Congress Introduces HBCU Infrastructure Bill
New bipartisan legislation would address Deferred Maintenance Backlog and provide needed Investments for HBCUs to compete for research opportunities
an 1890 Foundation feature
The 1890 Universities Foundation, representing the 19 Historically Black Land Grant Universities (HBCUs), recently highlighted the introduction of the Institutional Grants for New Infrastructure, Technology, and Education at HBCUs Act (IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act). This new legislation would create transformative infrastructure investments to better position HBCUs to continue their mission of serving their communities and the nation.
“The IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act is a momentous and needed effort to help HBCUs compete in the 21st Century,” said Dr. Mortimer Neufville, President and CEO of the 1890 Foundation. “The tremendous backlog of deferred maintenance and the need to upgrade buildings and research facilities on our campuses has been well-documented. I hope Congress will include the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act in any infrastructure bill they pass,” Dr. Neufville concluded.
“I want to thank U.S. Representatives Alma Adams (D-NC), French Hill (D-AK) and Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Chris Coons (D-DE) for their diligence and hard work in putting this HBCU Infrastructure bill together,” said Dr. Makola Abdullah, Chair of the 1890 Foundation Board and President of Virginia State University. “Our Universities have tremendous infrastructure needs that must be addressed so that our faculty, students, the communities we serve, and the nation can benefit as we rebound from the pandemic.”
“Today’s announcement that repairing and enhancing the physical infrastructure at HBCUs will be a priority during the upcoming infrastructure debate is welcome news,” said Dr. Paul Jones, Vice Chair of the 1890 Foundation Board and President of Fort Valley State University in Georgia. “We will work with our fellow HBCU leaders and our congressional delegations to make this a reality. Failure is really not an option,” concluded Dr. Jones.
In a recent op-ed at The Hill co-authored by Scott and Adams noted that …
[A] 2018 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealed that “HBCUs continue to face challenges in securing financing to undertake needed capital projects” and “these colleges may be unable to make the campus improvements necessary to attract and retain students, potentially jeopardizing their long-term sustainability.” Seventy of seventy-nine HBCUs surveyed reported that 46 percent of their building space needed repair or complete replacement.
More insights on HBCU infrastructure investments also at Insider Higher Ed
Meanwhile …
The U.S. Department of Education recently discharged approximately $1.6 billion of debt provided to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that participate in the HBCU Capital Financing Program. This action will provide debt relief to 45 HBCUs – 13 public institutions and 32 private institutions.
"Our HBCUs have long been on an uneven playing field, financially, as compared to many other postsecondary institutions," said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "This relief will further support these mission-critical institutions and help to ensure they have more resources to educate and graduate students during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic."
More information here.