was the 1954 Supreme Court
decision in Brown v. The Board of Education.
Howard University School of Law graduates successfully argued against
the constitutionality of ``separate but equal,'' opening the door for
greater access to resources for institutions dedicated to education was
a critical step forward.
However, it was not until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, that the federal government had the capacity and focus to enforce
desegregation.
On the 50th Anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King's ``I have a
Dream'' speech given at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial were we able
to understand the long road to freedom.
In that speech Dr. King spoke of a world where race would mean much
less than the content of a person's character.
[[Page H9219]]
Martin Luther King said, ``The function of education is to teach one
to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus
character--that is the goal of true education.''
HBCUs do not just educate--they build character.
The Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus will create and explore
legislation that will increase support for HBCUs, such as the Higher
Education Act, America COMPETES, and Appropriations.
The Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus will also work to connect
HBCUs to funding opportunities that ensure schools have the resources
needed to educate and prepare students for the global workforce.
My focus in joining with my colleagues this evening for this special
order is to support and continue my work with Texas Southern University
and other HBCUs by: finding growth opportunities for HBCU students and
graduates; working with private industry to connect students to jobs,
internships, and scholarships; and opening up doors to HBCU students
interested in coming to Capitol Hill.
Each Congressional Black Caucus member works to expose HBCU students
to global experiences to learn about other cultures.
My office worked to assist students in my district in going on a trip
to China--for many it was their first travel outside of the state of
Texas.
That one experience transformed their lives--by expanding their
horizon from being local to global.
____________________