December 3, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 192 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
All in House sectionPrev38 of 65Next
IN SUPPORT OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 192
(House of Representatives - December 03, 2019)
Text available as:
Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Pages H9212-H9219] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] IN SUPPORT OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2019, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to be here this evening to address a very important topic. I rise to advocate, along with my colleagues who have come, for the 300,000 students that attend our Nation's historically Black colleges and universities, known as HBCUs. As Congress looks to agree on a funding agreement for fiscal year 2020, we must keep in mind our Nation's 102 HBCUs that specialize in providing opportunity for low-income, first-generation African American students. When I entered Congress, one of my first tasks when I got here was to launch the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus to bring greater attention to the issues that affect HBCUs and their students. I did so because more than anything I know the importance of HBCUs, not only in the African American community, but for our economy as a whole. For more than 150 years, HBCUs have paved a way where there is no way for America's most talented Black minds. Despite discrimination and neglect, HBCUs have continued to pull above their weight. We know the facts and the figures, but it never hurts to repeat them. HBCUs produce 27 percent of all African American STEM graduates; 40 percent of all African American engineers; 50 percent of all African American lawyers; 50 percent of all African American public school teachers; and 80 percent of all African American judges; despite only educating 10 percent of all African American college students. In my home State of North Carolina, we have 10 HBCUs currently operating and educating over 33,000 students: Bennett College; Elizabeth City State University; Fayetteville State University; Johnson C. Smith University--in my congressional district; Livingstone College; the North Carolina A&T State University, which is my alma mater and the largest public HBCU that produces African American engineers and the largest public HBCU in the Nation; along with North Carolina Central University; Saint Augustine's University; Shaw University; and last but not least, Winston-Salem State University. They make a total of $1.7 billion of economic impact in the State, supporting over 15,000 jobs and guaranteeing for their graduates $20.7 billion in lifetime earnings. They are more than a worthy investment for this body and for our State legislatures back home. And over the last 50 years, Congress has taken strides to correct for the historic lack of engagement and investment in these schools that contribute so much. When enacted in 1965, the Higher Education Act represented the Federal Government's first recognition of the important mission that HBCUs serve. The HEA of 1965 first authorized Title III Institutional Aid, which is the key program that supports academic quality, institutional management, and financial stability at HBCUs. Through multiple reauthorizations, Congress has sought to strengthen and to supplement this law by providing low-interest loans for schools to make infrastructure improvements. And, yes, by authorizing mandatory funding to help HBCUs prepare students for STEM careers, a mission that is sorely needed in a workforce that screams for diversity and inclusion. So tonight, Madam Speaker, we will hear from this body's most tireless advocates for HBCUs and our students, many of whom are members of the HBCU Caucus, which now includes almost 100 Members of the House and Senate, and many of whom are alums of our Nation's HBCUs, and many of my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus, because we know firsthand what these schools mean to an aspiring student of color looking at education as a ticket to the middle class. Madam Speaker, I stand tonight as a living testament to the necessity and to the importance of HBCUs. My mother, who raised me, was not an educated woman. She wasn't able to obtain a high school education and certainly not to attend an HBCU or any CU for that matter. But she understood how important education would be in my life. My mom did domestic work. She cleaned other folks' houses for many years so I wouldn't have to do that. But like those visionaries who founded these schools after surviving the horrors of slavery, my mother dreamed of a better future for me as her daughter. And when I could not fully recognize the potential in myself, it was an HBCU in North Carolina, North Carolina A&T State University, that saw something in me and made a committed investment towards my success. A&T gave a poor, Black girl from the ghetto of Newark, New Jersey, an opportunity, because that school believed in opportunity and the fundamental importance of education that W.E.B. Du Bois spoke about. When he said, ``Of all of the civil rights for which the world has struggled and fought for 500 years, the right to learn is undoubtedly the most fundamental.'' That HBCU took me from where they found me and got me to where I needed to be. They shaped and molded me into what they knew I could become, just as all of our schools have for millions of Americans since the founding of the first HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in 1836. General Leave Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from North Carolina? There was no objection. Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. David Scott). Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Adams. Let me just commend her as our leader of the HBCU Caucus up here. She does a marvelous job, and it is a pleasure to work with her. And I know all the people of North Carolina are very proud of the leadership that she is providing. Madam Speaker, this is a particular honor for me, because I stand here as a premier example of why our historically Black colleges and universities are so important. When I graduated from high school, my mother and father had no money. I got a job washing dishes in a Daytona Beach hotel, and the people of Daytona Beach, Florida, got together and raised $350, and they said, ``Here, go to the college of your choice.'' And thank God there was a Florida A&M University. And you know what, Madam Speaker? Florida A&M was on the trimester system. And guess what it cost for one trimester? $350. God is wonderful. And God has blessed this Nation because we have a Florida A&M, a Tuskegee, a North Carolina A&T, a Fort Valley, a Tennessee State. All of these great institutions to get a way out of no way for folks just like me. That is why this is important. I wouldn't be in Congress today if it weren't for Florida A&M University, [[Page H9213]] because that is why I wanted to tell how I got here. And I wouldn't have been able to meet my loving partner and wife, Alfredia, had it not been for Florida A&M University. So what I am saying is: our historically Black universities have provided the foundation for the Black family structure. That is where you meet your wife. And I will tell you what, we took a survey one time, and those individuals that met their wives at college last a long time. And that is what is so important, in addition to the great education that we have. And I just want to say, also while I am here, of the great achievement that we Members of the Congressional Black Caucus achieved, a historical event, $80 million in scholarships for the 19 African American land-grant colleges and universities, a bipartisan historic effort. And you know what, Madam Speaker, it is in the farm bill now. Five years from now it will come back. And we have laid the foundation to make it a permanent appropriation. That is our goal. This floor is crowded with African Americans who have helped make this dream a reality. I am very grateful for all that our colleges have done. And I just want to say thank God for our historically Black colleges and universities. And thank Ms. Adams. Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank gentleman from Georgia. And he is absolutely right, HBCUs take you where they find you and mold and shape you. I had the privilege to serve on the faculty and to serve as an administrator at Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, for 40 years. So the thousands of students that I had an opportunity to impact certainly have made a lasting impact on me. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), our very capable whip. Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the chair of the HBCU Caucus for yielding to me this evening. Madam Speaker, we usually approach almost everything in this body by looking at the economic impact that it may have on the budget, on our economy, and sometimes on just a small community. So let's take a look at the economic impact that HBCUs have on our Nation's economy: $15 billion annually goes into the national economy as a result of the more than 100 HBCUs that exist in the country. These colleges provide pathways of opportunity for millions of Americans, many of whom are first-generation college students. So investing in HBCUs is something that could be very important for our Nation. And that is why I am a little bit concerned tonight that the FUTURE Act, a piece of legislation that passed this House unanimously, is now sitting in the Senate. We made some attempt when we passed this current continuing resolution to attach that act to the continuing resolution, but for some reason, the Senate, in its wisdom, has decided not to attach that deal to the continuing resolution. {time} 1945 This continuing resolution will expire on December 20. I have no idea what we will do after that to fund the budget. Will there be another continuing resolution? Will we do an omnibus? Will we do a series of minibuses? Whatever the vehicle may be, I call upon the Senate tonight to attach the FUTURE Act to whatever the next vehicle may be because HBCU's funding of $255 million under title III is wrapped into that act. If it is not enacted, we will see many of these colleges and universities lose their funding. Irrespective of what the economic impact might be, I want to spend a few minutes talking about the personal, human impact of HBCUs. Our illustrious chair of the task force, as mentioned, graduated from North Carolina A&T. She graduated two times, as a student and as a professor. I often tell the story of someone most people in this country either knew or knew about, Ronald McNair. Ron McNair was from the little town of Lake City, South Carolina, in my congressional district. I just happen to have a congressional district that contains seven HBCUs. Ron and I were pretty good friends, and as he was about to go up in his final, fatal flight, he stopped by my office. We talked that day because he was talking with the people at the University of South Carolina, who were hopeful that when this flight was over, he would be joining their faculty. Well, we all know that it was a fatal flight. Ron said something to me on that day that I talk about very often. He said to me: Every time I go someplace to speak or am in attendance, people always talk about my Ph.D. in physics from MIT, but that is not what made the difference in my life. He said to me that when he left Lake City, South Carolina, and Carver High School, he went to North Carolina A&T. It was on that campus that those professors who had similar backgrounds and experiences that he had, who understood what it was to come from a little rural community, took the time to nurture him and to prepare him for his journey through life. I told the story to the current president of South Carolina State University, from which I am a graduate. He said to me that he knew Ron McNair up at MIT, where he graduated. He said to me that of all the students on that campus, Ron McNair was better prepared for the journey at MIT than anybody else. That is because these HBCUs take the time not just to explore what may be in the textbooks, but they look at what may be in the life experiences of these students who come there. I think about those students growing up on the Sea Islands of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, in what we call Gullah Geechee country, who come to colleges and universities not knowing a whole lot about what we call common English, but they know the Gullah Geechee language. They are very smart students who know what to do with calculus and math, and sometimes, they may have problems making a subject and verb agree because of their experiences. They go to these colleges and universities where the teachers, professors, and other students have a similar background. I know so well because that day that Scott just mentioned, I met my spouse of 58 years on that campus. She was a Gullah woman, but she went on to get a master's degree in library science. When she passed away a couple of months ago, no one in the State of South Carolina ever got the send-off that she got. Why? Because of the contributions she made. Come January or February, I believe, whatever the date may be, they are naming the Honors College at South Carolina State University in her honor. Why? Because she demonstrated in her life pursuits that she was worthy of such recognition. Through our family foundation, she left an endowment at her alma mater of $1.7 million, that for a little Gullah woman who went to an HBCU that took her from where she was and made her what she could be. That story is repeated time and time again all over this country. Madam Speaker, I want to say to my friends in the other body, the FUTURE Act is all about the future of people whose experiences may be different from theirs but whose intelligence may even surpass theirs. Let's do what we can to make sure that this country continues to benefit from their life experiences. They are willing to give back if only given the opportunity. Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for that not only inspiring but moving speech. I would say, Madam Speaker, that I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Clyburn's wife. Certainly, all of those tributes are really due to her. We are not only proud of the work that she did but of the life that she led. Madam Speaker, I say to my colleagues who talked about getting married, I got married at North Carolina A&T to my first spouse. It didn't last all but 6 or so years, at least not that one. But you do have an opportunity to not only interact but to meet folks for a lifetime, and that is really, really important. I want to mention as well that of all the universities, HBCUs are about 3 percent, yet we educate 10 percent of all students of African American descent. That means that we do a lot with a little. We don't get the kind of equitable funding that we have needed, but clearly, we have continued to press on. These are wonderful examples we have been hearing tonight. [[Page H9214]] Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the chair of the Committee on Education and Labor, a gentleman who has worked hard to make education valuable and important also. Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I thank the Congressional Black Caucus and Representative Adams in particular for dedicating this time to discuss an issue affecting so many communities across the country, and particularly Representative Adams for her leadership in congressional support for historically Black colleges and universities. Since their conception, HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions have played a vital role in expanding access to higher education for low-income students and students of color. Many present leaders, like physicians, dentists, lawyers, judges, and other professionals, and many elected officials, would not be where they are today but for the opportunity provided by HBCUs, especially the two in the Third District of Virginia, Hampton University and Norfolk State University. That is why earlier this year, the House unanimously passed the FUTURE Act, a proposal to preserve funding for these institutions that expired on September 30. The FUTURE Act is fully paid for, and it would provide an immediate 2-year extension of funding, averting a financial crisis that could eventually result in lost jobs, program cuts, and reduced financial support for students. A month later, the Committee on Education and Labor advanced the College Affordability Act, a comprehensive overhaul of the Higher Education Act that would increase access and affordability to higher education and specifically would increase and permanently reauthorize mandatory funding for historically Black colleges and other minority- serving institutions. HBCUs and minority-serving institutions collectively serve more than one-quarter of all undergraduate students each year. That is more than 6 million students, including many from our Nation's most underserved communities. It is important that we pass legislation extending the funding for these colleges and universities so that they can continue to fulfill their mission. Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for not only his comments but for his labor and his support for these very fine institutions. Madam Speaker, I do want to acknowledge the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Karen Bass, who had to leave. She left her comments and asked me to read them, so I am going to do that. She begins by talking about the Special Order hour tonight and the support that we need to give to our historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions. Congress, she says, must provide mandatory funding for these institutions. Fighting for historically Black colleges and universities is one of the Congressional Black Caucus' highest priorities because HBCUs are critical contributors to the strength of the Black community and our country. Many members of our caucus, the CBC, have attended great HBCUs, such as American Baptist College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta, Fisk University, Florida A&M, Howard University, Jackson State University, Morehouse College, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Prairie View A&M University, South Carolina State, Texas Southern University, Tougaloo College, Tuskegee University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Wiley College, among others. In the 115th Congress, the CBC launched a tour of HBCUs called CBC on the Yard. The goal of the tour was to listen, to involve and mobilize students to effect change in their communities, and to get their thoughts on the direction of the country and the issues that impact their lives. The CBC hosted events at Morehouse College, Xavier University, Bowie State University, and Howard University. According to the Thurgood Marshall Foundation, HBCUs account for 22 percent of the current bachelor's degrees granted to African Americans. Moreover, among African Americans, 13 percent of CEOs, 40 percent of engineers, 40 percent of healthcare professionals, 50 percent of teachers, 50 percent of non-HBCU professors, 50 percent of lawyers, 80 percent of judges, and 90 percent with bachelor's degrees in STEM subjects graduated from HBCUs. The economic impact of HBCUs, as the gentlewoman says, is equally impressive. A report by UNCF called ``HBCUs Make America Strong'' said the positive economic impact of historically Black colleges and universities show that HBCUs generate $14.8 billion in economic impact annually. HBCUs are vital to the students who attend them and to the entire country, which makes use of the valuable skills that these graduates bring to the private and public sectors. Our Nation must continue to invest in HBCUs and minority-serving institutions. {time} 2000 Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis). Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, let me, first of all, congratulate Ms. Adams on the tremendous leadership that she has been providing to those of us who are concerned about Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as education in general. I certainly thank the gentlewoman for being able to share this moment as we talk about the importance of these very viable, valuable institutions. I represent a congressional district that has some of the most outstanding educational institutions in the world, without a doubt. We don't have an HBCU in my district, but I was fortunate, as were so many members of my family, on my 16th birthday to enroll in Arkansas AM&N College with no money--as a matter of fact, on credit. I had $20 when I got there in my shirt pocket. We had a president at the time, Dr. Lawrence Arnette Davis, that all of us just simply called ``Prexy,'' kind of saying that he was a father surrogate and a father figure for every one of us who hit that campus. My parents were sharecroppers. We lived in rural Arkansas, a very important State because it is the only State in the Bible Noah looked over his ark and saw. But we were able to have Arkansas AM&N College. Four of my sisters, myself, two of my brothers, three of my nephews, three of my nieces, and an assortment of first cousins all went to UAPB. Even today, in the community where I live, large numbers of students want to go there, and they do. They go because there is something unique about these institutions. They have the capacity to provide individual attention, in many instances, where larger universities may not have the same. They have the understanding to know that they are individuals who come from environments where they may need a little extra attention and a little extra help, and they provide it. These are inspirational settings where individuals go and learn their profession, develop their abilities, and know that, when they leave, they leave with the inspiration. And so, again, commendations. So I end by just thinking of some of the words of our anthem. The person who wrote it said: State college, we greet thee with love and devotion; Our hearts and our treasures we bring to thy shrine. With arms that are strong from all harm, we defend thee; Thy name shall we cherish, dear mother of mine. We cherish our Historically Black Colleges and Universities and urge that they receive the funding that they need. Madam Speaker, God bless Representative Adams for leading the charge. Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Davis very much for his eloquent presentation. As I think about many of the songs that we sing at our schools, they have a certain relevance, strength, and meaning for the students that we serve. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who has been out on this battlefield for a very long time. I am so happy to share this hour with her and all of my colleagues. Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I thank her for her tireless leadership on this issue and so [[Page H9215]] many issues, and also for forming the bipartisan caucus as it relates to our HBCUs; because this bipartisan caucus, once she got here, she hit the ground running, and it has never been the same. I am a proud member of the caucus, and I just want to thank her for her tremendous leadership. Also, I thank our chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Karen Bass, for her leadership in helping to put together this Special Order tonight. It is really an honor to be here tonight to support our Nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and, of course, I am in full support of the FUTURE Act. Madam Speaker, Malcolm X once declared: ``Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.'' For over 150 years, Historically Black Colleges have provided these passports for students. One of the largest populations of students at HBCUs come from my home State of California. In fact, it may be the largest number of students at HBCUs are from California, including my grandson, Jonah, whom you know. Black students in California would never have the opportunity to go to college if it were not for HBCUs. So, for them and for their families, I am deeply grateful. HBCUs have always offered African American young men and women a quality, affordable education at times when access to institutions of higher learning was limited or completely closed off to African Americans. With over 101 HBCUs across the Nation and 9 percent of all African American college students attending HBCUs, they are more important than ever in providing students a superior education. And, yes, it is the manifestation of the fact that Black lives do matter. They do matter. Now, as a member of the funding committee, the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee, I know just how important HBCU funding is. That is why we fought each and every year to increase HBCU funding, this year by $93 million above fiscal year `19 levels and the President's request. Let me say, also, that I did not have the honor of attending an HBCU, but I come from a family with deep roots at HBCUs. My grandfather and two aunts graduated from then Huston-Tillotson College in Austin, Texas. I just have to tell you, my 99-year-old aunt, Aunt Lois, whom I spent Thanksgiving with, spent her whole time talking to me about her education at her HBCU, at Huston-Tillotson College. She wants more young people to receive the stellar education that she received, and she is 99 years old. She is an unbelievable woman. HBCUs provided her that educational foundation for her life. She did an amazing job working and setting up businesses. She attributes that to everything she learned at HBCUs. Also, my mother attended Prairie View A&M University and also Southern University. I have been the beneficiary of the values and the academic foundation provided to me through my family's attendance and involvement at these great institutions. Two of my nieces, Michelle and Nicole, graduated from Prairie View. They are amazing young Black women making their mark in the world. HBCUs have a rich history to look back on and a vibrant future ahead, so I am proud tonight to join my colleagues in supporting HBCUs. I thank Congresswoman Adams for her commitment and her leadership to the education of our young African American students because she truly is securing the future, not only for our students and their families, but for our country and for the world. Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for not only her contributions, but the contributions of her family. I am a proud two-time graduate. My daughter is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, as well, and my grandson decided he wanted to be a Bison, so he is at Howard this year as a freshman. I am just delighted that he has joined the HBCU family. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne). Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership on this subject. Since coming to Congress, she has been one of the foremost advocates for education, specifically HBCUs. Prior to her arriving, it has always been an issue that has been very important, but she has really raised awareness and highlighted and been consistent in her leadership in this area. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the FUTURE Act in minority- serving institutions. I thank Representative Adams once again for anchoring tonight's discussion of this very important subject. Minority-serving colleges and universities--not to be mistaken as HBCUs--serve a critical role in our society. I, in New Jersey, do not have an HBCU, but we have many minority-serving institutions, and several in my district. These are students who find more support with teachers and professors who come from their culture. Studies have shown that they get better grades in classes with teachers of the same culture and race. This starts even before the students enter college. Minority students in the same race classes have fewer behavioral problems, regardless of income level or family structure. They are far more likely to end up doing well and coming along on the collegiate level at HBCUs. They are more likely to be held to a higher academic standard and pushed harder to excel in these schools. They perform better in reading, mathematics, and other core courses. That is where MSIs become vital to their continued success. Low- income, low-performing students' upward mobility skyrockets on these campuses. Take Bloomfield College, for example. And let me commend its new president, Marcheta P. Evans, for her vision for Bloomfield College. Bloomfield is a minority-serving institution of almost 1,700 students located in my 10th District, in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Of these students, 70 percent are low-income or first-generation college students; 95 percent get financial aid; and 75 percent are eligible for Pell grants. They come from families and communities that do not have many advantages. One Bloomfield college student was even homeless and struggled for meals before entering college. But the college steps in and addresses more than their academic needs. Instead, they come out of MSIs and become engineers. They become nurses, teachers, and professors. Bloomfield College even graduates simulation designers for video games and medical technicians. Like most MSIs, Bloomfield takes low-income students and turns them into middle- to high-income graduates, and they do it at rates that far exceed other universities. In other words, they solve several social problems at once. HBCUs are criticized in this country for their necessity, but the creation of HBCUs comes out of the inability for the larger population to accept minority students at colleges that were already in place. {time} 2015 So where do they have to go? So it is disingenuous to criticize HBCUs for remedying a problem of equality that still exists in this Nation. They keep today's low-income students on a path to success. They help close the wealth gap between Whites and non-Whites, and they provide hope and a future to a segment of America that needs it so much. So, in closing, Madam Speaker, we will continue to advocate for these institutions because, although I did not go to an HBCU, so many of my distinguished colleagues--the whip, Ms. Adams, and so many others--were educated at HBCUs. We see their talent and their brilliance every day on these floors of the House of Representatives. So we need HBCUs to continue to strive and be strong and continue to do the service that they have done for this country for decades. Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey--where I grew up--for not only his service there, but for his contributions tonight. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lawson). Mr. LAWSON. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak for HBCUs. I would like to thank my colleague, Ms. Adams, for all her input and how she has worked extremely hard to put HBCUs at the forefront. [[Page H9216]] I grew up in a rural area in the country where we were let out of high school early so that we could work in the tobacco fields in Gadsden County. I had no idea what college was really like until Florida A&M gave me the opportunity to attend college there. For 132 years Florida A&M has been educating a large number of baccalaureate degree-holders in this country, as well as engineers, pharmacists, and you just name it, especially in the school of business where we had one of the greatest leaders in this country of all time to head up that school that really contributed to corporate America. Without HBCUs, I know that I wouldn't be here. A boy walking bare- footed in the countryside had the opportunity to represent HBCUs, not only in the State legislature but now in Congress. They have made a major impact on this country and on economics that many of my colleagues have talked about today. When you think about it, where would this country be without that impact? On September 30 of this year, the funding was not authorized. But that $255 million that the House unanimously passed is now sitting in the Senate. It is imperative that we encourage our Senators to approve this because many of these schools would not be able to function without that funding. I happen to represent not only Florida A&M University but Edward Waters College where it is critically needed for these schools to survive. Over the past 30 or 40 years, the issue also comes up, Madam Speaker, about where HBCUs are going. Many of today's HBCUs have taken minorities and international students from all over the country, more so than some of the majority institutions, and they have done well. In the area of STEM and technology, in science, we need more and more people in STEM around the country. Where can they come from? They come from HBCUs. When you look at the number of Ph.D. candidates and the number one to get Ph.D.s in this country, where do they come from? They come from HBCUs. I am really proud of the fact that HBCUs, especially Florida A&M University, molded me into the leader that I am today. It made me appreciate hard work. I had the opportunity to have professors that really cared about me and a goal. So for some 30-some years I have been a part of this leadership. I applaud Congresswoman Adams for all of her hard work and for bringing it to the forefront. We stand here tonight to send a message out there that we are a part of America. We are part of the American Dream, and we urge our colleagues to support it. Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Florida. Madam Speaker, how much time is remaining? The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman has 10 minutes remaining. Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Scanlon). Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I am honored to take part in this Special Order hour tonight in which we honor the Nation's HBCUs and highlight our support for the FUTURE Act. My district, Pennsylvania's fifth, is home to the oldest HBCU in the United States, Cheyney University. Founded in 1837, Cheyney is also a charter member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Cheyney is a historical, cultural, and academic beacon in our community, where it has long provided academic and professional opportunities for students in Pennsylvania and beyond. The university boasts tens of thousands of loyal and accomplished alumni who share their diverse talents with the Nation. Unfortunately, in recent years, Cheyney has faced financial instability, and 3 years ago nearly lost its accreditation. But last week there was good news. Based on strong leadership from Cheyney's new president, Aaron Walton, increased community and alumni engagement and strong enrollment numbers, Cheyney learned that its accreditation had been renewed. Moving forward, Cheyney is increasing academic offerings and developing innovative public-private partnerships that will help students to graduate and be ready to compete in the 21st century. I am extremely proud to represent Cheyney and to testify to the importance of HBCUs across the United States. Lastly, I am also proud to be a new member of the Congressional HBCU Caucus led by my colleague, a fierce supporter of these institutions, Representative Alma Adams. Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania. I know Cheyney very well. The gentlewoman is right. It was the first university, and I want to congratulate Cheyney on that accomplishment. When we talk about that, it should not be funding that separates our students in a way that they are not able to get the education that they need. We have had since 1873 18 HBCUs that have closed. All of us who have gotten together tonight and continue to work this area don't want to see another school close, especially because of money. When you look back at those who have had difficulty, it hasn't been because the academics weren't in order. There are strong academic programs at these colleges and universities, and we want to continue that tradition. We want not only these schools to survive but to thrive. That is really important, and that is where we need to go. Having said that, I want to read a couple of letters because they are very important. They are from two of my colleagues from the CBC. The first is from Eddie Bernice Johnson who has been very involved with HBCUs well before I got here, and I want to just thank her for her leadership as well. She writes, Madam Speaker: Historically Black colleges and universities, HBCUs, have played an important role in our Nation's history. These places of higher education have given opportunities to millions of young people to get a quality post-secondary education. Many of these students are the first in their family to attend college. I am proud to say that one of these institutions, Paul Quinn College, is located within my district. Currently, the top priority for HBCUs is to ensure that they have the resources needed to prepare students for a competitive, globalized workforce. The FUTURE Act, which passed in this Chamber some time ago, does exactly that. The bill reauthorizes critical funding for all minority-serving institutions for the next 2 years. Sadly, like most of the legislation that has passed the House of Representatives this Congress, the Senate refuses to do their job and vote on this noncontroversial bipartisan bill. The College Affordability Act, which was introduced in October, would go beyond what the FUTURE Act does and provide HBCUs more flexibility, so that they can strengthen their endowments, academic quality, and institutional management. The College Affordability Act also provides States with incentives to lower the cost for students to obtain a quality college education by raising the maximum amount for Pell grants and simplifying the student loan repayment program. These two bills are great examples of what we should strive for to guarantee the best outcome for students attending HBCUs and other MSIs. Madam Speaker, we need to make sure our higher education system serves all the students that hope to receive a degree. Historically Black colleges and universities, along with other minority-serving institutions, play a vital role for African Americans and other minority students. We need to continue passing legislation that provides true educational opportunities for those who desire to learn and who are unable to afford it. Madam Speaker, one of my colleagues from Ohio, Representative Marcia Fudge, who is a former CBC chair, states the following: Madam Speaker, more than one-quarter of all undergraduate students in the United States attend historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions. These schools play a critical role in unlocking higher education opportunities for millions of degree seekers, including students of color and low-income students of which many are the first in their family to attend college. To protect these essential institutions from the threat of closure and financial despair, we must continue to provide them with the resources they need to prepare students for the modern economy. Title III, part F of the Higher Education Act authorizes important mandatory funding for historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions to educate and prepare students for professions in the sciences, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, fields. Unfortunately, these critical sources of funding expired on September 30, and this lapse jeopardizes the viability of these institutions, as well as the STEM readiness of the [[Page H9217]] students they serve. At a time when diverse representation is low in the STEM economy, Congress must immediately restore mandatory funding to prevent permanent and irreversible damage to STEM programs at these historical institutions that give students from underserved communities an opportunity to rise above their circumstances. On September 17, 2019, the House passed the FUTURE Act, an extension of the $255 million in essential mandatory funding for HBCUs and MSIs. Despite receiving unanimous support in the House, the bill has yet to be considered by the Senate, and it was not included in the continuing resolution that passed in November. So as Congress considers spending bills for next year, we must restore this vital resource of funding that expands opportunities for underrepresented students. It is past time to uphold our promise to support these historic institutions and the students they serve. Madam Speaker, I want to at this point close with these comments. First of all, I thank all of my colleagues for their comments tonight, those who have stood up tonight for our Nation's 102 HBCUs, and MSIs. {time} 2030 We are at a critical crossroads tonight. We are in the midst of negotiating a government spending agreement that can confer over $500 million to all HBCUs. For too long, the schools have dedicated themselves to the futures of low-income, first-generation students of color, like me, who have been neglected by their government. Over the last 50 years, this body has made strides to correct that lack of investment and engagement, but none of those strides came easy. They were achieved in moments when many still questioned the purpose of having schools dedicated to that mission. I have heard the question asked over and over: Why do we need HBCUs? I will say that my response is: What in the world--and I use another word--would we do without our HBCUs? When we think about it, as has been stated by several of my colleagues, our schools were achieved in moments when many still questioned the purpose, when Federal and State investments in higher education are still consistently under attack. Our HBCUs, in particular, still suffer from impacts of historical discrimination and underinvestment, low endowments, outdated infrastructure, a lack of opportunities for growth compared to their PWI counterparts. The House of Representatives approved $375 million for title III, part B, the Strengthening HBCUs program last summer, the first time this program was appropriated at the authorization limit. It approved $40 million of loan authority for the HBCU Capital Financing Program. It also passed the FUTURE Act, which authorizes $85 million of mandatory funding for HBCUs. We illustrated our support for HBCUs, and now we need to guarantee that it is in the negotiations with the Senate. We want to make sure, as I said before, that our schools not only survive but that they thrive. When we fight for these programs, we show our belief in the futures of low-income, first-generation students of color. Madam Speaker, I am proud that I had a mother who stood up for me, in spite of the fact that we didn't have the funds. There was an HBCU in North Carolina that allowed me to come and made that investment in me. I was able to complete my bachelor's and master's degrees there at North Carolina A&T, and then, I was able to go on to receive my Ph.D. from The Ohio State University only because of the North Carolina A&T. Madam Speaker, let's not give up the fight now. We are going to continue to do it. I thank all of my colleagues, again, for being here tonight. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Support of Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues to underscore the need for Congress to support continued funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). I was honored to support the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act when the House passed this legislation unanimously in September of this year. The FUTURE Act would provide $255 million for Minority-Serving Institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Unfortunately, despite the unanimous bipartisan support for this bill here in the House, my colleagues in the Senate have blocked this legislation from consideration. This is unacceptable. HBCUs, and all MSIs, deserve our continued support and should not be treated as a political football. Since 1837, HBCUs have trained generations of African American students and scholars. The economic benefits of HBCUs extend beyond the students they educate. They're equally important to the local and regional economies served by these institutions. Today, there are nearly 300,000 future scientists, teachers, entrepreneurs and researchers preparing for their professional endeavors at more than 100 HBCUs throughout the country. HBCUs account for 17 percent of all bachelor's degrees earned by African Americans and 24 percent of the degrees earned by African Americans in the STEM fields. HBCUs have an inspiring past and a dynamic present in their unique role of raising up new academic leaders against the legacy of Jim Crow and decades of persistent and systemic racism. Annually, HBCUs support 134,000 jobs and provide $14.8 billion in economic output. The amazing work done at these schools has also been supported by investments through the Department of Defense, which has helped HBCUs contribute some of the most cutting-edge defense and national security research in the country. To advance these efforts, I introduced an appropriations amendment in the House that would increase the funding level to HBCUs by $4 million above current levels. My amendment, which passed the House on June 19, 2019, the 154th anniversary of Juneteenth, will increase the Department of Defense's investments in the physical sciences, mathematics and engineering programs at HBCUs and the national security benefits they provide. As my House colleagues and I continue to urge the Senate to pass the FUTURE Act and my amendment to increase HBCU funding, I will continue to champion our nation's investments in HBCUs as a critical part of enriching our culture and economy. When HBCUs succeed, America succeeds. Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) have played an important role in our nation's history. These places of higher education have given opportunities to millions of young people to get a quality postsecondary education. Many of these students are the first in their family to attend college. I am proud to say that one of these institutions, Paul Quinn College, is located within my district. Currently, the top priority for HBCU's is to ensure they have the resources needed to prepare students for a competitive, globalized workforce. The FUTURE Act, which passed in this chamber some time ago, does exactly that. The bill reauthorizes critical funding for all Minority Serving Institutions (MSI's) for the next two years. Sadly, like most of the legislation that has passed the House of Representatives this Congress, the Senate refuses to do their job and vote on this noncontroversial bipartisan bill. The College Affordability Act, which was introduced in October, would go beyond what the FUTURE Act does and provides HBCU's more flexibility so that they can strengthen their endowments, academic quality, and institutional management. The College Affordability Act also provides states with incentives to lower the cost for students to obtain a quality college education by raising the maximum amount for Pell Grants and simplifying the student loan repayment program. These two bills are great examples of what we should strive for to guarantee the best outcome for students attending HBCU's and other MSI's. Madam Speaker, We need to make sure our higher education system serves all the students that hope to receive a degree. Historically Black Colleges and Universities along with other Minority Serving institutions play a vital role for African Americans and other minority students. We need to continue passing legislation that provides true educational opportunities for those who desire to learn and are unable to afford it. Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus to celebrate and recognize the importance of educational opportunities that HBCU institutions create for thousands of young men and women from all walks of life. I am a member of the Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus because it promotes and protects the interest of HBCUs by: creating a national dialogue, educating Members of Congress and their staffs about the issues impacting HBCUs, drafting meaningful bipartisan legislation to address the needs of HBCUs, and supporting students and graduates of HBCUs by increasing access and career opportunities. [[Page H9218]] One important solution must be access to affordable 7 quality education for every person in this nation. I am proud to count Texas Southern University as a constituent, a great HBCU--located in my home city of Houston. I routinely partner with Texas Southern University to promote education opportunities and collaborate on community projects routinely. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, I led the initiative to get financial aid relief for the students and campus of Texas Southern University in the amount of $13 plus million dollars. I continue to keep the university community informed about major issues impacting citizens of my city of Houston, Texas. Issues like Health Care, Economic Development, Education, and Social Security are of great importance to TSU academic programs. I initiated the digitization projects for former U.S. Members of Congress Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland who both have permanent archives at Texas Southern University. I also assisted with the establishment of several scholarship Endowments at Texas Southern University. I helped create a partnership with Comcast at TSU's School of Communication, which offers scholarships, internships and in-kind marketing. I helped establish the Center for Transportation, Training and Research in TSU's College of Science, Engineering, and Technology. On September 17, 2019, the House passed House H.R. 2486, the Fostering Undergraduate Talent Using Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act, which I cosponsored and supported. Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act (HEA) provides funding to HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and MSIs to improve their self-sufficiency and strengthen their ability to serve low-income students, particularly in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professions. These funds advance these institutions' academic quality and fiscal stability. Unfortunately, funding for these institutions, as authorized by the HEA expired on September 30, 2019. It is crucial that these funds do not lapse. H.R 2486, the FUTURE Act, ensures that this will not happen. Under the FUTURE Act, HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and MSIs will continue to receive $255 million for the next two years. Without this funding, these institutions will suffer, particularly smaller institutions that will have to lay off staff and faculty and possibly face imminent danger of closure. Additionally, H.R. 2486 is completely paid for by eliminating Account Maintenance Fees, a proposal supported by Democrats, Republicans and the White House. It is time that the Senate takes up this important bill and pass it so that HBCUs can continue to do the important work of educating the next generation. HBCUs are more than just places of higher learning that are part of the nation's economy by contributing 15 billion dollars to the national economy annually. HBCUs provide pathways of opportunity for millions of Americans, many of whom are first generation college students. This underscores the need for the government to engage with HBCUs and other MSIs, and ensure these schools have the resources they need-- after a legacy of discrimination and neglect. The Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act reauthorizes crucial mandatory funding for HBCUs and all Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) for the next two fiscal years; $255 million a year, in total. Sustaining these funds is critical to supporting HBCUs and the students they serve. The FUTURE Act is intended to prepare HBCU students for careers in STEM professions--at a time when diverse representation is low in the STEM economy. Additionally, without this funding, small schools with small endowments will have to lay off staff and faculty in order to stay afloat; other schools will face imminent danger of closure. This bill represents the number one priority of all HBCUs in the country. This bill passed the House by a unanimous vote on September 17, 2019 but is being held up by the Senate due to the objections of Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Senator Alexander has claimed he has a bill that will permanently reauthorize FUTURE Act funds. He did not offer his bill until FUTURE passed the House of Representatives. The Senate has failed to come to an agreement on comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). In contrast, the House Education and Labor Committee has advanced the College Affordability Act, which will incentivize states to lower the cost of college tuition, strengthen federal financial aid programs, and simplify income-based repayment plans for student loan holders. The HEA contains all the federal programs that provide a pathway for low-income, first generation students into college. Senator Alexander's bill in total is a micro-version of HEA reauthorization that does very little to reduce the cost of college or address rising student loan debt. For example, Senator Alexander's bill would raise the maximum Pell Grant award by $20--and not index the award to inflation. Currently, the maximum Pell Grant award is $6,195. The average tuition at a public college is approximately $15,000. The purchasing power of the Pell Grant has decreased by 70 percent since 1979. Senator Alexander has packed his bill with a lot of other priorities because he's attempting to leverage the fate of 4 million students of color to create a legacy for himself. Senator Alexander has also said he does not like the way the FUTURE Act is paid for. The bill is paid for with the elimination of Account Maintenance Fees paid to Guaranty Agencies; an offset that is supported by Democrats and Republicans in Congress, as well as the White House. Given the significantly pared back services provided by guaranty agencies, and their ability to generate significant fee income through debt collection activities, this funding is no longer needed. Guaranty Agencies generate around $4 billion in annual revenue. They can fulfill their mission without these funds. Finally, Senator Alexander and the Department of Education has claimed they have funds to continue awarding grants through the end of Fiscal Year 2020. But that's only true because the Department has failed to award all Fiscal Year 2019 funding. In any case, institutions of higher learning need to budget at least a year in advance--without certainty, staff layoffs and a paring back of services will accelerate. On September 14, 1927, the Houston Public School Board agreed to fund the development of two junior colleges: one for whites and one for African-Americans. On September 14, 1927, the Houston Public School Board provided $2,800 in seed capital to form a Junior College for African American students. The initial enrollment for the first summer was 300 students. On June 1, 1951, the name of the school was changed from Texas State University for Negroes to Texas Southern University after students petitioned the state legislature to remove the phrase ``for Negroes.'' When the university opened its doors in September 1947, it had 2,300 students, two schools, one division and one college--the Law School, the Pharmacy School, the Vocational Division, and the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1973, the 63rd Legislature designated Texas Southern University as a ``special purpose'' institution for urban programming, which added four more academic units: the College of Education, the School of Public Affairs, the School of Communications and the Weekend College. Today, Texas Southern University offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in the following academic colleges and schools: the College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences; the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; the College of Science and Technology; the College of Education; the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs; the School of Communication; the Thurgood Marshall School of Law; the Jesse H. Jones School of Business; the Thomas Freeman Honors College; and the College of Continuing Education and the Graduate School. Currently, Texas Southern University is staffed by approximately 1,000 faculty members and support personnel. HBCU's have come a long way to be where they are today. The most significant milestone for HBCU's was the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. The Board of Education. Howard University School of Law graduates successfully argued against the constitutionality of ``separate but equal,'' opening the door for greater access to resources for institutions dedicated to education was a critical step forward. However, it was not until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that the federal government had the capacity and focus to enforce desegregation. On the 50th Anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King's ``I have a Dream'' speech given at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial were we able to understand the long road to freedom. In that speech Dr. King spoke of a world where race would mean much less than the content of a person's character. [[Page H9219]] Martin Luther King said, ``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--they build character. The Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus will create and explore legislation that will increase support for HBCUs, such as the Higher Education Act, America COMPETES, and Appropriations. The Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus will also work to connect HBCUs to funding opportunities that ensure schools have the resources needed to educate and prepare students for the global workforce. My focus in joining with my colleagues this evening for this special order is to support and continue my work with Texas Southern University and other HBCUs by: finding growth opportunities for HBCU students and graduates; working with private industry to connect students to jobs, internships, and scholarships; and opening up doors to HBCU students interested in coming to Capitol Hill. Each Congressional Black Caucus member works to expose HBCU students to global experiences to learn about other cultures. My office worked to assist students in my district in going on a trip to China--for many it was their first travel outside of the state of Texas. That one experience transformed their lives--by expanding their horizon from being local to global. ____________________
All in House sectionPrev38 of 65Next