Kamala Harris and Doug Jones Secure More Federal Dollars for HBCUs

Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Doug Jones (D-AL) announced on Thursday that HBCUs will receive a 14% increase in federal funding in the Senate’s omnibus spending bill, increasing federal support from $244.7 million in 2017 to $279.6 million in 2018. The funding increase follows a request made by Harris and Jones last month in a letter to the leadership of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. “HBCUs are critical to the foundation of our higher education system, and provide opportunities for some of the nation’s most promising and deserving students," said Harris, a graduate of Howard University. “I am pleased funds in this bipartisan budget agreement will be invested in the future of these young people. Ensuring HBCUs have the federal support and resources they need to thrive for generations to come is one of my top priorities as a proud HBCU graduate.” In addition to the increased funding for HBCUs, historically Black graduate institutions will also receive a 14% funding increase, from $63.3 million to $72.3 million. Predominantly Black Institutions will receive a boost from $9.9 million to $11.4 million. More here.