March 7, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 41 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND, INC.

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                           HON. BRADLEY BYRNE

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 7, 2019

  Mr. BYRNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 75th 
Anniversary of the founding of the United Negro College Fund, Inc. 
(UNCF). In it's 75 years of existence, UNCF has helped thousands of 
students attend colleges and universities throughout the country; 
Through their work, they have created leaders and proud members of our 
communities whose contributions to the United States are immeasurable.
  The UNCF was founded in 1944 to help increase the total number of 
black Americans enrolled in college. UNCF traces its founding to 
Frederick Douglass Patterson, who wrote an open letter in the 
Pittsburgh Courier to presidents of other private black colleges in 
1934 urging them to ``pool their small monies and make a united appeal 
to the national conscience.''
  Today, UNCF is a strong organization with a profound mission to build 
a robust and nationally-recognized pipeline of under-represented 
students who, because of UNCF support, become highly-qualified college 
graduates. UNCF also seeks to ensure their network of 37-member 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is a respected 
model of best practice in moving students to and through college and 
then into the workforce .
  As co-Chair of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, I am proud to represent 
the many HBCUs in Alabama and advocate for the betterment of all HBCUs 
across the country. I have appreciated working with UNCF to accomplish 
this mission.
  Since its founding, UNCF has raised more than $4.8 billion in 
scholarship aid for students. Each year, UNCF awards scholarships and 
internships to more than 10,000 students at 1,100 colleges and 
universities nationwide. Overall, more than 445,000 students have 
earned college degrees due to the support provided by UNCF.
  It is impossible to measure the legacy and contributions of UNCF. 
Madam Speaker, please join me in commemorating the constant investments 
by UNCF in our low-income, first generation college students and HBCUs, 
and all of the immeasurable good they have done for our students and 
our nation.

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