Sen. Ossoff, Rep Adams calling to include strong HBCU investments in upcoming bipartisan competition bill
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff continues his push to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).
This week, Sen. Ossoff and Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12) led a bicameral group of lawmakers urging Senate and House leadership to maintain a $1.2 billion funding level for HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and MSIs to boost research and innovation capacity in the final version of the bipartisan competition bill.
“To innovate and seize the jobs of the future, we must invest in HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs, who have long punched above their weight when it comes to supporting our country’s innovation and scientific workforce,” Sen. Ossoff, Rep. Adams, and the members wrote. “For America to reach its highest potential it is critical that we engage and invest in all segments of our nation’s diverse population. Establishing this important, capacity-building program will further unlock HBCUs’, TCUs’, and MSIs’ potential and allow these institutions to compete on equal footing for federal grants and contracts for decades into the future.”
A recent report from the National Science Foundation found that just 30 institutions account for nearly half of all R&D spending by colleges and universities across America — and none of the 30 institutions were HBCUs, TCUs, or MSIs.
The letter was also signed by House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC-06); Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Luján ((D-NM), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA); and Representatives André Carson (D-IN-07), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA-11), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Lucy McBath (D-GA-06), and Nikema Williams (D-GA-05).
Click here to read Sen. Ossoff and Rep. Adams’ letter.
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