In a new letter to leaders of Senate Education Appropriations subcommittee, Senator Warnock led the call for continued support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in upcoming spending bill

Lawmakers: “Investment in HBCUs vital to support “’our nation’s great leaders, innovators, and job creators’”

Lawmakers: “It is vital that there is sustained and strong public investment in HBCUs to grow their capacity to prepare young people of color for careers of success and service. We urge you to provide the necessary federal resources to support these institutions.”

AJC: Warnock, Tim Scott lead push for more federal funding for Black colleges—READ MORE

Senator Warnock, along with Senator Ossoff, recently secured nearly $85 million in funding to Georgia’s HBCUs

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) led a bipartisan effort calling on the leaders of a key Senate Appropriations subcommittee to bolster support for the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the upcoming spending bill. In the bipartisan letter, which was also signed by 20 of their colleagues, the lawmakers stressed the importance of investing in the nation’s HBCUs to the nation’s economy—highlighting data that illustrates how HBCUs generate more than $14 billion in total economic impact and are responsible for over 134,000 jobs in Georgia and nationwide. The senators’ letter also underscored how strengthened federal investments in HBCUs will not only support the skill and knowledge development of countless first-generation, low-income, and minority Americans, but will also help encourage job creation and ensure our country has a diverse, skilled workforce ready to take advantage of the jobs of today and tomorrow spurred by the constantly-evolving global economy.

“As you consider the fiscal year (FY) 2022 appropriations process, we request that you continue to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This is a critical time to invest in HBCUs, which collectively enroll nearly 300,000 students. HBCUs serve as a gateway to the middle class for many first-generation, low-income, and minority Americans. Further, an HBCU education has been the common thread that runs through the stories of many of our nation’s great leaders, innovators, and job creators,” wrote the lawmakers.

The letter continued: “A report by UNCF found that HBCUs generate $14.8 billion in total economic impact, as well as over 134,000 jobs, both on-campus and off. Having an HBCU degree lifted the lifetime earnings of their graduates by 56 percent – or an estimated $130 billion – over what they would have earned without their degree. Increased federal aid will only add to the job creating capacity of these institutions, and will support more students who will be able to reap the benefits of having a degree from an HBCU.”

The bipartisan letter, co-led by Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), was also signed by the following lawmakers: Senator Blumenthal (D-CT), Senator Booker (D-NJ), Senator Brown (D-OH), Senator Cardin (D-MD), Senator Carper (D-DE), Senator Casey (D-PA), Senator Coons (D-DE), Senator Duckworth (D-IL), Senator Durbin (D-IL), Senator Feinstein (D-CA), Senator Kaine (D-VA), Senator Klobuchar (D-MN), Senator Merkley (D-OR), Senator Ossoff (D-GA), Senator Padilla (D-CA), Senator Sanders (I-VT), Senator Tillis (R-NC), Senator Van Hollen (D-MD), Senator Warner (D-VA), and Senator Warren (D-MA).

READ FULL LETTER HERE.

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