[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 206 (Monday, December 7, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H6877-H6880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1330
 HBCU PROPELLING AGENCY RELATIONSHIPS TOWARDS A NEW ERA OF RESULTS FOR 
                              STUDENTS ACT

  Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(S. 461) to strengthen the capacity and competitiveness of historically 
Black colleges and universities through robust public-sector, private-
sector, and

[[Page H6878]]

community partnerships and engagement, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 461

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``HBCU Propelling Agency 
     Relationships Towards a New Era of Results for Students Act'' 
     or the ``HBCU PARTNERS Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) As many colleges and universities across the country 
     kept their doors closed to African American applicants, 
     historically Black colleges and universities (referred to in 
     this section as ``HBCUs'') played a central role in ensuring 
     that African Americans could attain an excellent education.
       (2) Today, HBCUs continue to play a critical role in 
     ensuring that African Americans, and those of all races, can 
     access high-quality educational opportunities.
       (3) HBCUs enroll nearly 300,000 students, an estimated 70 
     percent of whom come from low-income backgrounds and 80 
     percent of whom are African American.
       (4) According to the National Association For Equal 
     Opportunity In Higher Education (referred to in this section 
     as ``NAFEO''), HBCUs make up just 3 percent of American 
     institutions of higher education but serve more than a fifth 
     of African American college students.
       (5) According to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund 
     (referred to in this section as ``TMCF''), approximately 9 
     percent of all African American college students attend 
     HBCUs.
       (6) A March 2017 report from the Education Trust concluded 
     that HBCUs have higher completion rates for African American 
     students than other institutions serving similar student 
     populations.
       (7) According to TMCF, 40 percent of African American 
     Members of Congress, 50 percent of African American lawyers, 
     and 80 percent of African American judges are graduates of 
     HBCUs.
       (8) According to NAFEO, HBCUs graduate approximately 50 
     percent of African American public school teaching 
     professionals.
       (9) According to the United Negro College Fund (referred to 
     in this section as ``UNCF''), African American graduates of 
     HBCUs are almost twice as likely as African Americans who 
     graduated from other institutions to report that their 
     university prepared them well for life.
       (10) According to a study commissioned by UNCF, in 2014, 
     HBCUs generated a total direct economic impact of 
     $14,800,000,000 and created more than 134,000 jobs.
       (11) According to a 2019 report produced by the American 
     Council on Education and UNCF, despite efforts to counter a 
     historical legacy of inequitable funding and notable 
     investments by the Federal Government and many State 
     governments, resource inequities continue to plague HBCUs.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to strengthen the capacity and competitiveness of HBCUs 
     to fulfill their principal mission of equalizing educational 
     opportunity, as described in section 301(b) of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1051(b));
       (2) to align HBCUs with the educational and economic 
     competitiveness priorities of the United States;
       (3) to provide students enrolled at HBCUs with the highest 
     quality educational and economic opportunities;
       (4) to bolster and facilitate productive interactions 
     between HBCUs and Federal agencies; and
       (5) to encourage HBCU participation in and benefit from 
     Federal programs, grants, contracts, and cooperative 
     agreements.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Applicable agency.--The term ``applicable agency'' 
     means--
       (A) the Department of Agriculture;
       (B) the Department of Commerce;
       (C) the Department of Defense;
       (D) the Department of Education;
       (E) the Department of Energy;
       (F) the Department of Health and Human Services;
       (G) the Department of Homeland Security;
       (H) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
       (I) the Department of the Interior;
       (J) the Department of Justice;
       (K) the Department of Labor;
       (L) the Department of State;
       (M) the Department of Transportation;
       (N) the Department of Treasury;
       (O) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
       (P) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
       (Q) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
       (R) the National Science Foundation;
       (S) the Small Business Administration; and
       (T) any other Federal agency designated as an applicable 
     agency under section 4.
       (2) Executive director.--The term ``Executive Director'' 
     means--
       (A) the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on 
     Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as designated 
     by the President; or
       (B) if no such Executive Director is designated, such 
     person as the President may designate to lead the White House 
     Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
       (3) HBCU.--The term ``HBCU'' means a historically Black 
     college or university.
       (4) Historically black college or university.--The term 
     ``historically Black college or university'' has the meaning 
     given the term ``part B institution'' under section 322 of 
     the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
       (5) President's board of advisors.--The term ``President's 
     Board of Advisors'' means the President's Board of Advisors 
     on historically Black colleges and universities.
       (6) Secretary.--Except as otherwise provided, the term 
     ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Education.
       (7) White house initiative.--The term ``White House 
     Initiative'' means the White House Initiative on historically 
     Black colleges and universities.

     SEC. 4. STRENGTHENING HBCUS THROUGH FEDERAL AGENCY PLANS.

       (a) Designating Applicable Agencies.--The Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Executive Director, shall--
       (1) identify each Federal agency with which an HBCU--
       (A) has entered into a grant, contract, or cooperative 
     agreement; or
       (B) is eligible to participate in the programs and 
     initiatives under the jurisdiction of such Federal agency; 
     and
       (2) designate each Federal agency so identified as an 
     applicable agency.
       (b) Submitting Agency Plans.--Not later than February 1 of 
     each year, the head of each applicable agency shall submit to 
     the Secretary, the Executive Director, the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the 
     Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives, and the President's Board of Advisors an 
     annual Agency Plan describing efforts to strengthen the 
     capacity of HBCUs to participate or be eligible to 
     participate in the programs and initiatives under the 
     jurisdiction of such applicable agency as described in 
     subsection (a)(1)(B).
       (c) Further Requirements for Submission and 
     Accessibility.--The Executive Director shall make all annual 
     Agency Plan submissions publicly available online in a user-
     friendly format.
       (d) Agency Plan Content.--Where appropriate, each Agency 
     Plan shall include--
       (1) a description of how the applicable agency intends to 
     increase the capacity of HBCUs to compete effectively for 
     grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements;
       (2) an identification of Federal programs and initiatives 
     under the jurisdiction of the applicable agency in which 
     HBCUs are underrepresented;
       (3) an outline of proposed efforts to improve HBCUs' 
     participation in such programs and initiatives;
       (4) a description of any progress made towards advancing or 
     achieving goals and efforts from previous Agency Plans 
     submitted under this section by such applicable agency;
       (5) a description of how the applicable agency plans to 
     encourage public-sector, private-sector, and community 
     involvement to improve the capacity of HBCUs to compete 
     effectively for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, 
     and to participate in programs and initiatives under the 
     jurisdiction of such agency;
       (6) an identification of programs and initiatives not 
     listed in a previous Agency Plan in which an HBCU may 
     participate;
       (7) any other information the applicable agency determines 
     is relevant to promoting opportunities to fund, partner, 
     contract, or otherwise interact with HBCUs; and
       (8) any additional criteria established by the Secretary or 
     the White House Initiative.
       (e) Agency Engagement.--To help fulfill the objectives of 
     the Agency Plans, the head of each applicable agency--
       (1) shall provide, as appropriate, technical assistance and 
     information to the Executive Director to enhance 
     communication with HBCUs concerning the applicable agency's--
       (A) programs and initiatives described in subsection 
     (d)(2); and
       (B) the preparation of applications or proposals for 
     grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements; and
       (2) shall appoint a senior official to report directly to 
     the agency head on the applicable agency's progress under 
     this section.

     SEC. 5. PRESIDENT'S BOARD OF ADVISORS ON HBCUS.

       (a) Administration.--
       (1) In general.--There is established the President's Board 
     of Advisors on historically Black colleges and universities 
     in the Department of Education or, if the President so 
     elects, within the Executive Office of the President.
       (2) Funding from ed.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), 
     the Secretary shall provide funding and administrative 
     support for the President's Board of Advisors, subject to the 
     availability of appropriations.
       (3) Funding from the executive office of the president.--If 
     the President elects to locate the President's Board of 
     Advisors within the Executive Office of the President, the 
     Executive Office of the President shall provide funding and 
     administrative support for the President's Board of Advisors, 
     subject to the availability of appropriations.
       (b) Membership.--

[[Page H6879]]

       (1) In general.--The President shall appoint not more than 
     23 members to the President's Board of Advisors, and the 
     Secretary and Executive Director or their designees shall 
     serve as ex officio members.
       (2) Chair.--
       (A) Designation.--The President shall designate one member 
     of the President's Board of Advisors to serve as its Chair, 
     who shall help direct the Board's work in coordination with 
     the Secretary and in consultation with the Executive 
     Director.
       (B) Consultation.--The Chair shall also consult with the 
     Executive Director regarding the time and location of 
     meetings of the President's Board of Advisors, which shall 
     take place not less frequently than once every 6 months.
       (C) Performance.--Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee 
     Act (5 U.S.C. App.) may apply to the President's Board of 
     Advisors, any functions of the President under such Act, 
     except for those of reporting to the Congress, shall be 
     performed by the Chair, in accordance with guidelines issued 
     by the Administrator of General Services.
       (3) Compensation.--Members of the President's Board of 
     Advisors shall serve without compensation, but shall be 
     reimbursed for travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsistence, as authorized by law.
       (c) Mission and Functions.--The President's Board of 
     Advisors shall advise the President, through the White House 
     Initiative, on all matters pertaining to strengthening the 
     educational capacity of HBCUs, which shall include the 
     following:
       (1) Improving the identity, visibility, distinctive 
     capabilities, and overall competitiveness of HBCUs.
       (2) Engaging the philanthropic, business, government, 
     military, homeland-security, and education communities in a 
     national dialogue regarding new HBCU programs and 
     initiatives.
       (3) Improving the ability of HBCUs to remain fiscally 
     secure institutions that can assist the Nation in achieving 
     its educational goals and in advancing the interests of all 
     Americans.
       (4) Elevating the public awareness of, and fostering 
     appreciation of, HBCUs.
       (5) Encouraging public-private investments in HBCUs.
       (6) Improving government-wide strategic planning related to 
     HBCU competitiveness to align Federal resources and provide 
     the context for decisions about HBCU partnerships, 
     investments, performance goals, priorities, human capital 
     development, and budget planning.
       (d) Report.--The President's Board of Advisors shall report 
     annually to the President on the Board's progress in carrying 
     out its duties under this section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Adams) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Smucker) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous material on S. 461, the HBCU PARTNERS Act.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of S. 461, the HBCU PARTNERS Act, as amended.
  Mr. Speaker, today is a special day for bipartisanship and for 
equity, access, and inclusion.
  For centuries, this country has made promises to the African-American 
community that have gone largely unmet: promises of freedom, promises 
of justice, and promises of equal opportunity.
  So, today, we vote for a fighting chance to rectify this history and 
the impacts it has had on the Black community. Today, we vote to give 
HBCUs and the communities they serve a real permanent seat at the table 
with the President of the United States and our Nation's Federal 
agencies.
  You see, like the people of color they serve, HBCUs are embedded in 
the fabric of this Nation and they play a vital role in its prosperity. 
While countless other institutions have often fallen short, HBCUs have 
long been the means of delivering on our Nation's promise of freedom 
and opportunity for all, especially for communities of color.
  For generations, these schools have fought to deliver for African 
Americans what is owed to them, a first-class education and a fair shot 
at pursuing happiness.
  While only representing roughly 3 percent of all 4-year colleges and 
universities, HBCUs produce upwards of 17 percent of all bachelor's 
degrees awarded to African Americans. HBCU graduates account for 42 
percent of all Black engineers and 47 percent of all Black female 
engineers.
  What is more, these institutions produce 27 percent of all African-
American STEM graduates, 50 percent of all African-American lawyers, 50 
percent of all African-American public schoolteachers, and 80 percent 
of all African-American judges.
  Further, research has found that HBCUs are more successful at 
boosting students out of the lowest income distributions than other 
institutions of higher education.
  In fact, nearly 70 percent of students of HBCUs attain at least 
middle class incomes after graduation, including nearly 70 percent of 
low-income students.
  On an annual basis, HBCUs contribute nearly $15 billion to the 
economy, produce 134,000 jobs, and create $46.8 billion in alumni 
career earnings that can be directly attributed to their degrees.
  HBCUs are clearly centers of advancement and excellence in this 
country. It is important to note that this incredible success has been 
achieved despite over a century of systemic underfunding at both the 
State and Federal levels.
  That is why my bill, the HBCU PARTNERS Act, is so very crucial. This 
legislation will require every administration and the Federal agencies 
it manages to plan and coordinate, on an annual basis, their efforts to 
strategically engage in investing in HBCUs.
  This bill also strengthens the rigor and transparency requirements of 
existing law, requiring that agencies track their progress toward goals 
concerning HBCUs and share their plans to advance them with Congress.
  In addition, it codifies the President's Board of Advisors on HBCUs, 
ensuring an ongoing avenue for HBCU priorities and policy concerns to 
be raised and addressed.
  In other words, this legislation provides us with an opportunity to 
commit to HBCUs in the same way they have committed to the well-being 
and prosperity of our country. And in a very real way, it provides us 
with a chance to try to honor our Nation's promises.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of S. 461, the Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities--HBCU--PARTNERS Act, which stands for Propelling 
Agency Relationships Towards a New Era of Results for Students.
  This legislation is a result of bipartisan, bicameral collaboration 
and executive leadership across administrations. Executive orders on 
HBCUs began under Jimmy Carter and have evolved with each succeeding 
President.
  In 1989, George H.W. Bush established the first President's Board of 
Advisors on HBCUs and the White House Initiative on HBCUs.
  In February 2017, President Trump built upon these historic efforts 
and issued an executive order to promote excellence and innovation at 
HBCUs. S. 461 would codify President Trump's executive order to pave a 
brighter and stronger path forward for HBCUs.
  Notably, this bill established the President's Board of Advisors, a 
23-member board responsible for advising the President and reporting on 
strengthening the educational capacity and economic offerings of HBCUs.
  The board will also work closely with the White House Initiative on 
HBCUs to make recommendations to improve overall competitiveness of 
HBCUs, their ability to remain financially secure, how to elevate 
public awareness and appreciation of HBCUs, and more.
  Federal agencies will collaborate with the White House Initiative on 
HBCUs, and each agency will work to increase the capacity of HBCUs to 
compete effectively for Federal grants and contracts and to participate 
in Federal programs.

  As a member of the Education & Labor Committee, I have spent time 
learning about the ways in which HBCUs serve our country's students and 
higher education community. I know I speak for many on the committee 
and in this Chamber when I say that HBCUs play a critical role in 
preparing our country's next generation of leaders and innovators.
  This legislation before us today will empower HBCUs' education and 
economic offerings so they can continue

[[Page H6880]]

serving students, families, and communities across the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in voting 
``yes'' on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Smucker) for his kind remarks and support.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Scott), the chairman of the Committee on Education & Labor and a 
tremendous supporter of education.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding.
  I rise in support of S. 461, as amended, the HBCU PARTNERS Act.
  Since their inception, HBCUs have been engines of social mobility and 
a cornerstone of secondary education for underserved students, 
particularly Black students from low-income backgrounds.
  Today, HBCUs account for no more than 3 percent of all colleges and 
universities in the country, yet these institutions, as we have heard, 
produce nearly 20 percent of all Black undergraduates, half of all 
Black professionals, and one-third of all Black STEM degree earners.
  Despite this outsized role in expanding access to higher education, 
HBCUs continue to be underresourced compared to other institutions of 
higher learning.
  This historic lack of support is being further exacerbated by the 
COVID-19 pandemic, as HBCUs disproportionately suffer from dramatically 
lower enrollment and State funding.
  Mr. Speaker, there is simply no better time to support these critical 
institutions than by passing this legislation before us today.
  The HBCUs PARTNERS Act would ensure that our Federal agencies 
actively work with HBCUs to advance their critical mission of opening 
the door to higher education for students across the country.
  This bipartisan bill demonstrates that regardless of political 
affiliation, we can all agree that during this dark hour in our higher 
education system, our Nation's HBCUs are an investment worth making.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams), 
the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker), and the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker), and the entire bipartisan HBCU Caucus for 
their work on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.
  Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Hill).
  Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker), my friend, for yielding.
  I rise today in strong support of S. 461, the HBCU PARTNERS Act, 
introduced by my friend from South Carolina in the Senate, Senator Tim 
Scott; and my good friend here in the House, Congresswoman Alma Adams 
of North Carolina; and a strong bipartisan group, including my good 
friend from Virginia, our chairman of the Education & Labor Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, HBCUs play a critical role in the education of our young 
people in this country. Throughout their history, they have helped 
students achieve the dream of a college education and their unique 
start to that pursuit of happiness.
  In our central Arkansas region, we are blessed with four outstanding 
HBCUs, including Arkansas Baptist College, Philander Smith College, 
Shorter College, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
  As the vice chairman of the Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus, I 
am encouraged by the legislation that we consider today because it 
draws on partnerships--public, private, community--to strengthen our 
HBCUs. This has been a key for success of our HBCUs in Arkansas.
  Inspired by the strong Federal consensus both in the executive branch 
and the legislative branch, last year I sponsored and hosted the first 
regional HBCU Summit in Little Rock to foster public- and private-
sector partnerships to enhance our HBCUs for philanthropy, student 
recruitment and advancement, and workforce partnerships and 
apprenticeships.
  I am committed to supporting our HBCUs to help them continue to 
graduate Americans who are prepared for a competitive global 
environment.
  Every student in America deserves the opportunity to succeed. For 
thousands of students in Arkansas and across the country, HBCUs offer 
those young people the key tools to help them succeed in that 
opportunity.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my friends on the HBCU Caucus, Chair Adams; our 
friend from Pennsylvania; and, of course, the chairman.

                              {time}  1345

  Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  The HBCU PARTNERS Act is a culmination of leadership from both 
Republican and Democrat administrations. This bill has been crafted 
with bipartisan, bicameral input and, more importantly, with input from 
HBCU groups themselves.
  HBCUs are a critical part of America's postsecondary education 
system. Today's legislation will renew our commitment to these 
institutions and empower HBCUs to continue providing countless men and 
women opportunities to pursue their dreams.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from North Carolina has 
13\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would like to thank both of the gentlemen for their support of this 
bill.
  Clearly, I have to put on the record, as I continue to do, that I am 
a proud two-time graduate of an HBCU, North Carolina A&T State 
University, and I spent 40 years teaching at an HBCU in Greensboro, 
North Carolina, Bennett College. It was an HBCU that made a committed 
investment in me as I prepared to come to college and molded and shaped 
me into what they knew I could become.
  Mr. Speaker, despite limited means, HBCUs have always generously 
served their communities because they understand the critical role that 
they play in advancing equity and access. They build on the philosophy 
of W.E.B. DuBois, who talked about education and said: ``Of all the 
civil rights for which the world has struggled and fought for 5,000 
years, the right to learn is undoubtedly the most fundamental.''
  The HBCU PARTNERS Act recognizes these fundamental rights and these 
contributions in the most important way possible, by affording these 
institutions the ongoing support and investment needed to deepen their 
transformational work.
  Advancing the mission of HBCUs and the prosperity of the communities 
they serve must be on the minds of our country's leaders. More 
importantly, it must be part of their agendas.
  If America wants to deliver on its promises of equal opportunity for 
all, investing in HBCUs is certainly one of the most important ways to 
do so.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 461, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 
965, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
will be postponed.

                          ____________________