Ahead of Markup for the PROSPOER Act, Bipartisan HBCU Caucus Chairwoman Urges Changes

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, co-chair of the Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus, led a letter to Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx highlighting her concerns for HBCUs and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success and Prosperity through Education Reform, or PROSPER, Act. The PROSPER Act, which would reauthorize the Higher Education Act for the first time since 2008, is expected to be marked up in the Education and Workforce Committee tomorrow.

Rep. Adams' letter addresses Titles III, Part B and IV, which provides institutional aid for HBCUs and financial aid for the students they serve, respectively. It also raises concerns over flat funding for Pell grants and the exclusion of the HBCU Innovation Fund.

"HBCUs have been forced to do more with less since their inception and this flawed bill doesn't address those issues," said Congresswoman Adams. "I've received feedback from HBCU presidents from across the nation and they are clear: in order to keep their doors open they need equal funding immediately. HEA presents an opportunity for Congress to finally address the inequities that HBCUs and all minority serving institutions face. I sent this letter to Chairwoman Foxx, who represents Winston Salem State University, in hopes that she will redirect course."

Read the full letter attached here.

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The letter was signed by Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Frederica Wilson (D-NC), Anthony Brown (D-MD), Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO), and Keith Ellison (D-MN).

Rep. Adams is a member of the Education and Workforce Committee and the Higher Education Subcommittee.