The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is continuing to call on students, alumni, employees and supporters of all HBCUs to contact their respective congressional representatives to support the increase in funding called the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act. As Congress continues to consider a $3.5 tillion legislative bill, advocates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are calling on Congress to pay attention to the improvements needed among all HBCUs.
In a September 24 press release, U.S. Rep. Alma Adams announced that more that 100 members of the House of Representatives have endorsed the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act. Designed to improve infrastructure at HBCUs, Adams writes that the legislation would authorize funds to:
“Utilize public and private investments to renovate, repair, modernize, or construct new campus facilities, including instructional, research, and residential spaces;
“Provide access to campus-wide, reliable high-speed broadband to support digital learning and long-term technological capacity;
“Develop campus facilities to support community-based partnerships that provide students and community members with academic, health, and social services;
“Procure equipment and technology needed to facilitate high-quality research and instruction;
“Preserve buildings with historic significance; and
“Ensure the resilience, safety, and sustainability of campus facilities.”
UNCF is asking the HBCU community and its supporters to visit its webpage uncf.org/hbcuignite. There, advocates can contact their representatives and senators with the following steps:
• Click “Email Your Members” at the top of the page.
• Fill out the form.
• Press “send” to email a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
