WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D-NC) announced the re-launch of the Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus. The Caucus was originally launched in 2015. Since it has grown to 84 Members strong, in both the House and Senate and from both sides of the aisle. The Caucus re-launch was hosted during the annual HBCU Fly-In led by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. This year, the Caucus announced the addition of two new Senate Co-Chairs – Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senator Doug Jones (D-AL). The re-launch was attended by Presidents from more than 20 HBCUs. Caucus Co-Chair and Founder Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. and Caucus Vice Chair French Hill (R-AR) led a bipartisan discussion with Caucus Senate Co-Chair Tim Scott, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN).
To mark the re-launch, the Caucus announced the introduction of bipartisan and bicameral legislation entitled the HBCU Propelling Agency Relationships Towards a New Era of Results for Students (HBCU PARTNERS) Act. The Act builds on the President’s 2017 executive order on HBCUs by requiring federal agencies to strategically engage and invest in HBCUs. The bill mandates that agencies measure their progress and report their actions to Congress. Additionally, it codifies the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs, ensuring that HBCU priorities and policy are heard. The HBCU PARTNERS Act was a major legislative priority for the Caucus – other priorities were announced during their re-launch event.
“Today is a special day for bipartisanship and for HBCUs. This morning, we re-launched the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, which is now 84 strong with Members in both the House and the Senate. Now, leaders of the Caucus mark our re-launch by introducing bipartisan legislation that codifies a comprehensive federal strategy for HBCUs – a major goal for our Caucus,” said Congresswoman Adams. “This bill will require every administration to strategically engage and invest in HBCUs. These institutions provide over $15 billion annually to our economy and have provided pathways of opportunity for millions of Americans, particularly low-income and first generation college students.”
“As the husband of a proud Winston-Salem State University graduate and being privileged to represent North Carolina A&T State University, the largest public HBCU in the country, I know the value Congress can play in fostering partnerships to help these schools and their students succeed. By fostering bipartisan and multi-industry relationships, we can help HBCUs with a pipeline from potential-filled students to prosperous workers.” – Congresswoman Mark Walker (R-NC)
Caucus Membership:
Karen Bass (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Don Beyer, (D-VA), Sanford Bishop, (D-GA),Lisa Blunt Rochester, (D-DE), Suzanne Bonamici, (D-OR), Mo Brooks, (R-AL), Anthony Brown, (D-MD), Ted Budd, (R-NC), G.K. Butterfield, (D-NC), Yvette Clarke, (D-NY), WM. Lacy Clay, (D-MO), Emanuel Cleaver, (D-MO), Jim Clyburn, (D-SC), Doug Collins, (R-GA), Jim Cooper, (D-TN), Elijah Cummings, (D-MD), Debbie Dingell, (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett, (D-TX), Dwight Evans, (D-PA), Chuck Fleischmann, (R-TN), Marcia Fudge, (D-OH), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Jim Himes, (D-CT), Eleanor Holmes-Norton, (D-DC), Steny Hoyer, (D-MD), Richard Hudson, (R-NC), Will Hurd, (R-TX), Sheila Jackson Lee, (D-TX), Hank Johnson, (D-GA), Walter Jones, (R-NC), Trent Kelly, (R-MS), Peter King, (R-NY), Ro Khanna, (D-CA), Brenda Lawrence, (D-MI), Al Lawson, (D-Fl), Barbara Lee, (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal, (D-CA), John Lewis, (D-GA), Ted Lieu, (D-CA), Blaine Luetkemeyer, (R-MO), Elaine Luria, (D-VA), Carolyn Maloney, (D-NY), Gregory Meeks, (D-NY), Betty McCollum, (D-MN), Donald McEachin, (D-VA), Jim McGovern, (D-MA), Seth Moulton, (D-MA), Frank Pallone, (D-NJ), Collin Peterson, (D-MN), Stacey Plaskett, (D-VI), David Price, (D-NC), Cedric Richmond, (D-LA), Mary Gay Scanlon, (D-PA), Bobby Scott, (D-VA), David Scott, (D-GA), Eric Swalwell, (D-CA), Bennie Thompson, (D-MS), Rashida Tlaib, (D-MI), Michael Turner, (R-OH), Mark Veasey, (D-TX), Mark Walker, (R-NC), Bruce Westerman, (R-AR), Frederica Wilson, (D-FL), Cory Booker, (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown, (D-OH), Richard Burr, (R-NC), Tom Carper, (D-DE), Chris Coons, (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand, (D-NY), Kamala Harris, (D-CA), Doug Jones, (D-AL), Tim Kaine, (D-VA), David Perdue, (R-GA), Chuck Schumer, (D-NY), Tim Scott, (R-SC), Thom Tillis, (R-NC), Mark Warner, (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen, (D-MD), Bradley Byrne (R-AL)
From the Office of Congresswoman Alma Adams
