Citing the need for a dramatic funding increase, the House of Representatives has approved a plan to raise Black college funding by $125 million next year – 40 percent more than the current budget.
The chamber approved the plan as an amendment to the Education Department’s 2008 funding bill that members have been debating on the House floor much of this week. Of the new funding, $100 million would be divided among eligible HBCUs and $25 million would go to HBCU graduate institutions.
As originally written, the 2008 education bill had a 4 percent increase for HBCUs and graduate institutions. “That is not enough,” said Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn. “They need help, they need help now, and they need large amounts of help.”
The original plan earmarked $307 million for HBCUs and graduate programs. If enacted into law, the amendment would increase that amount to $432 million.
HBCUs have received only nominal increases in recent years, said Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. “We need to fund these schools at a higher level,” he said. “The need has become greater and greater. These are students who need educational opportunities to move out and into the American dream.”
“There is still a critical need in this country for historically Black colleges and universities,” Cohen added.
Lawmakers would pay for the bill by cutting the U.S. Department of Education’s administrative funds by $125 million. That could pose a hardship for the department, sponsors acknowledged, but said they needed to find some offsetting funds. A House/Senate conference committee ultimately will settle details of a final spending bill later this year.
