About The Future Act
The FUTURE Act continues critically-needed funds for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Native American-Serving, Nontribal Institutions (NASNTIs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCUs), which are set to expire on September 30, 2019. Without the continuation of this funding (Title III-Part F of the Higher Education Act of 1965), these institutions are facing a $255 million fiscal “cliff,” which could result in the loss of jobs and programming for the institutions, and the loss of material support for their students, most of whom are low-income or first-generation college students, or both.
The FUTURE Act was TMCF’s #1 legislative priority for 2019 securing $85M in mandatory funding annually for HBCUs
WASHINGTON, DC (December 17, 2019) – The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) applauds and extends its sincere thanks to President Donald Trump for signing the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act into law today and, in so doing, securing $2.55 billion in permanent funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) over the next 10 years, as well as approving much-needed improvements to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and application process.
“On behalf of TMCF and our 47 member-school network, which comprises nearly 300,000 students, we are grateful to President Trump for continuing to show his unwavering support for the entire black college community by signing H.R. 5363 into law today,” said TMCF President & CEO Dr. Harry L. Williams. “We also send our thanks to the bipartisan and bicameral coalition of legislators who stood up and showed their commitment to HBCUs. This important funding is a smart investment in the future of our nation; one that will undoubtedly bear fruit for decades to come.”
“It is only because of my HBCU education and TMCF that I was able to secure a full-time offer at the top tech firm in the world, with plans to pursue an MBA in the future,” said Evan Robertson, Morgan State University student, and TMCF scholar. “When you invest in HBCUs through bills like the FUTURE Act, you invest in thousands of students just like me. We now have the funding necessary to continue being top contenders in the global workforce.”
This critical stream of mandatory federal funding (Title III, Part F) helps eligible colleges and universities enhance their fiscal stability, improve their institutional management, and strengthen their academic programming, with a particular focus on high-demand career areas, like careers in STEM fields.
“The passage of the FUTURE Act is certainly welcomed news for students, faculty, and administrators of HBCUs throughout the country,” said South Carolina State University President James E. Clark. “Now the capacities of HBCUs will be strengthened and increased across the board, enabling them to carry out their missions of educating students for years to come.”
“This is an important moment where America’s leadership has made a bold declaration that HBCUs are still undeniably essential for national progress,” said Grambling State University President Rick Gallot. “Thank you to the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, and the President for renewing more than $250 million in annual funding to HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs.”
The signing of this legislation concludes over a year of joint-advocacy originated by TMCF with higher education advocacy organizations, leaders, administrators, alumni, and students. TMCF member-school chancellors and presidents were exceptionally passionate in leading their campuses to join in the FUTURE Act advocacy efforts both in-person and online. The presidential action undertaken today represents a tremendous legislative victory for the entire higher-education community.
Note: TMCF President & CEO Dr. Harry L. Williams is available for further comments and interviews.
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ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.
Media Contact:
tmcfpress@tmcf.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC (December 10, 2019) – “The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) applauds Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) for working with leaders in the House of Representatives to iron out disagreements and moving expeditiously to pass the FUTURE Act with a 10-year renewal of mandatory funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) under Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which previously expired on September 30, 2019.
We express our sincere appreciation to Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) for their leadership in co-sponsoring the original legislation, and to all of the other members of the U.S. Senate who came together, in a bipartisan way, to extend this critical investment in our Nation’s post-secondary students.
If signed into law by President Trump, this $2.55 billion in critical mandatory federal funding (Title III, Part F), will continue to help eligible colleges and universities enhance their fiscal stability, improve their institutional management, and strengthen their academic programming, particularly within high-demand career areas, like careers in STEM disciplines.
This bill would not have passed Congress today without the collective advocacy efforts of the entire MSI community. The thousands of letters, phone calls, social media posts, and in-person meetings conducted by advocacy organizations, higher education leaders, administrators, alumni, and students made the difference in getting this legislation through Congress and to the President’s desk for signature.
Now, TMCF strongly encourages President Trump to show his unwavering support for HBCUs, PBIs and other MSIs by signing this important bill into law so this materially-important funding will be reinstated and our institutions can continue to positively impact the lives of their students.” Dr. Harry L. Williams, TMCF president & CEO
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ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.
Media Contact:
tmcfpress@tmcf.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC (December 10, 2019) – “The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act today. Today’s action by the House is a critical step towards finally ensuring that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) do not lose $255 million in mandatory federal funding.
The amended FUTURE Act will renew Title III, Part F (a/k/a SAFRA) funding for another 10 years, amounting to $2.55 billion in mandatory federal financial support, and help simplify the process for applying for financial aid by reducing the number of questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and facilitating communication between the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Education, and thereby eliminating the onerous financial aid verification process for students and administrators.
With the U.S. House and U.S. Senate leaders agreeing to strengthen the privacy protections contained in the U.S. Senate-passed version of the bill – we are cautiously optimistic that this bill will pass the U.S. Senate and head to President Trump’s desk for his signature in short-order.
This critical stream of mandatory funding (Title III, Part F) helps eligible colleges and universities enhance their fiscal stability, improve their institutional management, and strengthen their academic programming, with a particular focus on high-demand career areas, like careers in STEM fields.
We are appreciative of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) for making HBCU, PBI and other MSI funding a Congressional priority. We also thank Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) and Congressman Mark Walker (R-NC) for their leadership in co-sponsoring the original FUTURE Act legislation and to all of the Republican and Democrat members of the U.S. House of Representatives who voted to renew this critical investment in our Nation’s post-secondary students.
TMCF is confident the U.S. Senate will once again show their bipartisan support for this important legislation and move swiftly to renew this critical funding by voting to pass the amended FUTURE Act.” Dr. Harry L. Williams, TMCF president & CEO.
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ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.
Media Contact:
tmcfpress@tmcf.org
- Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) was enacted to provide federal assistance for a program to strengthen and improve the academic quality, strengthen the administrative capacity, and establish an endowment fund in order to achieve growth and self-sufficiency for developing institutions.
- HBCUs have been able to access mandatory funds in Title III, Part F, of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 since 2008. These funds have been able to assist HBCUs in STEM initiatives and other uses including student services; educational equipment acquisition; facility renovation and construction.
- These funds are set to expire September 30, 2019, and Congress has introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill known as the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act. This piece of legislation was introduced to extend the much-needed mandatory funding in Title III, Part F of the HEA until Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs).
- HBCUs, Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) collectively serve nearly four million students, accounting for more than one-quarter of all undergraduates.
- If the Title III Mandatory Funding Reauthorization is not passed, HBCUs will lose $85 million in mandatory annual funding, PBIs will lose $15 million and MSIs overall will lose $255 million in funding beginning in the 2020-21 academic year.
- Our institutions can’t sorely afford to lose this critical funding, particularly at a time when state investment in higher education has experienced a sharp reduction across the country.
Media
Senator Chris Van Hollen speaks on the need for the Senate to pass the FUTURE Act
FUTURE Act Passes in the House
Rep. Mark Walker Salutes TMCF's work on the FUTURE Act