This bill expands the allowable uses of grants under the Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) program to include activities related to arts, arts education, and cultural programs.
Specifically, the bill allows grants under the HBCU program to be used for
A grant recipient may enter into a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts to carry out these activities.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5895 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5895
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional
uses of funds for grants to strengthen historically Black colleges and
universities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 6, 2023
Ms. Adams (for herself, Ms. Norton, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Carson, Ms. Lee of
California, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Payne, Ms. Bush, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Wilson
of Florida, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Crockett, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Ms.
Jackson Lee, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Horsford, Mr. Bowman, and Mrs.
Cherfilus-McCormick) introduced the following bill
October 25, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional
uses of funds for grants to strengthen historically Black colleges and
universities, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) According to a 2021 study by Americans for the Arts,
the arts are an invaluable aspect of American society, as they
strengthen the economy, improve healthcare, spark creativity
and innovation, and unify communities, with 73 percent of
participants agreeing that the arts help them to better
understand other cultures.
(2) Many United States museums are grappling with
diversity. Studies report that only 1.4 percent of artists
featured in America's top museums are black, only 4 percent of
staff directors at top museums are Black, and that only 2.5
percent of Black Americans are owners of Arts-Entertainment
business.
(3) Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs,
are uniquely positioned to produce a diverse generation of art
professionals and help bring much needed attention to works by
Black artists. HBCUs have historically served as long-standing
conservators and crucial supporters of Black art and for the
teaching, supporting, and displaying of essential Black artists
who may otherwise have remained unrecognized.
(4) Arts programs and arts departments are expensive and
have often fallen victim to funding shortfalls. In 2018, the
College Art Association reported that at least 18 institutions
of higher education planned to severely curtail or eliminate
their arts departments.
(5) HBCUs have also been underfunded by $12,600,000,000
compared to their predominantly White counterparts over the
last 30 years. Some HBCUs have shrunk, consolidated, or cut
their arts programs due to limited resources.
(6) An increased investment in HBCU arts, arts education,
and culture programs can further help students of color access
an affordable arts education and ensure the continued
preparation, conservation, display, and study of works by Black
artists.
SEC. 2. STRENGTHENING HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
Section 323 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1062) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a),
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (14) and (15) as
paragraphs (19) and (20), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (13) the
following:
``(14) Providing financial and other assistance to students
in arts, arts education, and cultural programs.
``(15) Establishing outreach programs and development
offices for arts, arts education, and cultural departments.
``(16) Providing comprehensive wraparound services for
arts, arts education, and cultural students, including faculty
and peer mentorship, work-based learning opportunities,
guidance counseling, and career advising.
``(17) Exhibiting, maintaining, monitoring, and protecting
Black art collections in exhibition and in storage.
``(18) Providing well-paid apprenticeship, internship, and
fellowship opportunities to students in arts, arts education,
and cultural programs through partnerships with nonprofit arts,
arts education, and cultural institutes.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) National Endowment for the Arts.--An institution may enter
into a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts to carry
out the activities described in paragraphs (14) through (18) of
subsection (a).
``(e) Definition.--In this section, the term `arts' means art forms
used for self-expression and interpretation, including performance,
literary, visual, graphic, plastic, and decorative arts.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
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