[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 208 (Wednesday, December 9, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1122-E1123]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HBCU PROPELLING AGENCY RELATIONSHIPS TOWARDS A NEW ERA OF RESULTS FOR 
                              STUDENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 7, 2020

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the bipartisan 
Congressional HBCU Caucus and an original co-sponsor, I rise in support 
of the bipartisan S. 461, the ``HBCU Propelling Agency Relationships 
Towards a New Era of Results for Students Act'' (HBCU PARTNERS Act), 
which will strengthen partnerships between federal agencies and the 
country's more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
(HBCUs).
  The HBCU PARTNERS Act requires federal agencies with relevant grants 
and programs to undertake annual planning and coordinate their efforts 
to support and expand HBCU participation in those programs.
  The bill strengthens the rigor and transparency requirements of 
existing law by requiring that agencies track their progress toward 
past goals and share their plans with Congress.
  In addition, it codifies the White House Board of Advisors on HBCUs, 
ensuring an ongoing avenue for the institutions' priorities and policy 
concerns to be raised.
  As a strong proponent of the preservation of our nation's HBCU's and 
MSI's, I support this bill because our students deserve to receive an 
outstanding education and have access to equal resources, regardless of 
the institution they choose to attend.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud that one of the greatest HBCUs in the 
country, Texas Southern University, is located in my congressional 
district.
  Texas Southern University has a rich history with nine academic 
units, 1,000 dedicated staff members, and over 9,200 esteemed students.

[[Page E1123]]

  Like most of my HBCU Caucus colleagues, I have worked closely with my 
local HBCU to provide funding and resources needed to enable them to 
fulfill their mission of educating the next generation of social 
engineers and conducting research programs addressing issues of major 
concern to the African American community.
  As Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation 
Security and Infrastructure Protection in the 111th Congress, I 
authored the legislation to' establish a Transportation Security Center 
of Excellence at TSU and worked to help TSU secure $1.2 million in 
funding over four years from the Department of Homeland Security for 
this Center of Excellence.
  One of my proudest accomplishments as a member of Congress is my 
success in working with federal officials in the Clinton Administration 
to settle the lawsuit against TSU that had been pending for more than 
23 years.
  I was proud to spearhead the initiative that brought more than $13 
million in financial aid relief for the students and campus of Texas 
Southern University.
  I also worked with TSU administrators to initiate digital archive 
projects to preserve the records of two of its most distinguished 
alumni, the legendary Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland, both of whom 
preceded me as the Member of Congress for the Eighteenth Congressional 
District ofTexas,
  I was pleased to facilitate a partnership between Comcast and TSU's 
School of Communication to provide scholarships and internships to TSU 
students and in-kind marketing services to the university.
  I also worked to secure funding needed to establish the Center for 
Transportation, Training and Research in the TSU College of Science, 
Engineering, and Technology.
  Mr. Speaker, HBCU's have played a critical role in American history.
  As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated: ``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--HBCUs have and will continue to fill an 
important role in education opportunity and engagement for millions of 
young people from diverse backgrounds.
  As leaders of this country, the success and expansion of HBCUs and 
minority-serving institutions falls on our shoulders and we must act 
swiftly to ensure that these institutions are protected.
  In an effort to maintain the legacy and educational quality of our I 
historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving 
institutions, we must act urgently to ensure the proper relationships 
are established between all of these institutions and the Department of 
Homeland Security.
  I ask all members to join me in voting for S. 461, the ``HBCU 
Propelling Agency Relationships Towards a New Era of Results for 
Students Act.''

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