a hearing on federal funding for historically black colleges and universities known as hbcus. we will hear about the news regarding infrastructure, financial aid and facilities. the congresswoman of florida chaired the hearing. the subcommittee on higher

education and workforce investment will come to order. welcome, everyone. i note on the subcommittee missus mcbeth of georgia, ms. hayes of connecticut the committee to participate in today's hearing with the understanding the questions will come after all members of the subcommittee on both sides of the aisle are present and have had an opportunity to question the witnesses. the subcommittee is leaving today to hear testimony on homecomings, the group sent the hbc you.ions of

this is an entirely remote hearing. microphones will be kept muted as a general rule to avoid unnecessary background noise. when they areed recognized when they wish to seek recognition i also asked that members please identify themselves before they speak. members should keep their cameras on while in the preceding and to be considered present when they are visible, on camera and it shall be considered not present when they are not visible on camera. the only exception to this is if they are experiencing technical difficulty and informed committee staff of the difficulties. if any member experiences

technicalni difficulty in any hearing, make sure you are muted and use your phone to immediately call the it director whose number was provided to you in advance. if you experience technical difficulty or need to step away, as a member of the subcommittee mr. bowman if she is not available. and hereby authorized to assume the gavel in the chairs absence. members who c choose to sit in e hearing room must wear headphones to avoid feedback,

echoes and distortion when more than one person on the platform is o in the same room. members are also expected to adhere to social distancing and safe healthcare guidelines. of the staff will be keeping track of time using the communitiess digital timer that appears in its own thumbnail picture. members and witnesses are asked to wrap up promptly when their time is expired.

pursuant to the committee rule opening statements unlimited to the chair and at the ranking member to hear from the witnesses and provide all members with adequate time to ask questions. i now recognize myself for the purpose of making an opening statement. today weol are meeting to exploe the role that historically universities play and expanding access to affordable high-quality education. i'm proud to chair this first hearing to examine the state of these institutions since 2008

and as the chair of the higher education workforce committee i am committed to addressing the present needs of the students including infrastructure, modernization, improved research capabilities, financial assistance for economic barriers and eliminate housing insecurities and investmentsnd o accountun for decades of growth underfunding. they've been at the very heart of addressing to the nations long-standing education and racial equity failures. for nearly 200 years, they've provided ladders of economic and

social mobility for generations of black students. in fact, they were established for the purpose of educating black students because of her institutions would not and refuse. in the wake of the emancipation proclamation to the formerly enslaved black america. since their inception, these institutions have revised the jim crow era segregation, maintenance and decades of

underinvestment. today they remain integral to promoting an academic social and economic success of the descendents of enslaved americans and fostering a thriving community for underrepresented student populations including black students. while act.tvsi hbcu's account fr all colleges and universities, they've graduated 80% of judges, 70% of black doctors, 50% of black teachers give 50% of the members of the congressional black caucus and other black

members. many states have underfunded hbcu's leaving them with far less. there is a treatment dated back to the 1800s. they are still recovering during the 2008 recession which affected their campuses. the recent deliberation of the state performance policies but the disadvantaged states are making in these disparities even worse. additionally, the endowment is less than one third the size of

those held by nonprivate hbcu's. to fulfill the nation's promise, higher education for all all children, congress must provide resources and support they need to come back to systemic underfunding and discrimination. since 2020, congress has secured more than 6.5 billion in hbcu funding including in the covid relief and 1.6 billion to forgive capital financing. these historic investments providedn o emergency aid to hep

students access essentials and allow more than 22 erase student ncdebt and just last month, the committee advanced a portion of the build back better act that included over 30 billion that would benefit hbcu. this is critical to addressing decades of underinvestment. however, let us not forget to recognize historic inequities in hbcu funding.

thanks to these federal institutions, we can all benefit from the contributions of such luminaries as mary mcleod bethune, my role model, w. e. b. du boise, langston hughes, doctor martin luther king, junior, thurgood marshall, catherine johnson, toni morrison, congressmanvi john les at the university with me, and vice president harris. we must preserve and protect hbcu's for the sake of the next generation of changemakers and forne those yet unborn. i look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure they receive the support they need so that they can assure that that

happens. additionally in the future, we will hold hearings that showcase the contributions and accomplishments of tribal colleges and universities and minority serving institutions, which also play an important role in the higher education landscape. i want to thank our distinguished witnesses again for being with us today and i , will now yield to the distinguished ranking member doctor murphy for his opening statement. doctor murphy. >> thank you, madam chair and for those excellent remarks. i want to also thank the members of the committee coming to testify before us. historically black colleges are an important and critical landscape to that of higher education.

onfor decades these institutions have provided black americans with opportunities to pursue their degree and become a vital sourcea great part of the workforce for almost 200 years they've embodied the true american spirit and have overcome immeasurable challenges and hardships. today over 100 to play a vital role in their communities and are pivotal in the education of our nations future leaders. this includes the city state university and my third congressional districts, which i'm very proud to represent. i visited the university many times and have been the chancellor and carrie dixon is a rock star, she is a true gem in the world of academia and has led to the institution to develop smart minds that have critical thinking that seek out opportunities and succeed. i will just give you a shout out there. the financial stress brought by

covid-19 is requiring many to take a hard look at their business models and it's no exception. colleges and universities of all kinds need to begin asking the difficult questions, including those about financial accountability and viability. one thing we must note, the government intervention often times does more harm than good. this is especially true in education. we must encourage all institutions including hbcu's to become more self-reliant and more accountable. reliance on the federal government for funding is inherently unstable. while we support these institutions, we believe they must develop sustainable funding mechanisms on their own to ensure their longevity. this goes for hbcu's as well as all other educational institutions. as is often the case, more money is not the answer and doesn't address the underlying root causes of the problems that face higher education and

institutions. these colleges and universities already receive a tremendous amount of federal aid. in 2019 alone congress provided along with other minority serving institutions in a permanent mandatory funding stream on top of their appropriation. additionally since march of 2020, they've received an additional 6 billion in targeted direct aid on top of the annual funding they received in the higherngng education act. this includes the billion and the cares act funding, 1.7 billion and the coronavirusn respondent release supplementationns appropriation act, 3 billion in american rescue plan forms as well as an additional 1.6 million in capital finance loan charges. even with this massive amount, some folks i will tell you y senator cory booker and senatr sanders want to see that number

increased by another 100 billion on the build back agenda which proposes an additional 3 billion of additional spending. this is honestly these additional funds are questionably observed. while federal funding may provide temporary support, they must encourage hbcu's just like every other institution to become more innovative and develop strategic business models and work with the private sector to help students complete their programs and excel in the workforce. just as with any other educational institution, they also cannot be exempt from accountability. any institution receiving tax dollars must be held to a high standard underperforming hbcu's as well as with any other educational institution should not be profited by federal indollars and definitely when ty are not being accounted for. we must ensure all institutions

better serve the students. easy access creates perverse incentives for these institutions to hike the tuition costs and i've spoken extensively on administrative finances and they are not exempt from this discussion. knowing the federal government will step in and subsidize the price hikes and allow the diinstitutions to justify indiscriminate spending on this administrative and unnecessary programs taxpayer dollars are meant to improve students to get educational outcomes and experiences notie the salaries f additional staff and administrators. to get there institutions on stronger financial footing, we all want them to succeed and we all want them to continue to educate future generations. thank you, madam chair and i will yield back. >> thank you, doctor murphy.

i will now introducent the witnesses. these amazing. first isat the ceo for equal opportunity in the education and advocacy association for the presenting the predominantly black a institutions. previously at the committee for civil rights in the law and national legislative counsel for thep, naacp and as an administrative appeals judge of the district of columbia. she's a graduate of howard university school of law. welcome.

unmute. to the ranking member murphy i saw earlier but i don't see now chairman scott and ranking member virginia fox and to the is mycommittee members it distinct honor to be here today, especially to be here on the birthdate of the activist fannie lou hamer and madam chair, today which is jubilee day at the university that of course you understand them to recognize and celebrate on this day in 1871, the determined students joined

with the professor of music and the treasurer and left the safe confines of the 40-acre campus to go out and begin a tradition of raising money to keep the doors of the university and to this day the community is open and is a revered part of the legacy and the contemporary offering of the university and i'm also delighted to be here today on which a physician and engineered the first african-american woman to be into nasa was inducted into the women's hall of fame. it's's a joyous occasion and a wonderful homecoming. quickly about the history and

then about their unique relationship with america and three things i think we need to doin from here. you've already heard quite a bit about the history they are unique and the only cohort founded by persons that have been taken from their homeland in the most horrific condition and against their will thousands dying from the time they left their land to the time they got here. when they got here they restrict of their language and all things familiar to them. as they went through the most unimaginable circumstances, one thing they kept their mind on was education and so they got

education in any means but kept their mind and spirits and hearts on education so from this horrific beginning, we begin to see abolitionists and faith institutions establishing colleges and universities and the introduction into this landscape of public colleges and universities with the expressed purpose of allowing black people to attend the schools because in america, blacks were not permitted to gooo to school with white persons.

if they were going to maintain them they would have to have institutions for black and dated but there was no mandate that they fund them equally or equitably and they did not, so that began the litigation legislation and executive orders that brought us to where we are today and where we are today is we are grateful to the bipartisan and bicameral support that got us more dollars than we found in the historic investment

they begin to continue the road towards equitable funding they are not minority serving institutions they are historically born unlike any other groups of people in america but they are not minority serving institutions. there is no requirement or criterion. that's important because through the years as we've developed groups of demographic minorities and others have wanted to make sure all underrepresented students were admitted and created programs for them.

i would like to talk about how because of our special relationship with america we got the strengthening institutions in the higher education act in 1986 because, i'm sorry, 1968 with hbcu's and their core base through the years, 200 years and now an additional 200 years. tiin recognition of that we had executive orders and legislation and administrative not including the current executive order [inaudible] i'm going to talk

about that but in the limited time remaining, three things that we do, we are at a point where the institutions are stronger today than they were yesterday.fu about in spite the infusion of capital, they are the cornerstone of america. america cannot realize the economic goals or sustainability goals [inaudible] and because of this act that without hbcu there would be no excellent diverse working class -- >> the chairwoman is trying to get your attention. the chairwoman is trying to get your attention. your time has expired.

>> i look forward to entertaining your questions. >> thank you so much. the second witness is doctor andre, senior fellow with the brookings institution, scholar and resident at american university and prior to joining brookings he served in the university of new orleans and the educational leadership. he earned his phd in the leadership from the university of maryland and from allegheny college. >> good afternoon and distinguished members of the subcommittee thank you fore. inviting me to testify on but i believe to be a matter of national security the from the

industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th century throughout thee last decade, government investments in the innovation developed by wide swaths of americans helped make the united states the sustained local power. however in our standing as a world leader in innovation and technology is severely at risk. a lack of recognition and investment in innovators runs alongside the innovation economy overall. federal research and development has been in declinee for 60 yeas stopping health, science and educational institutions of the resources needed for products and services to the public and shows nearly half of the funding to just six states in addition to these geographic disparities there's also racial gaps less than 1% of the federal

expenditures went to historically black colleges and universities in 2019. likewise, my colleagues and i found that only 7.4% and 6.6% of the grant awards made to innovators far below those in the population. the lack of investment is stopping the individual institutions. on top of the wealth gap investing two times the wealth of the average family we see similar disparities of the institutional level. for every hbcu in the country 32019 was just over 3.9 billion. for context, new york university alone had an endowment of 4.3 billion that year. we cut our noses despite our fate and when we don't invest in

the deferred economic and social mobility the lack of investment flies in the face of research that shows these institutions are above their weight when it comes to develop the talent to society needs. according to a recent report even though hbcu's make up 3% of the colleges and universities in the u.s., they account for 10% of all. the same produced 17% of all bachelors degrees and 24% of all stem related degrees awarded to the nations. that productivity among hbcu's generates 14.8 billion in economic impact annually according to a study by the college advocacy group. hbcu's continue to produce the high share of the nations black doctors, judges, engineers and other professionals as the

representative mentioned. they develop this talent in spite of the lessons for instance earlier this year a committee established in the legislature determined tennessee state university never received an estimated 500 million that had been entitled from the state funding. similarly in maryland after a 13 year legal battle the general assembly recently agreed to morgan state university as well as the university of maryland.ti we should be investing to expand the economy and institutions like the community college and one of the nations located in mobile alabama. we should be investing with

models like the opportunity hub and atlanta that works with hbcu's to support the tech entrepreneurs and the debate over what counts as infrastructure continues to unfold too many people ignore the fact that the real undergirding of the 21st century infrastructure including upgrading power grid sustainable transportation, renewable energy, requires investments and talent and therefore we must invest in the people, places and institutions that can yield significant growth. i think you and i look forward to the questions.

we also know there are some still that do not haveve air conditioning. our third witness is vice president of the institute where she managers for american studies and the deputy chief of staff at the u.s. department of education from the american university from the central state university.

welcome. >> thank you thank you for the opportunity to testify today. i am the vice president of the institute at the heritage foundation. ladies and gentlemen, we can make no mistake the contributions of the historically black colleges and universities are invaluable. according to the college fund graduates of the historic institutions in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics earned by african-americans moreover, 12.5% of all black ceos and half of the nation's black lawyers and i'm so proud to say like other institutions of higher

learning, hbcu's have worked to weather the storm by forging new partnerships in the public andm private sectors and of the emergency relief fund is a part of the act provided more than 1 billion suffering hardships to do to covid-19. prior to the pandemic, president trump signed into law the future act making permanent 255 million in funding for hbcu's and others. as doctor martin luther king reminds us, we are made by history. one of the greatest lessons american leaders have learned from the covid-19 is the crisis like a thief in the night and

the budgetet constraint is ingenuity and innovation. as the federal spending continues to be our reality, the colleges take the opportunity to leverage resources to the greatest and such turbulent times they have an opportunity to prioritize programming and reinvest the resources away that advance. of the national center for education statistics notes the total revenue for hbcu starting the 2017 and 2018 academic year was $8.7 billion, 1.9 billion coming from student tuition compared the revenue model

relies heavily on tuition and financial aid. very few have cultivated the endowment and this has led to some to the ability to sustain best in class leadership and compete with other colleges for top talent. and as a temporary bridge to the solution giving flexibility to expand private sector partnerships and realign the program offerings for the projected workforce. hbcu's like many colleges nationwide can expand the sustainability and the private sectorai collaboration and congress has a role to play by advancing policies that drive atdown cost and allow innovation to flourish. it's time for the federal policy

to fund the higher education finance and delivery and move to policies that lower the cost and increase flexibility. for both hbcu's and non-a hbcu's alike the introduction of the innovative policies with income share accounts and agreements in the accreditation reform can put the higher education on the path for the industry and academia. limiting the growth on the core academic positions while helping students leave i agree they are invaluable institutions within the ultimate measure of the

nation's vitality and the ability of its people and institutions to prevail in times. thank you. >> thank you so much. the research that is going forward now we will hear from the president of tennessee state university which brings that it righthome in nashville tenne. with the vice president harris previously served as the dean of the college of business at the

state university and hbcu in jackson, mississippi. she received from the university and is the recipient of a phd in the business from george washington university and earned an mba from atlanta university and tennessee state university. welcome. ranking member murphy, ranking member fox thank you for [inaudible] with over 8,000 our

country cannot reach its goals necessary to close the education gap. hbcu's have changed the college and madede enormous contributios the bachelors degrees in 5%

[inaudible] and phd's earned each year and the vice president of these united states fromom hbcu's. these achievements are despite the fact they've consistently. we are pleased to present these for the funding needs for the act is a game changer and reflects the understanding and hbcu's continue their role and the challenges and general welfarehr prosperity we thank te

congress for your support last year and similar funds including hbcu's when they had to return to their homes. [inaudible] to support online learning into the program eliminated debt and we thank you. today we ask for the support of hbcu's not just on emergency but to help and access to the

transformative power of higher education despite the funds for the infrastructure and technologies and research and finally that's the wrong question. the question should be how they've producednd so much and w could the model be used by others to advance. that's i the great question.

so the students they serve and close the gaps by making much-needed investments in hbcu that address the discrimination and underfunding and of the majority institutions. it'sr never too late. thank you. >> a member of the sorority also proud to have the president with us here today. on the committee rule we will now question witnesses under the five minute rule and i will be recognizing some committee members in sin your ready order

to ensure the rule is adhered to. staff will be keeping track of time and will sound when time is expired. please be attentive to the time and wrap up when your time is over and mute your microphone. as chairwoman, i now recognize myself for five minutes. >> can you elaborate on the systemic underfunding and impact that continues at tennessee state university the reports show the state owed you 544 million due to historical stunderfunding. >> thank you.

the land grant institution there are two in university state and tennessee. we receive funding to foster the teaching andan science and engineering. the funding and why there was no match for the state university. additionally the state had a ruling that they receive one third of the amount of fund so there was nothing in the budget for tennessee state, nothing. there was nothing in the budget for the oversight but the

underfunding was calculated in the late 1950s to the present and 150 million. we are working with of the state legislature and the committee that was put together to ensure they enter into conversations and have made some success on that. i do believe we are making some progress. >> that is true of other underfunded hbcu. is there more that congress and the administration can do to help these hbcu as they compete for critical funds, they

graduate with adu substantial higher amount of debt and we want them to have research dollars in scholarships. what can congress to do or what should congress to do? >> i would like to set it up in the context what we have with the tennessee state university is not easy in fact itno is part of a pattern and practice of discrimination against publics historically black colleges particularly the land grant institutions the institutions

did not receive the 121 match funds from the perspective states funding. as with the 1862, they required a state match for the dollars being invested in the 1890s so between 2010 and 2012, 61% of the land grants the land grant universities didn't receive more than 35 million in extension funding due to states not needing there 121 match requirements. 2010 and 2012, the universities did not receive more than

25 million in research funding due to states not needing there 121. >> in response to the survey conducted half of the building spaces on average we needed to recognize the progress of america and research and we have the institutions that are highly research intensive that if they were invested in and commence her at with their return on investment they would have additional infrastructures and money for laboratories and

excellencecenters of and additional dollars to utilize corporate and government laboratories and to do a number of things that will position them to move from research to to research one institutions. in fact it's recommended that you consider it type of relationship for the institutions where the scientific departments and agencies would pool their resources and work with these intently to move them from the research to to research one to sit in the driver's seat of developing this types of scientific inventions in the health fields to move america from where we are to where we need to be. >> thank you so much.

i now recognize the ranking member. doctor murphy. >> thank you madam chair and thank you to all the witnesses coming today.nk excellent testimony. i will say again i'm going to give a shout out because she's done a tremendous job. they have a tremendous program and she's taken that from very tough times to be an absolute gem in the district so let me ask a couple of questions. you noted in your testimony the gainful employment rule that the rule was particularly harmful to the hbcu community. would you mind flushing that out a little bit forming and discussing that? >> sure and thank you for the question. as we look at balancing the needs of the students and

institutions being able to protect both and you look at the gainful employment, many were concerned that harm could come to the institutions of higher learning across the country where the ability to not define if you will the requirement of the connectivity between the program and the outcome of gainfulms employment and so in terms of focusing on the disclosure is very important to begin tore relax that and create another flexibility for hbcu's and institutions of higher learning not to be harmed.

.. lead to employment. at the same time there has to be a balancing of where that accountability comes and where the institutions themselves can also be protected in their programs that they offer. rep. murphy: all right. i appreciate that. i think it has been a mantra -- i am in medicine. i have been in surgery 30 years. it is accountability and i don't >> that all institutions and that hasra led to some of that just not being accountable. so i think that outcomes are important.

we have to look at what institutions are doing with their money and if they are giving the education that they deserve and are they giving them what they are for the beginning the taxpayers what they are doing? so this is across every institution. so as the committee looks to reauthorize the higher education act you have any specific suggestion with the accountability framework should look like? >> yes. it always has to be transparency editors an essential factor in making sure the relationship between the student and the taxpayer and the institution, what we are looking for. ultimately we want to make sure that students are going to graduate and be employed. and we went to make sure their dreams to society. we see in10 2026 out of ten

create a four-year bachelor degree in six years. so as we look at these reforms of accountability, we need to continue to make sure that don mission of what the school is trying to do with the academic onset with the educational experience of the workplace. it is critically important as well to continue to allow the voices the industry to be at the table in terms of looking at those reforms and of the institution to make sure that they are equipped to do the job that is available. >> putting in the private sector in and they will have a big demand of accountability. we have to ask higher

education institutions on hst hbc you - - and i will yield back. >> thankil you so much and we will follow upp on that. >> thank you madame chair. i want to thank all of our witnesses for being with us today. i have three wonderful t14 in my district including north carolina which is now the largest and had a lot of accolades this year including olympic athletes who recently competed in the olympics and with one gold-medal winner so as shout out to them.

doctor coming mentioned in your testimony the important role t14 is in educating black students in the stem field. can you talk about that federal impact to enhance education in the economyld quick. >> the reason why i talk about the importance of graduates in the stem field it is clear the economy is moving toward one in which you have to be highly skilled in science andtu technology and math. despite the lack of investment in those institutions, hbc you are producing a higher percentage when you talk about performance, and accountability there are predominantly white institutions not holding up their fair share. at the and of the day is ang economy this will grow because

we graduate from stem majors at a higher percentage. but that bc you are. i just want to be clear that they always produce this area but they have been devalued with less patents and less investment. so we could do so are those they produce. >> that with business leaders across the country a moment in time with the workforce. that they cannot find people in stem field in engineering.

so what can we do to promote those graduates tour make sure they are for the kinds of employees they say they're having trouble finding quick. >> i do know if you can hold people accountable when they say they cannot find black workers in the stem field and they are particularly in the south they clearly don't have a relationship with the hbc view. north carolina hcb you they don't have that connection to industry. so if they are not willing to reach out that can include social interaction sxsw that takes students from hcbu to

introduce them to companies to make those types of introduction because we know so much of that investment is about relationship. so then than we have to make those graduates more visible. those that displaying the talent and that may have a pitch competition that gets a certain amount of investment funds so let's be clear there are a lot of people that they cannot find black workers andn' that is just a reflection of the labor markets which don't make much sense.

>> we're trying starting to see major donors in places they want to make donations. how do we expand upon this quick. >> and then to expand to ensure the relationships in those bring about more gifts and contributions and then doing things in the community and the investor world. and then to do things to show you our competitive and then

to ensure student success. and then to make those partnerships with corporate and noncorporate relationships. >> imu think the witnesses. and i yield back. >> . >> i don't have any historic universities in my district but there are variety of issues that are concerned and that those are shocking numbers of student loan debt for students and also to have

the same problem in wisconsin. and then to sign off on student loan debt. and then sometimes they take student loan debt in excess of what they actually need. and with the ability that the universities to say you don't need $5000 per in debt per semester is that a good idea? >> thank you for the question. >> as young people are coming into the workplace and becoming independent as they

make critical decisions and then to provide the council and then if they decide to take out a loan and understanding what will that mean in terms of what you have to pay back with the ability. >> and it's in your best interest. >> and then to have the opportunity to have counsel. >> would you like the ability to sign off for student took out a loan? >> .

>> and then to have more options than us. >> but it is up to us to help the student manage the loan that they don't borrow too much money. they cannot be sitting around they went to cash into go to school weoo don't have that.

>> and how do we do that? and thenn those that come to the rescue? know. >> and looking in the "washington examiner" democratic professors and then less than 2 percent of the professors are for donald trump. with those universities everywhere do you feel that where you went to college

could this be a problem? >> and there was a great tension and diversity and academia. and itca is a growing concern and as we have seen the onset of cancel culture of those that can be share there is a growing concern. >> when you went to college did you find any republican leaning professors that have ideological sway one way or another? >> i had a very unique experience and i felt i had a

balance experience. myhe professors in the field of economics and finances to be way more conservative or republican. i wasn't sure of the political leaning back-and-forth. and in my own right i always thought to compare the ideology. and then to keep herself in the position of my viewpoints to myself. >> and then those two

communities. >> and when you expand your time you have the ability that is important of the hbc you and there are thousands on this call so let's be mindfuled of the time allotted to us. >> and then those debt-free degrees for all students but especially those of hbc you because these institutions are engines of success.

and then to be first in their families to go to college but the lack of equitable funding and as we consider investing to address all of the challenges faced and then addressing disparities to be a part of that strategy if we really approve affordability. thank you to myan colleagues who is constantly talking about the importance of this. and the work that you talk about, in your words you talk about how expected students that is, a barrier to low income students and students of color attending college especially for the hbc you. for those students to attend tuition free and by doubling the program so what impact way investments of the telegram has on low income students

ability especially at the hbcu? >> my colleague and i did a study on and the more debt you cancel the more you close. and then essentially creating and that which accelerates. and those of the underappreciated assets in our community meaning just add water it will grow so does. and those that underappreciated assets. and many of them are not receiving the a investment. and we can get more growth to close the racial wealth gap.

and improve the community overall. and i will add this point to one of the other comments that was made. and to have a true public option in terms of freeco college. and with those state colleges a spike in tuition have not occurred at the state level because of the state legislatures guard against that. so let's not conflate allll institutions. certainly i also agree we should be rewarding institutions and then those that should get free college but also to incentivize those colleges and because of the

state legislatures investments we can keep the rising cost of college lower it is still extremely affordable to many. and inr, my district those that invest in tuition free programs with more than 60 percent of low income students and one third are first-generation. with the state and local funds and then with the wraparound services with counseling and mentorship. but the failure to provide equitable investment impact the ability to provide wraparound for students most in need? >> . >> and without proper funding and then to let the students

know. and for that wraparound service. and then many of the schools have a homeless population. and then the counseling services. and then to have some assistance. >> . >> i yield back.

>> i introduce the telegram flexibility act which would allow programs to be used for technical education unfortunately my democratic colleagues refuse to bring it up even though it had bipartisan support in our finding out one of the main threats to hbcus to remain competitive and trade schools according to andrew kelly of aei only 14 percent of children from the bottom third of the income y distribution curve will complete four-year college degrees many of the students will go on to complete some form of technical education what effect where having in terms of student enrollment and

competitiveness? >> in the days that we live in to offer people options and choices. and then the professional upscaling that they want in the areas they desire to go if you can't find a parent to be in debt. and those to get to the finish line and options are critical and the more awareness that people have about them and where those options lead them and then too make wise decisionsw .

>> and how does that provide more options for the hbc from our technical education. >> and that financial support for the low income students for the underserved community option. and then to matriculate to the system. as you have your eye on a specific job you are going for and then to start a course that is ath better course or a better choice for their life. >> according to the wall street journal then only 40 percent of students enrolled in traditional four-year universities. the discrepancy is event more start at the hbcu.

every year since 1976 the percentage of female enrollment 53 percent in 1976 and 2019 which is higher than the national average what is the root cause of the drastic gender disparity and what effect this has on minority communities as a whole? >> when you get the black male population across the board and looking at high prison rates and the distribution of opportunity against male and

female, this is a challenge across the board. and then to narrow it down specifically to historically back colleges and universities. and then what has happened in our country as a leadership opportunity there. >> talking about wedge hbcus are doing to renew the gender gap? >> talking to leaders in the hbcucu community looking at partnerships and then you see a lot of that is happening with the rotc program and the junior rotc program to get interested males intogh higher education and onto the

campuses. and then to serve the nation. >> congress has established the commission on the social status of black man and boys. >> and 70 percent of the student body. and dona spellman college. and they are all girls. in fact i have worked with the tennessee state this last year.

and then to send them 12 black boys to tennessee state from jacksonville florida. and then to incentivize the other black males to attend college and you've got to do that from beginning in the third grade. >> into the former principles. >> thank you so much madame chair. i would like to slightly disagree with you but the college-bound process. and then to plant the seeds.

first i will think witnesses for being here today and express a special thank you on the hbcu caucus founder and cochair congresswoman adams as well as the chair for their continued willingness and then happening today. by the way we may need to talk about this chairwoman, all the hbcus are in the south and i'm in the northeast. and then that opportunity remains an option for black students to come. so doctor baskerville thank you so much for your testimony

today. i want to talk about stand investment. i also servee on subcommittee chair for energy for science in space and technology committee. both committees it is clear to me not only higher education k-12 every year. and then to decline in recent years but also the hbcu is in stem degrees to black students. so what do they do differently from non- hbcu in this regard? and those about effective stem education and exposure to stem career opportunities? >> thank you very much.

and then predominantly blackde institutions. and three or four those community colleges and then relative to stand.on and one of the things not for ten years and not partnership with the national communication administration. and then execute and evaluate the techno scholars. and then if you keep them busy on technological devices they excel so we identified six hbcu and me to get them devices and we found we partnered with young men so

they have a mentor and then they have the devices. they are graduation rates went up substantially compared to the black men that were not techno scholars. so the lessons on the technology and those that they enjoyed playing. and also looking for innovative ways to engage in the pipeline and with tremendous support from chairman scott and others on the committee to start a program on upward bound if you focus on stem.

and then to have those that are most promising. >> as t a middle school principal one of the only middle schools in the bronx to offer a computer science program and that is something that i think we can do a lot more then partnership with hbcu. >> and now the next member from iowa. >> thank you madame chair and

thank you to all of our panelist for this very interestings. discussion. and i was been impressed with the work that they do in that representative banks had said earlier. and one of the comments you made so then those comments to representative banks and then trying to get young black men into college and then the with the collaboration with the officerll training courses or the rotc to cultivate future military officers.

and those that currently participate are theree specific barriers fromp collaboration this could be a win for our country. >> thank you for the question. and to sayis this as well my husband and i have two children at westt point. and i cannot imagine him wanting in a more secure discipline. as he is becoming a young man. at the heritage foundation the and types of conversation it requires funding to overcome

the barrier in the state of virginia to visit the university systems together. to collaborate those resources together and the best experience they can have and it is super important. and then to make sure that workplace development piece is in line with the need. and one of the areas we talk

to the hbcu is that the cybersecurity area is not as could be iny area is not as looking at military preparedness. and there are several institutions how to channel those areas of study stronger. >> it's interesting you are bringing that up because we just talked about stand education and mr. perry as well and the success of the hbcu and graduating with science degrees and computer technology. certainly that is a value to the military and to the education and those careers and technology in cybersecurity that we know from recent events is critically important to our

education. >> as a make this more of a priority of military preparedness it is especially important because it puts hbcu. >> thank you so much in our friend from new york. >> thank you chairwoman so much my first question is howng

is the alaska funding with the hbcu contributed to any issues of retention? would anybody like to answer that? >> and to get across several categories and with that infrastructure and that is a huge one for hbcus schools and the infrastructure that that

is where it comes from so infrastructure and the technology and then to have that computing capabilities. so the funding over the years with the systemic historical diverse funding that makes a difference when were looking at schools. funding, lack of funding with those various programs.

and then of course thent research and of course looking at the campus as a whole and then to improve the intentions. >> so with these hispanic serving institutions and they are contributing to the closing the wealth gap do you have any data that these institutions have played for the opportunity? >> and those that have never

failed. vebut that they didn't have the lack of funding and with the $37000 a year. >> can i respond and quickly let's also remember and those

that have a much slower wealth profile and then by the discrimination of other areas so we cannot ignore that part and then to take on more debt. and dyke their white counterparts. >> . >> i was involved in a lawsuit that established disparities and funding legally in the school system and then eventually it was allocated by the courts and then they are operational but in the years a

disparity your funding given tos the hbcu. >> thank you so much now the gentle lady from michigan's they make thank you to all of our guest today.te i really appreciate the opportunity what you are doing we all share and to provide them an opportunity to have a good well-paying job but that is on p so many problems down the road and it really begins to give a sense of pride if we can see that passed down from generation to generation i have a few clarifying

questions but this is my first time on this committee and went to make sure i understand it. we talked earlier about endowments if we have a higher rate why do you think endowments arefe suffering? >> they are creating not only from individual contributions but two other federal and state investments. inso overall in a nutshell hbcu take on many more low wealth individuals he then the graduates that go one are in a job market that throttles the their wealth even further so from the individual perspective they see less

contribution. >> i don't mean to be rude but northwood university which is a private college with a good endowment fund is t that federal money? >> pass just one of the ways. so remember there are endowments it was created from cotton many, alcohol money. >> i understand. so thehe most important thing we can do for our youth today is the job. if you think about it and has pride and a sense of purpose and it breaks the cycle and allows people to pay taxes and allow people to give back. i am an agreement i am asking

again. perhaps going back it seems like the workforce the consumer of the product, the student once more i can only speak from my district they are begging for people in the trade industry is there a marriage we can do between the college and the skilled trades? i think it is critical because we talk about having free college tuition and let's remember nothing is free the

professor surely isn't teaching for free andnd at the end of the day somebody has to pay those professors it's typically the taxpayer money that is appropriated. i don't want this to come across this way but i you truly providing a product and anyone can answerns that. for those who know how to weld. >> i would like to respond to that. the hbcu community has 17 two-year institutions that for the counterparts they are graduating disproportionately from those who are trained and

health professions and paraprofessionals and technology all the growth in the high needs areas. >> you are producing welders. >> and their classes are ranking above the counterparts in the licensure exams that are required once they get there. >> but i agree with the general count on —- concept that people have to be prepared for the workforce with strong character and those committed to service. that's one of the things that hbcu provide. yes we prepare folks for the

workforce. >> and that is part of showing up on time so it is critical for us to teach her children how to think and not what to think so they can come up with the critical thinking skills on their own with that i yield back my time. >> and then the witnesses testimony attending career education programs with the expectation they have a quality experience leading to gainful employment that many of those programs , particularly for-profit institutions are not preparing students for gainful employment and then they can't pay so to protect students and

taxpayers the obama administration has the employment rules of those they do not take on debt for higher education that does not lead to good jobs. that will work institutions b are starting to reduce tuition costs and phase out the low-quality programs because of the rule but yet then that was rescinded to the detriment of students and taxpayers. contrary to the testimony today hbc weree not negatively impacted by the employment rules because of the demographics according to data from department of education percentages students does not have a meaningful impact on institutions on the earnings ratio. so what that gainful employment regulation did was protect students particularly low income students and students of color from overpriced low-quality programs particularly as a predatory for-profit colleges. glad the biden administration says they will reregulate i

look forward to working with the committee and the administration on the issue we know they are tremendously important to the higher education system and that has been historically underfunded with endowments lagging behind non- hbcu by as much as 70 percent they are less likely to buffer lower federal state ending so the most important role of education and their hours as uspolicymakers we know each be see you have a critical role long before president johnson emphasized equity of opportunity with important higher education act of the sixties. today the institutions of higher education those that

need resources can continue to but unfortunately nottinue to all colleagues agree with me and some has stated they have federal investments in hbcu. so what would you say to someone who despite the facts we have laid out today to argue we do not need to those other under resourced institutions? >> and those that are a into expanding the economy are investing in hbcu. and in the area particularly they are strongest. we make the argument that the workforce as a whole we need to stem graduates we should be investing in those institutions that produce stem graduates at a higher level the other size of this there

are many institutions that do not graduate black students and i can easily make the argument the reason why you see an increase because those of the world are not doing their job. >> so we know tennessee state university is doing a lot to help students who need additional support. perhaps they have attended under resourced schools so what you do to make sure faculty and staff are preparing to meet the needs of those students who have been through underfunded schools and then also in the remaining time how does the investment backed by legislation with policies like the extension of the child tax credit affects

children who may be future hbcu students? >> and those that have been educated throughout their college career. >> the build back better legislation includes affordable childcare and the affordable check on —- tax credit how does that affect future students? >> .

>> i apologize for going over. i yield back. the cohort default rate was 13.4 percent and nearly twice that of the national average for schools. these default rates are higher for proprietary institutions

and those at the higher rate but that should not impact the ability toar pay back the loans after school especially since today we have heard so much of the high percentages of professional people who graduate from hbcu. can you comment on that please quick. >> yes. as we look at the demographics the majority of students attending. and those to graduation. and this issue goes back and it is critically important to look at ways of financial

literacy and those to help those decisions and we have young people who are trying to make decisions forth themselves always have the same family members. >> i will follow up on that. so should congress do more to hold outcomes accountable? >> it in congress should be working with and looking at policies that encourage both hbcu and non- hbcu to provide that financial literacy to young people to make decisions that are beyond the issue.

>> those institutions with additional support. and those that receive $6 billion of targeted additional support that surplus of taxpayer dollars is unprecedented in the size and the spirit of which it is delivered and then to ensure taxpayer dollars. do you have any indication since the committee has had no oversight as to how they have used the covid relief funds? . used the covid relief funds? .

and grants tor private donors s well as to help pay tuition and we also see other universities and other avenues bringing money into the institution. >> we've seen several reports of hbcu -- a smart way to teach responsibility and what was the justification and how is the

determination made. we need to know if this is effective use of taxpayer dollars or if this is transfer of wealth. >> we experience a global pandemic and i don't think we got it all right. the law allowed for flexibility to look at what kind of process they were going to use and i think they've got to be able to go back on the transparency and how that was interacting so that as we move forward to make sure the models that work are going to continue to be used and those things that didn't work so well will be connected. >> now the chair of the full

the distinguished doctor scott of virginia. >> i want to thank you for convening the hearing and thank the witnesses for being with us today. a all attending hbcu's migrate grandfather so i'm very closely e associated with the hbcu's. to make a comment about the gentleman from indiana about what sounded like if we hadn't taken up the bill the reason we

hadn't taken it up is the higher education bill we've considered in the last two or three years has included a provision so his views are well taken as indicated in the last couple of years with support for hbcu's can you compare the funding the last year and a half and what you are able to do with of the money?

>> [inaudible] the second round there is a rescue plan with 115 million so that number is 11 million infected by the pandemic with housing and go home all of a sudden so we have

to provide the aligned learning in that way. then this fall and this semester we are most appreciative with emergency funding. >> i'm going to ask you a

question to respond on the record and that is what can we do tont increase endowments. i don't have much time to get a coherent answer to that question, but if you can provide that for the record, i would appreciate it because that is one thing that has been commented on if you are able to do something about that. do you have any comments about the present status of the hbcu mitigation and whether the dissent decrees are still in effect and in compliance? >> they are still in effect with the case we now have mitigation and the results that suggest what the states must prove.

there's still vestiges of discrimination among the infrastructure but what it also did is put out a roadmap so the other 18 public institutions in the states where they maintain unequal higher education system we can now take this and use it with the other decrees but i do believe we need to make sure they have a process in place that doesn't force you. we need at some point to intervene and if they do not comply they need to withhold funds. that seems to be the only thing they will respond to.

>> for the civil rights and the department of education asking them about the status about the states that are not in compliance. thank you madam chair and i yield back. thank you for the witnesses for taking the time to testify today. louisiana is home to several distinguished colleges and universities. hbcu's and my estate are recognized in academic programs and contributionsog to research. educating students in north louisiana since 1901 the university offered many programs

but the school is especially known for its nursing, computer science and teacher education majors. this summer i had the opportunity to visit the campus to learn about their academic programs. i was especially impressed with their commitment to pursue careers as educators has elementary and secondary. scrambling and seeking to address the targeted leadership program to increase the number of students earning a teaching degree they find innovative ways to address workforce issues and i am proud to support the effort. i'd like to direct my question throughout your testimony you highlighted the t importance to

leverage public-private partnerships and i believe there is a net value in establishing these partnerships. what are somee examples of the collaborations between hbcu's and the private sector are there barriers preventing them from leveraging these partnerships and if so what can be done to removeto them? >> thank you for your question. i worked on a proposal and we almost got it done. i will tell you what was successful on that in terms of being able to connect the resources, the innovation in terms of giving the students a handle on this area of being able to work on mechanics if you will and looking at the

engineering degree and what is essential if you look at success in the connectivity of the private and the public sector coming together to try to execute towards an incredible outcome is the ability has both projects are coming in but they don't kid off -- cut off so if we are able to keep a certain amount where you have the three parts coming together, it's going to be very helpful being able to not only measure the long-term outcomes of what can happen but also being able to get to a place scaling those incredible models in terms of its capacity to return on the investments made in the

partnerships. >> that's a wonderful example, and i will yield back. >> let me just let you know that what you said was amazing how you started your testimony. that's why the congressional black caucus has established the commission on the social status and we agree with you about the shortage and everything that impacts black boys. thank you for your testimony and now ms. adams of north carolina. >> thank you, madam chair for your work and for today's long-awaited hearings on hbcu's and to each of the witnesses for being here today. i do ask unanimous consent to enter into the record of the following items.

2018 government accountability officeov report that speaks to e participation in the education of hbcu capital financing program and the 2021 report published by the foundation entitledia achieving financial justice urging congress for those development infrastructures and a letter from 37 members urging congress to include reconciliation language and finally a report understanding the issues. it's no secret, madam chair that i'm passionate and a proud two-time graduate of the university and so i remember my

personal experience when i came to congress to val to make things right. a significant piece of legislation i introduced in the congress which really has support to progressive democrats and it will revitalize and rejuvenate. my first question, hbcu's and others are classified as minority serving institutions so hbcu's and other institutions are often funded by the federal government when you talk about the similarities and differences between hbcu's into these other types of institutions both in terms of historic funding and financial status.

>> thank you so very much, madam chair. there are similarities in the hbcu and the msi is on the demographic institutions similar in the types of students they are graduating. they are tremendously different in their founding and mission. hbcu's and universities are mission-based nonracial nonethnic institutions. they have no race criterion but they have a mission of educating the american slave system and others and they've done that since their founding. they've been open to all persons

that like to excel for the entire diversity [inaudible] i only have a coupleav of minutes. it should be decoupled with funding. >> it must be decoupled because hbcu's are a history, a special relationship that the united states continues to acknowledge based on slavery, 200 years of slavery and the lingering vestiges of discrimination no other cohort in the colleges habitat. for that reason we cannot have other institutions doing a good job and not recognized as geographic serving institutions but because of the uniqueness

and underfunding and the vestiges that linger today they must be decoupled with special programs established. >> your testimony and the lack of matching funds impacting the resources available to these land-grant institutions. >> [inaudible] i'm out of time and i am going to yield back. >> with allma of the questions u

have, submit them for the record and have the witnesses respond in writing so that all committee members in writing. thank you so much, madam chair for this crucial discussion on the role that historically black colleges and universities play in higher education as well as the continued need to strengthen and support hbcu's and think the witnesses for sharing their time with us today. as an alumni of the hbcu's, go trojans, i have toto sneak thatn there. i know the role they play not just individual student wise but america's higher education system. hbcu served for many decades is one of the only means for

african-americans and other minorities to gain a college education while many doors have opened it still serves a vital role in educating, nurturing and advancing. without an education this woman you see before you today may never haveme gone on to become a united states congresswoman representing the sixth congressional district laura perhaps would my colleague be here with me today representative fredricka wilson both representatives and graduates. further the nation may never have had justice thurgood marshall a two-time graduate were the first female vice president harris also a hbcu

alum and in my state of georgia we are home 29, the third most in the country tied with texas. the united negro college fund found that in 2018 they generated 1.3 billion in total economic impact and generated over 12,000 jobs. it's imperative we provide continued funding by doing so not just in these institutions so my question research shows there's higher success rates when compared to other institutions with similar

enrollments after controlling, the average institutional graduation rate was 38% compared to 32%. what is it about the academic experience that's provided that helps students attending these institutions to have better outcomes than their peers attending non-hbcu's? >> thank q you for that questio. hbcu's are most importantly offering the diverse courses and curriculum thatil will prepare e students for tomorrow's labor sourcing service but many in smaller nurturing environments with more of the faculty that

you find in the historically whitelt institutions but they ae bringing to the table the academic piece and they also have the civic service and spiritual aspect encouraging students to celebrate something above and beyond themselves. hbcu have 70% and about 30 that are not those that believe in the excellentnt environment, smaller environment costs are contained and diversity looked to hbcu's where we welcome persons of the background and

interest and certainly those that believe in different philosophies as was discussed previously. >> i would yield back the rest of what i have left to my colleague. >> thank young for yielding. what financial resources are required? there's infrastructure and a significant number of campuses. >> ira will yield back. i'm out of time, madam chair.

>> if she could respond in writing. [inaudible] we tried to make this work. but there is a meeting at the white house vice president of the united states into theio national council so we are going to excuse her now as she serves in that capacity. >> thank you madam chair. >> we will proceed ms. stevens of michigan. >> i am here.

thank you so much for letting me in on today's incredible hearing, the materials were instrumental i want to thank you as we've been discussing for a century and a half it's been a critical source of producing workforce diversity and i'm so grateful that we are here today addressing the systemic underutilization and funding especially asai it pertains to e innovation and other economic development needs. i am also a proud cosponsor of the legislation and the esteemed

chair of the committee to make historic investments and i would like to take my time to yield from the great state of north hacarolina. >> i think the gentle lady for yielding. to talk about the research institutions that are classified as research one institutions by the committee which are among

the 135 what actions can the federal government take? >> in the short term we have investments in the infrastructures that will make sure that they have broadband and all the things essential to continue to do the work that they are doing to the research institutions but they must be able to have the roles and access for the laboratories as well.

about $200 million in the program that will bring to bear the resources of the scientific defense in foundation and other scientific departments and agencies to put resources toward them in recognition of the fact there is 11 institutions responsible for graduating 42% with science degrees and technologies in mathematics with advanced degrees in education professions we see what they are doing with thetm investments and it's a program the department of defense is presently involved in with other entities for the express purpose of bringing online additional institutions

it would be tremendous to start because of the output and there is a success rate from the lowest 20%. >> in the last few minutes that we have, i just want to mention because i've heard several speakers talk about not being able to find students of color, african-american students and i just want to put out there that it does have the partnership challenge and individual entities involved where we do make them work with these institutions that we are in touch with each and every day so

to invite any other folks listening to become members of the bipartisan partnership because it really does work and is making a difference for the schools and i thank you for thir yielding back, madam chair. >> thank you, ms. adams. thank you for being with us. the entire meeting. >> thank you, madam chair. we know your background and you've been on the whole time. a. >> thank you also to the ranking minority member for holding this hearing. obviously i thinkk it is important you do so does everyone on the call otherwise we wouldn't be here. i do want to preface my remarks by calling your attention to a "new york times" article with

the celebration and significance of the 150th anniversary of what they the end of the university admitted to the country it is a great article and i would ask everybody's attention to it. also with a sense of being redundant and transparent a couple of things i would be remiss if i didn't also acknowledge representative adams for her stewardship of these issues and education issues in general over so many years and to also commend and thank bobby scott for his leadership in this area and the fact it hasn't been a piece of legislation dealing with higher red or pre- k-12 that he hasn't been a part of overall these years so thank you for that. i am a graduate of thef college

morgan state university baltimore and was able to find a way to matriculate. it prepared me for my other work and attempts to matriculate. we were formed after lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation and have been graduating students as many of you are aware for a long time.

by going into a historically black college and university often times because they haven't been able to goot anywhere else. i want to thank them for the testimony and react and respond to a couple of things that i heard. it's important for us f to pay attention to this whole notion of research dollars as was brought up before. that competition has to be competitive and free of influence because often times they get to the first round and thenrs the second round is when the decision is often times made based on whether or not you are familiar with this or that.

on the matter of deferred maintenance perhaps it might be instructive to also signify or signal to college presidents all over the place that some of that money that is free to be used about a lot of discussion off to go straight toward the deferred maintenance i know there was a

commentt as the 35 or 65% let me remind you prior to 1976 for the previous 100 years from 1876 it was just a reverse and the chauvinism and sexism these days it is pure pressure and a lot of things that are intangible that often times give us those kind of numbers. desperate need for persons to line up.

we can do things better you really can't often times go anywhere because the prejudice that exists below the surface that goes to a number of intangibles that have been spoken about today so as long as there is a harvard and yale, as many attend it's not considered inconsistent even thoughno there is essentially others may attend, that's not considered inconsistent and even though there is a catholic view that remains essentially catholic, others may attend and we ought to have a morgan and moorhouse and howard and other colleges and universities closing down the historic mission to make sure that no one is left behind. i don't have time to yield back because my time is exhausted but thank youe, for allowing me to t

in a few things at the conclusion of the hearing. >> that was a keynote address. >> it has been recorded and you will hear it over and over with rda commission [inaudible] i remind my colleagues pursuant the hearing record must be fosubmitted. within 14 days so by the close of business 2021 the material submitted must address the subject of the hearing. only a member of the subcommittee or invited guest as inclusion in the hearing record.

documents are limited to 50 pages each. documents over 50 pages will be incorporated into the record by way of an interlinked thought you must provide to the committee in the required timeframe. in the future, that link may no longer work. pursuant to the house rules and regulation, items for the record should be submitted electronically by e-mailing submissions. today i want to thank these witnesses for their participation. we have all that we possibly could about hbcu and i appreciate your participation. members of the subcommittee may

have additional questions for you and we ask the witness is to please respond to those questions in writing. the hearing records will be held open for 14 days in order to receive those responses. i remind my colleagues records must be submitted to the majority staff or the committee clerk within seven days. the question submitted must address the subject matterth of the hearing. i now recognize the distinguished ranking member doctor murphy for the closing statement. doctor murphy. >> thank you, madam chair and let me just say i want to say to my colleague the representative i think those are fabulous comments. i agree with you we ought to

deal with deferred maintenance because so many of the colleges, not just hbcu really needed that capital improvement and it needs a lot more than going into the program so i applaud that statement and comment and want to thank all of the witnesses today. it was a very good discussion and i appreciate the chair man for calling this and a few other points to finish up it's important congress continues to recognize how hbcu's have provided students with equally important to know congress will support the mission over the last 18 months the institutions were providing billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars which served as a temporary lifeline to mitigate what was happening during the pandemic withoutic a doubt the businesse, churches, you name it benefited

because of the money congress appropriated. but the fact of the matter is it is changing and more and more are demanding offerings outside of the traditional four-year model and covid-19 accelerated the trend. simply providing more and more money is not the answer in my r opinion. the cause for additional funding or often ignore the interest of the taxpayers we have to be smart about the money that is being given and accountability. we should build up the initiative in my opinion encouraging them to be innovative just like every other institution such as fostering public and partnerships with a business model doing so will

ensure thelo longevity to serveu the students for generations to come. thank you to the witnesses lady leave a lot of great comments occur todayy and thank you madam chair i will yield back. >> thank you. i want to thank the witness and i now recognize myself for the purpose of making a closing statement. just keep in mind 1886 the first hbcu was built and some of the buildings remain the same and we have to keep that in mind.

when i went to the university, we had a shower in the hallway, a groupup bathroom. now our schools that we have to compete with, each dormitory room has a bathroom. we had no kitchen. now the dormitories on the competing institutions have kitchens. i had a little tiny hotplate. there were no, nothing else just a little hotplate that sometimes would cause fires in the dormitory. so, these hbcu's have not been

able to keep up for these centuries that they haver been billed so let'ss keep that in mind to bring this to the forefront and for all of us to know and understand. we reflected on the historical roots and the contributions to the higher education system. they've provided for students ts particularly black and low

income opportunitiesbi for economic mobility. unfortunately, as the witnesses shared these continued the challenges including systemic underfunding in this investment to achieve far more with far less. we must continue to invest in hbcu and of their students. for the portion of the build back better act we approve in funding keep in mind, far more

is needed to correct historic inequities and i will continue to work with my colleagues on this committee. for the history of hbcu's i believe that investing in these institutions and it's one of the more significant actions we can take to right the wrongs of the past.

for the social circless, wherevr i go that's all the people want to ask me about. the solutions must be education by the legacy of slavery and the attendance to any of the nations hbcu's but i consider this investment to be long-overdue

and would ensure any descendent of any sleeved americans can assess a debt free higher education in a world-class institution. i have been even toying with the idea of targeting the most dangerous human beings in america. please let me know if your thoughts. for the impact of slavery and decades of the discriminatory policies including.

to ensure that hbcu not only provide but continue to thrive for decades to come. if there is no further business without objection, the subcommittee stands adjourned.

comcast is partnering with a thousand community centers so students from low income families can get what they need to be ready for anything. a discussion with the former israeli ambassador to the