The Land-Grant Research Equity and Accountability Actwould help ensure 1890s land-grant institutions receive their fair share of funding

Fort Valley State University is the only 1890 land-grant institution in Georgia

According to the Biden Administration, 1890 land-grant institutions are owed more than $13 billion in federal funding they should have gotten in the last three decades, with Fort Valley State University missing out on $603,156,480

Senator Reverend Warnock’s bill would maximize research capacity of Fort Valley State and other 1890 land-grant institutions, increasing workforce training and higher education access

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Our 1890 Land-Grant institutions have been punching way above their weight for far too long, so this legislation will bring us one step closer to ensuring historically Black Land-Grant universities get the funding they’re due”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) announced new legislation that would help ensure states provide 1890s land-grant universities with their fair share of state funding. Under federal law, states are obligated to provide an equitable distribution of state funding for all land-grant universities.  However, historically Black land-grant universities have often been shortchanged and don’t always receive the funding they deserve. The Land-Grant Research Equity and Accountability Act would require governors to annually attest publicly whether or not the state plans to provide funding to each 1890s land-grant institution. U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and U.S. Representatives Alma Adams (D-NC-12) and Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10) joined Senator Warnock in introducing the bill. 

“Our 1890 Land-Grant institutions have been punching way above their weight for far too long, so this legislation will bring us one step closer to ensuring historically Black Land-Grant universities get the funding they’re due,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.“This is a win for Georgia students, Georgia farmers, and Georgia’s economy. I’m proud to join with Chairman Brown on this important legislation. Let’s get this done.”

The Morrill Act of 1890 established 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities as land-grant institutions, intending to boost research and teaching in the agricultural and food sciences. 

“I want to thank Senators Sherrod Brown and Raphael Warnock and Representatives Alma Adams and Marilyn Strickland for their work on this matching grant equity and accountability act,” said Dr. Paul Jones, Chairman of the Council of 1890 University Presidents and President of Fort Valley State University.“We have made some very good progress in a number of states over the last few years but I’m hopeful that this effort will help us reach equity across our 19 Universities from their respective states,” concluded Dr. Jones.

As a proud graduate of an HBCU, Senator Warnock understands the vital importance of strengthening 1890 land grant institutions and minority serving institutions, which is why he introduced new legislation to increase the number of authorized Centers of Excellence (COEs) at 1890 Land-Grant Institutions and strengthen funding for current COEs across the country. Senator Warnock also pushed hard to secure robust funding for 1890 Land-Grant colleges and universities as part of fiscal year 2024 budget. To date, Senator Warnock has secured more than $267 million for Georgia HBCUs.

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