TMCF Public Policy Priorities

TMCF’s top legislative priority is introducing and passing the IGNITE  HBCU Excellence Act to address infrastructure issues at HBCUs. Given that  TMCF member-schools continue to operate academic, residential, and administrative facilities that have, arguably, outlived their reasonable life cycle  (i.e., 50-plus years), we ask Congress to prioritize and set aside targeted funding directed to HBCUs to address decades of infrastructure needs on our campuses, including but not limited to, improving physical space,  laboratories, residence and academic halls, roads, boilers, libraries and green space for campuses to become energy efficient, as well as funding to address significant deferred maintenance needs for that physical infrastructure.

Since Congress has not reauthorized the Higher Education Act (HEA) since 2008, the challenges to attending and operating our member schools remain and, in some instances, have been amplified as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, TMCF seeks increases in authorized funding amounts and actual appropriations provided to programs that impact HBCUs and PBIs (see joint HBCU Community Appropriations Chart). Reauthorization of the HEA will provide the predictability and continuity our member-schools require when implementing long-term budget priorities to ensure their campuses survive and thrive.

Pell grants are the primary vehicle to provide access to and make college affordable for nearly seven million low and middle income students, including 75% of HBCU students. TMCF calls on Congress to double the maximum Pell grant award and provide a Summer Pell grant award of $4,000.00.

Like many educational institutions, HBCUs receive significant funding from the Department of Education. The various departments and agencies across the federal enterprise are also potential partners. We propose that all FY 2023 discretionary accounts receive a minimum 10% increase in funding for FY 2024.

TMCF is proud to include in our membership all of the nineteen 1890 Land  Grant Institutions and support a farm bill proposal that would make the 1890  Scholarship program permanent, increase the numbers of 1890 Centers of  Excellence from 6 to 10, and continue to shine a light on state inequities in state funding between 1890 Land Grant and their 1862 Land Grant counterparts.