February 21, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 35 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 1494--HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 
               (HBCUs) HOMELAND SECURITY PARTNERSHIPS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 21, 2020

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, as a member of the bipartisan 
Congressional HBCU Caucus and an original co-sponsor, I rise in support 
of H.R. 1494, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) 
Homeland Security Partnerships Act, which strengthens partnerships 
between historically Black colleges and universities and minority-
serving institutions, and the Department of Homeland Security.
  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.
  H.R. 1494 would improve the quality of HBCU's and minority serving 
institutions by allowing the Department of Homeland Security to promote 
recruitment, hiring, research and acquisition opportunities.
  H.R. 1494 also requires the Department of Homeland Security to send 
each HBCU and minority-serving institution a comprehensive list of 
internship, fellowship, scholarship and recruitment opportunities 
within the Department for students and graduates of such institutions.
  In addition to the implementation of strategies to improve 
governmental relations with these colleges, universities and 
institutions, the DHS will submit reports detailing financial awards, 
descriptions of how the partnerships are enforced, and summaries of 
outreach efforts to HBCU's and minority-serving institutions.
  Madam 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.
  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 Chairwoman 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 of Texas.
  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 helped secure funding needed to establish the Center for 
Transportation, Training and Research in the TSU College of Science, 
Engineering, and Technology.
  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.
  Funds provided by the Science and Technology Directorate grants and 
cooperative agreements will provide enhancements in areas relating to 
homeland security such as cybersecurity, emergency management and 
counterterrorism.
  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 
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 H.R. 1494, the 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Homeland Security 
Partnerships Act.

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