A bipartisan bill sponsored on April 14 by U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-AR) would establish the Federal Clearinghouse on Grant Opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The HBCU Research Capacity Act, H.R. 8264, which is cosponsored by lead original cosponsor and fellow HBCU Caucus Co-Chair U.S. Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC), would establish the federal clearinghouse to provide a centralized source of information on federal grant opportunities available to HBCUs.
HBCUs, “including the four we are blessed to have here in Arkansas, have been a source of opportunity and innovation for generations,” Rep. Hill said. “Despite their outsized contributions, HBCUs receive a fraction of the federal research funding available to them.
“The HBCU Research Capacity Act takes a practical step toward changing that by ensuring these institutions have the information and tools they need to compete for federal dollars and continue fulfilling their vital mission for generations to come,” the congressman added.
If enacted, H.R. 8264 also would ensure HBCUs receive consistent and timely updates on research and development funding opportunities across federal agencies, and provide best practices and guidance to help institutions strengthen research capacity and improve competitiveness for federal grants.
Additionally, the bill would encourage coordination across key federal agencies to better align funding opportunities and reduce barriers to access, and promote transparency and accountability through regular reporting to Congress and participating institutions, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“HBCUs contribute nearly $16.5 billion to the economy every year despite receiving less than 1 percent of federal research funding. That gap isn’t a reflection of merit, it’s a reflection of decades of systemic underfunding,” said Rep. Adams. “The HBCU Research Capacity Act will help by giving our institutions a clear path to federal grant opportunities.”
H.R. 8264 is companion legislation to the same-named S. 4167, introduced on March 24 by U.S. Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA).