Alma Adams

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize those four young men from North Carolina A&T State University who helped bend the arc of history towards justice, the Greensboro Four. On February 1, 1960, 60 years ago this upcoming Saturday, David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Jibreel Khazan, and Joseph McNeil, took their seats at a Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and changed American history forever. And after they were refused service, they continued to sit at that lunch counter until the store closed. The next day, 12 more students sat at that same lunch counter; and by the next week, thousands of demonstrators began to fight against Jim Crow in North Carolina. To honor the triumphs of these four young men, and to commemorate their efforts to make this a more just society, I am proud to introduce today, with my colleague, Representative G.K. Butterfield, a resolution recognizing the significance of the Greensboro Four sit-in. May we all continue to live by their example as we make this a fairer and more equitable America for all that call it home.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the majority leader for yielding, and for his leadership, and for organizing this Special Order Hour. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in setting the record straight when it comes to the Trump economy. The Trump economy was on sad display in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday, when 1,300 of my constituents stood in line for a chance at 185 affordable housing units in West Charlotte. Instead of investing in shelter, affordable housing, and community health, the Trump economic policy is about consolidating wealth. The Trump economy is one that works for the American billionaire, but not for the union boilermaker. It is an economy that works for executives with golden parachutes, but not for educators teaching elementary school students parachute games. It doesn't have to be this way. In 2016, when Donald Trump was elected, he inherited a robust economy, thanks to President Obama and his administration. It was President Obama who turned our economy around and helped pull us out of the Great Recession. Seventy-five consecutive months of private sector job growth? Thanks, President Obama. However, since then, Trump's ``Billionaires First'' policies have hurt our neighbors and our families. Some of these harmful policies: The U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement; the ongoing trade war with China, and threats to place tariffs on goods imported from our allies; this administration's cruel efforts to dismantle and weaken the Affordable Care Act; Trump's heartless immigration policies that have led to fearmongering and separation of families at the border. Trump economic policy is not about helping others. Instead, the cruelty is the point. In fact, the only compassionate thing about his economic policy is that it looks out for billionaires, and not just millionaires like himself. But Scripture tells us that, ``Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.'' The dividends we seek as public servants are not from increased wealth, but from a more perfect commonwealth. Luckily, the American people are standing up to push back against this economy. And whether it is a small business owner who gives the homeless a place to park their cars at night, or the community advocates helping their displaced neighbors find new homes, the Queen City knows that service is the rent we pay for living on this Earth. The American people are working for the people, and so is the people's House. It is time for the Trump administration to do the same.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record my statement in support of the Articles of Impeachment against President Donald J. Trump. After reviewing hours of testimony, countless pieces of evidence, and the Administration's own words and actions, I believe the case has been made that the President abused his power and obstructed Congress from fulfilling its constitutional duty. As such, I will support both articles of impeachment today on the House floor. The evidence shows that the President put his interests above those of the country. We must act quickly because President Trump's behavior poses a clear and present danger to our democracy. His words and actions show that he is actively looking to interfere in next year's election by any means necessary. We cannot stand for that kind of misconduct in our country's Chief Executive.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5363), to reauthorize mandatory funding programs for historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 5363, the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education, or FUTURE Act.

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 5363, the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education, or the FUTURE Act. We can also simply call it FUTURE Act 2.0. Mr. Speaker, 3 months ago, on September 17, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the first version of the FUTURE Act, H.R. 2486, which would have reauthorized title III, part F of the Higher Education Act for the next 2 years. We acted on that day because this important program, which prepares the 8 million students at our Nation's minority-serving institutions for careers in STEM, expired on September 30. Unfortunately, inaction on the part of the Senate left us in a situation where colleges and universities have already had to begin laying off staff, and smaller schools have planned to cut back programmatic offerings to stay afloat. Fortunately, Congress has shown that we can actually come together and work in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion to make the lives of our citizens better. The agreement reached in H.R. 5363 will not only reauthorize 255 million in mandatory funding for historically Black colleges and universities and all MSIs for 2 years, it will reauthorize this funding permanently. A permanent reauthorization means that for the rest of time, long after we are all gone, Mr. Speaker, diverse college students can count on a robust investment from their Federal Government. And it was all done because we, as Members, were able to put aside partisanship, come together for the common cause of ensuring a bright and prosperous future for millions of low-income, first-generation college students of color. Mr. Speaker, the FUTURE Act 2.0 is, once again, responsible legislation that is completely paid for. There are a number of people to thank for getting this bill to the floor today, but I want to particularly recognize the leadership of Chairman Neal of the Committee on Ways and Means and Representative DelBene for her partnership. Because of these collaborative efforts, the House today can once again address the number one priority of our minority-serving institutions, which educate nearly 30 percent of all undergraduate students in America. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the American Council on Education and 42 other national organizations in support of the FUTURE Act's passage today by the House. American Council on Education, Washington, DC, December 10, 2019. Representative Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Representative Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy: On behalf of the organizations listed below, we write to express our strong support for H.R. 5363, the FUTURE Act. This legislation is fully offset and offers practical solutions to critical issues facing students and institutions. H.R. 5363 has strong bipartisan support, which is reflected in the fact that previous iterations of this bill passed the House under suspension in September, and an amended version passed the Senate under unanimous consent last week. This legislation addresses several important issues. First, it would restore, and make permanent, critical mandatory funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities and other Minority-Serving Institutions that had expired at the end of September, allowing those institutions to strengthen STEM education programs and build institutional capacity to better serve students. It is vital that this funding be restored immediately as campuses are already making decisions regarding staffing, facilities and programming, which are directly influenced by the availability of this support. Beyond the benefits to historically under-resourced institutions, the FUTURE Act would make significant improvements to the federal student aid system, by simplifying and streamlining the processes for applying for student aid and repaying student loans. This will dramatically simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and make it far easier for low- and middle-income families to apply for and receive federal student aid. In addition, the changes proposed in the legislation will also make the process of paying for college significantly easier for students and their families. This bill would also strengthen the accuracy and effectiveness of the administration of these programs. Finally, the bill includes additional funding for the Federal Pell Grant program, which is the cornerstone of federal student aid. These grants enable millions of low- income students to access and afford college, and we appreciate the inclusion of additional support for this valuable program. For all of these reasons, we urge you, and the Members you represent, to support this legislation when it comes to the floor for a vote today. We appreciate your attention to this important legislation and look forward to working with you to ensure passage into law of the FUTURE Act. Sincerely, Ted Mitchell, President. On behalf of: Achieving the Dream, Inc.; ACPA-College Student Educators International; American Association of Colleges of Nursing; American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers; American Association of Community Colleges; American Association of State Colleges and Universities; American Association of University Professors; American Council on Education; American Dental Education Association; American Indian Higher Education Consortium; Association of American Universities; Association of American Colleges and Universities; Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities; Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities; Association of Public and Land-grant Universities; College and University Professional Association for Human Resources; Common App; Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area; Council for Advancement and Support of Education; Council for Higher Education Accreditation; Council for Opportunity in Education; Council of Graduate Schools; Council of Independent Colleges; Council on Social Work Education; EDUCAUSE ETS; Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities; NAFSA: Association of International Educators. NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education; National Association for College Admission Counseling; National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education; National Association of College and University Business Officers; National Association of Colleges and Employers; National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators; National Council for Community and Education Partnerships; Phi Beta Kappa Society; The College Board;

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene).

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene).

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments, and I will add my testimony to that, a 40-year college professor at Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, an HBCU, a fine HBCU, a women's college; and having done my studies at North Carolina A&T State University twice--my bachelor's and master's there--and knowing that North Carolina has more HBCUs than any other State, we are proud of that. Having said that, Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici), who is also a member of the Education and Labor Committee and chair of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services.

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains on either side.

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the capable chair of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his kind remarks, and it is a real pleasure serving with him and working with him on this particular issue. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro).

Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson) for all of his work and his support. Let me again thank all of my colleagues who have helped to bring us to the precipice of solidifying a robust Federal investment into HBCUs and MSIs for all time. I thank Chairman Neal and Representative DelBene, as well as Chairman Bobby Scott for his leadership every step of the way in this effort. I thank the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Karen Bass, and the chairs of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressman Joaquin Castro and Congresswoman Judy Chu. I thank the leadership of the House for making HBCUs and MSIs and the students they serve a priority for this body. It is telling how important this issue is for the fate of our Nation that we are considering this measure in the midst of all that Congress has to do before the end of the year. To the advocates, the United Negro College Fund, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and NAFEO, whose members have sent over 65,000 letters and made calls to Members of Congress, I hope we can let them know that while they have worked hard, their hard work has paid off. Mr. Speaker, 8 million students from across America are counting on us today. They are counting on Congress to keep its promise. In 2008, when mandatory funding language was first authorized in title III, this body approved the measure by a vote of 354-to-58. Congress in 2008 understood the importance of our HBCUs and MSIs and the educational opportunities that they specifically tailor to students who have traditionally been denied access to adequately funded schools throughout their lives. Congress understood how the program was needed to help these institutions fulfill their mission to assist students in meeting their goals. That fact remains true now more than ever. Let's have a strong vote to pass FUTURE Act 2.0 out of this House today. Bring it to the Senate and send it to the President's desk so that our HBCUs and MSIs and their students can finally have certainty from their government and know that when Congress makes a promise to provide for their future, we mean what we say. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ADAMS

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to be here this evening to address a very important topic. I rise to advocate, along with my colleagues who have come, for the 300,000 students that attend our Nation's historically Black colleges and universities, known as HBCUs. As Congress looks to agree on a funding agreement for fiscal year 2020, we must keep in mind our Nation's 102 HBCUs that specialize in providing opportunity for low-income, first-generation African American students. When I entered Congress, one of my first tasks when I got here was to launch the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus to bring greater attention to the issues that affect HBCUs and their students. I did so because more than anything I know the importance of HBCUs, not only in the African American community, but for our economy as a whole. For more than 150 years, HBCUs have paved a way where there is no way for America's most talented Black minds. Despite discrimination and neglect, HBCUs have continued to pull above their weight. We know the facts and the figures, but it never hurts to repeat them. HBCUs produce 27 percent of all African American STEM graduates; 40 percent of all African American engineers; 50 percent of all African American lawyers; 50 percent of all African American public school teachers; and 80 percent of all African American judges; despite only educating 10 percent of all African American college students. In my home State of North Carolina, we have 10 HBCUs currently operating and educating over 33,000 students: Bennett College; Elizabeth City State University; Fayetteville State University; Johnson C. Smith University--in my congressional district; Livingstone College; the North Carolina A&T State University, which is my alma mater and the largest public HBCU that produces African American engineers and the largest public HBCU in the Nation; along with North Carolina Central University; Saint Augustine's University; Shaw University; and last but not least, Winston-Salem State University. They make a total of $1.7 billion of economic impact in the State, supporting over 15,000 jobs and guaranteeing for their graduates $20.7 billion in lifetime earnings. They are more than a worthy investment for this body and for our State legislatures back home. And over the last 50 years, Congress has taken strides to correct for the historic lack of engagement and investment in these schools that contribute so much. When enacted in 1965, the Higher Education Act represented the Federal Government's first recognition of the important mission that HBCUs serve. The HEA of 1965 first authorized Title III Institutional Aid, which is the key program that supports academic quality, institutional management, and financial stability at HBCUs. Through multiple reauthorizations, Congress has sought to strengthen and to supplement this law by providing low-interest loans for schools to make infrastructure improvements. And, yes, by authorizing mandatory funding to help HBCUs prepare students for STEM careers, a mission that is sorely needed in a workforce that screams for diversity and inclusion. So tonight, Madam Speaker, we will hear from this body's most tireless advocates for HBCUs and our students, many of whom are members of the HBCU Caucus, which now includes almost 100 Members of the House and Senate, and many of whom are alums of our Nation's HBCUs, and many of my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus, because we know firsthand what these schools mean to an aspiring student of color looking at education as a ticket to the middle class. Madam Speaker, I stand tonight as a living testament to the necessity and to the importance of HBCUs. My mother, who raised me, was not an educated woman. She wasn't able to obtain a high school education and certainly not to attend an HBCU or any CU for that matter. But she understood how important education would be in my life. My mom did domestic work. She cleaned other folks' houses for many years so I wouldn't have to do that. But like those visionaries who founded these schools after surviving the horrors of slavery, my mother dreamed of a better future for me as her daughter. And when I could not fully recognize the potential in myself, it was an HBCU in North Carolina, North Carolina A&T State University, that saw something in me and made a committed investment towards my success. A&T gave a poor, Black girl from the ghetto of Newark, New Jersey, an opportunity, because that school believed in opportunity and the fundamental importance of education that W.E.B. Du Bois spoke about. When he said, ``Of all of the civil rights for which the world has struggled and fought for 500 years, the right to learn is undoubtedly the most fundamental.'' That HBCU took me from where they found me and got me to where I needed to be. They shaped and molded me into what they knew I could become, just as all of our schools have for millions of Americans since the founding of the first HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in 1836. General Leave

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. David Scott).

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank gentleman from Georgia. And he is absolutely right, HBCUs take you where they find you and mold and shape you. I had the privilege to serve on the faculty and to serve as an administrator at Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, for 40 years. So the thousands of students that I had an opportunity to impact certainly have made a lasting impact on me. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), our very capable whip.

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for that not only inspiring but moving speech. I would say, Madam Speaker, that I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Clyburn's wife. Certainly, all of those tributes are really due to her. We are not only proud of the work that she did but of the life that she led. Madam Speaker, I say to my colleagues who talked about getting married, I got married at North Carolina A&T to my first spouse. It didn't last all but 6 or so years, at least not that one. But you do have an opportunity to not only interact but to meet folks for a lifetime, and that is really, really important. I want to mention as well that of all the universities, HBCUs are about 3 percent, yet we educate 10 percent of all students of African American descent. That means that we do a lot with a little. We don't get the kind of equitable funding that we have needed, but clearly, we have continued to press on. These are wonderful examples we have been hearing tonight. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the chair of the Committee on Education and Labor, a gentleman who has worked hard to make education valuable and important also.

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for not only his comments but for his labor and his support for these very fine institutions. Madam Speaker, I do want to acknowledge the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Karen Bass, who had to leave. She left her comments and asked me to read them, so I am going to do that. She begins by talking about the Special Order hour tonight and the support that we need to give to our historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions. Congress, she says, must provide mandatory funding for these institutions. Fighting for historically Black colleges and universities is one of the Congressional Black Caucus' highest priorities because HBCUs are critical contributors to the strength of the Black community and our country. Many members of our caucus, the CBC, have attended great HBCUs, such as American Baptist College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta, Fisk University, Florida A&M, Howard University, Jackson State University, Morehouse College, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Prairie View A&M University, South Carolina State, Texas Southern University, Tougaloo College, Tuskegee University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Wiley College, among others. In the 115th Congress, the CBC launched a tour of HBCUs called CBC on the Yard. The goal of the tour was to listen, to involve and mobilize students to effect change in their communities, and to get their thoughts on the direction of the country and the issues that impact their lives. The CBC hosted events at Morehouse College, Xavier University, Bowie State University, and Howard University. According to the Thurgood Marshall Foundation, HBCUs account for 22 percent of the current bachelor's degrees granted to African Americans. Moreover, among African Americans, 13 percent of CEOs, 40 percent of engineers, 40 percent of healthcare professionals, 50 percent of teachers, 50 percent of non-HBCU professors, 50 percent of lawyers, 80 percent of judges, and 90 percent with bachelor's degrees in STEM subjects graduated from HBCUs. The economic impact of HBCUs, as the gentlewoman says, is equally impressive. A report by UNCF called ``HBCUs Make America Strong'' said the positive economic impact of historically Black colleges and universities show that HBCUs generate $14.8 billion in economic impact annually. HBCUs are vital to the students who attend them and to the entire country, which makes use of the valuable skills that these graduates bring to the private and public sectors. Our Nation must continue to invest in HBCUs and minority-serving institutions. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis).

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Davis very much for his eloquent presentation. As I think about many of the songs that we sing at our schools, they have a certain relevance, strength, and meaning for the students that we serve. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who has been out on this battlefield for a very long time. I am so happy to share this hour with her and all of my colleagues.

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for not only her contributions, but the contributions of her family. I am a proud two-time graduate. My daughter is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, as well, and my grandson decided he wanted to be a Bison, so he is at Howard this year as a freshman. I am just delighted that he has joined the HBCU family. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey--where I grew up--for not only his service there, but for his contributions tonight. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lawson).

Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Florida. Madam Speaker, how much time is remaining?