[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1424 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1424
Expressing the sense of Congress that August 30, 2024, be observed as
the 134th anniversary of the 1890 Institutions.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 6, 2024
Ms. Adams (for herself and Mr. Turner) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that August 30, 2024, be observed as
the 134th anniversary of the 1890 Institutions.
Whereas former Senator Justin Morrill helped lead the passage of the Second
Morrill Act of 1890 on August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), to
establish and support land-grant institutions for African Americans to
attend;
Whereas the mission of the 1890 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of the
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7
U.S.C. 7601)) is educational instruction, agricultural research, and
statewide extension efforts;
Whereas the universities that were founded and form the 1890 Institutions
include--
(1) Lincoln University, in Missouri, in 1866;
(2) Alcorn State University, in Mississippi, in 1871;
(3) University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, in Arkansas, in 1873;
(4) Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, in Alabama, in
1875;
(5) Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University, in Texas, in
1876;
(6) Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, in
Louisiana, in 1880;
(7) Tuskegee University, in Alabama, in 1881;
(8) Virginia State University, in Virginia, in 1882;
(9) Kentucky State University, in Kentucky, in 1886;
(10) University of Maryland Eastern Shore, in Maryland, in 1886;
(11) Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, in Florida, in
1887;
(12) Central State University, in Ohio, in 1887;
(13) Delaware State University, in Delaware, in 1891;
(14) North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, in
North Carolina, in 1891;
(15) West Virginia State University, in West Virginia, in 1891;
(16) Fort Valley State University, in Georgia, in 1895;
(17) South Carolina State University, in South Carolina, in 1896;
(18) Langston University, in Oklahoma, in 1897; and
(19) Tennessee State University, in Tennessee, in 1912;
Whereas the Council of 1890 Universities is comprised of the 19 presidents and
chancellors of such universities and provides leadership to advance the
interests of the 1890 Institutions;
Whereas collectively, such universities have over 88,000 undergraduate and
graduate students in disciplines, including--
(1) agriculture and related sciences;
(2) computer and information sciences;
(3) biological and biomedical sciences;
(4) physical and social sciences;
(5) the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) areas;
and
(6) other majors and degrees;
Whereas the 1890 Association of Research Directors and the 1890 Association of
Extension Administrators, respectively, help lead university research
activities and serve the extension needs of communities;
Whereas the 1890 Universities Foundation was established in December 2016 to
help facilitate strategic initiatives across the 1890 Institutions;
Whereas in successive farm bills, including the Agriculture Improvement Act of
2018 (Public Law 115-334), Congress made new Federal investments in the
1890 Institutions, such as--
(1) the program providing scholarships for students at 1890
Institutions under section 1446 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222a);
(2) the recognition of at least 3 Centers of Excellence at 1890
Institutions under section 1673(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926(d)); and
(3) allowing for the carryover of funds for extension at 1890
Institutions under section 7114 of the Agriculture Improvement of 2018
(Public Law 115-334);
Whereas in the ongoing Federal-State partnership to provide support for the 19
historically Black 1890 Institutions, sections 1444 and 1445 of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221, 3222), the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.),
and the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.) require the States to
fully match the Federal funding provided under such provisions of law;
Whereas Congress has provided significant Federal funding and resources to
support and supplement agricultural research, education, extension,
farmer and rancher assistance, and facility improvements, as well as
scholarships and programs that provide internships and pathways to
agricultural sector or Federal employment for 1890 Institutions;
Whereas the Department of Agriculture has worked collaboratively with the 1890
Institutions through the USDA-1890 Task Force established in 1988,
enabling such Institutions to work across the Department of Agriculture,
and through a June 2022 Memorandum of Understanding, has reaffirmed and
strengthened the ongoing relationship between the 1890 Institutions
community and the Department of Agriculture;
Whereas the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Education have worked
closely with Governors of the States that 1890 Institutions call home to
bring attention to, and rectify, funding disparities across the United
States land-grant system;
Whereas the Department of Agriculture launched a Nutrition Hub in 2023 under the
Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet for
Better Health (ASCEND for Better Health) initiative at Southern
University, in Louisiana, to be an engine for providing science-based,
nutrition-related information at the community level;
Whereas the 1890 National Scholars Program of the Department of Agriculture
awarded 91 scholarships in 2024 to students enrolled at 1890
Institutions from rural and underserved communities who study food,
agriculture, natural resource, and other related sciences through the
Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement of the Department of
Agriculture; and
Whereas the Department of Agriculture invested over $30,000,000 to 68 projects
across all 1890 Institutions in 2024 through the National Institute of
Food and Agriculture's 1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and
Extension Capacity Building Grants Program that aims to support
scientific research addressing the Nation's toughest agricultural
challenges;
Whereas the Department of Agriculture, in partnership with Congress, has worked
with 1890 Institutions and other organizations to ensure that
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers receive the assistance they need to
better serve their communities; and
Whereas Central State University, in Ohio, celebrated the 10th anniversary of
its official designation as an 1890 Institution by the Agricultural Act
of 2014 (Public Law 113-79), thereby bringing the 1890 Institutions to
19 in number: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That Congress--
(1) recognizes the 134 years of significant and meaningful
contributions the 1890 Institutions have made to the United
States;
(2) encourages that the 134th anniversary of the 1890
Institutions should be observed with Federal and State
ceremonies and other appropriate events around the country;
(3) celebrates the collaborative work the 19 historically
Black 1890 Institutions have undertaken to address the
agricultural research and extension needs of the country;
(4) supports the efforts of the Department of Agriculture
and other Federal agencies to build stronger partnerships with
the 1890 Institutions;
(5) encourages the creation of task forces similar to the
USDA-1890 Task Force across other Federal agencies; and
(6) commits to working in a bipartisan way to address the
past funding and program inequities of the 1890 Institutions.
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