UNCF Commends the Passage of the FUTURE Act in the U. S. House of Representatives
The bipartisan, bicameral bill continues mandatory funding for HBCUs before they expire on September 30, 2019
Washington, DC, Sept. 17, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2486, the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act. This bill, introduced by Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) and Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC), extends important mandatory funding in Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act of 1965 until Fiscal Year 2021 for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and other Minority-Serving institutions (MSIs).
“I am proud that the House took urgent action to pass the FUTURE Act,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. “There are 101 HBCUs in our country and this bill ensures that they, and their students, are not severely impacted by a loss of funding that they have been able to benefit from for the last 12 years. Not only does this bill impact HBCUs that serve close to 300,000 students around the country, this bill impacts other TCUs, HSIs, and MSIs that serve over 4 million students. This bipartisan, bicameral bill is the surest way for our institutions to continue funding, come September 30.”
“Now that the FUTURE Act has passed the House, it is time for the Senate to act,” said Lodriguez V. Murray, UNCF’s vice president for public policy and government affairs.
“We can be done with this bill this week if the Senate moves swiftly to pass the FUTURE Act. A vote for this bill is a vote for low-income, first-generation college students of color and for institutions that serve a large number of these students. These institutions are located across the country, touching the districts of nearly every single Member of Congress. It is our hope that Congress acts as a pathway for passage of the FUTURE Act and not a roadblock leading to its failure.”
Title III, Part F, Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority-Serving Institutions Program is a critical federal effort that provides funds that supplement institutional aid to HBCUs, with a priority on instructional programs in high-demand fields, including STEM, other computer-related sciences, nursing and allied health. These mandatory funds were originally established by the College Cost and Reduction Act for the years of 2008-2009, retained in the Higher Education Opportunity Act, and then extended until 2019 in the Health Care Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010.
UNCF launched a campaign called, “Protecting Our FUTURE” to express support for the FUTURE Act. More information regarding this campaign can be found at https://www.uncf.org/protectingourfuture.
Because of this robust campaign, over 12,000 supporters have been able to engage their Members of Congress resulting in over 38,000 phone calls and emails combined and counting.
For Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021, the FUTURE Act would ensure that:
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) continue to receive $85 million per year.
- American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) continue to receive $30 million per year.
- Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) continue to receive $100 million per year.
- Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) continue to receive $15 million per year.
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHs) continue to receive $15 million per year.
- Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) continue to receive $5 million per year.
- Native American-Serving, Nontribal Institutions (NASNTIs) continue to receive $5 million per year.
To read the fact sheet on the FUTURE Act, click here.
Congress introduced the FUTURE Act to save the future of STEM education at our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
“A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in.”® An investment in HBCUs and other MSIs is not only an investment in a better future for students, but a ca
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Click here to Take Action: https://www.uncf.org/protectingourfuture.
