[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 17, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ANTHONY G. BROWN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 17, 2019

  Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Madam Speaker, on December 12, 2019 I was 
absent from the House of Representatives. Had I been present, I would 
have voted ``YEA'' on Roll Call No. 659, on Motion to Suspend the Rules 
and Pass, as Amended, FUTURE Act.
  Historically Black Colleges and Universities make substantial 
contributions to the nation's economic strength. A recent report by the 
United Negro College Fund found that HBCUs generate $15 billion in 
annual economic impact, and created over 134,000 jobs. HBCUs enroll on 
average, 24 percent of all black undergraduates pursuing a bachelor's 
degree, graduate 26 percent of all black bachelor's degrees and 32 
percent of STEM degrees earned by black students. Having a degree from 
an HBCU lifts the lifetime earnings of a graduate by nearly a million 
dollars. This legislation provides permanent funding for HBCUs and 
other minority-serving institutions attended by over 2 million 
students, recognizing the value of their missions and academic 
offerings. Furthermore, the bill takes an important step in simplifying 
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for 20 million working 
families.

                          ____________________