WASHINGTON, D.C. – Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), and Congressman French Hill (AR-2), on behalf of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus they co-chair, to welcome attendees to the Seventh Annual STEAM Days of Action, which began with a reception last night, Wednesday, in the Rayburn House Office Building, and concluded with an all-day event at the Library of Congress today.
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, U.S. Department of Education Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten, over a dozen Members of Congress and other leaders from HBCUs, businesses and non-profits also joined for a series of discussions and statements.
“America’s HBCUs are renowned for the community bonds they forge, the pathways to opportunity they pave for Black and Brown students, and the talented STEAM professionals they graduate every year,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. “I am proud to join with HBCU Caucus Chair Adams in welcoming our nation’s HBCU leaders to the U.S. Capitol for this STEAM Day of Action. Working together, we will continue fighting to invest in HBCUs, lift up students, and ensure American talent remains unrivaled around the world.”
“I am so proud of the progress made and discussions we held at this year’s STEAM Days of Action program,” said Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., Democratic Co-Chair of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. “I want to thank Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Deputy Administrator McCabe, and Deputy Secretary Marten, and all of my congressional colleagues for joining us and discussing how to direct more resources to HBCUs, protect and serve the communities they come from, and open more paths for their students. I also want to thank the business, non-profit, and university leaders who joined us and shared their ideas with everyone here at STEAM Days. In the 118th Congress, it is imperative that we continue convening robust discussions with key policymakers and appropriators to find more ways to support our HBCUs.”
“I’m thankful to Rep. Alma Adams for her incredible leadership on behalf of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, because when HBCUs succeed, America succeeds,” said Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. “This STEAM conference is so incredibly important in making sure that we provide them with all the resources necessary to access the partnerships so that they can contribute in these areas of human endeavor.”
“I am thrilled to join Representative Adams and the bipartisan HBCU Caucus to celebrate the next generation of leaders in science, technology, engineering, art, and math,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “Through our first-ever HBCU-MSI Federal Advisory Committee, President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, and technical assistance programs, EPA is solidifying our partnership with minority-serving institutions to ensure that all Americans have equal access to critical environmental and public health protections and economic and educational opportunities.”
“I want to congratulate Congresswoman Adams on her 7th Annual STEAM Days and her decades of unwavering championship for HBCU schools, infrastructure, innovation and belonging in STEM spaces for all students,” said Department of Education Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten. “In order to be competitive in the economy of the future, we must work together to fund excellent educational opportunities at every level, with an intentional focus on equity. The Department of Education is committed to ensuring HBCUs have the resources they need and deserve to fulfill their mission and serve our nation.”
“Today, the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus welcomed academic, business, and thought leaders to Washington to participate in the seventh annual STEAM Days of Action,” said Congressman French Hill, Republican Co-Chair of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. “This event brings together dedicated supporters of HBCUs to talk about the challenges and successes of growing STEM and arts academic programming at our institutions. The event also welcomes those from the business community to connect with those from the colleges and universities to encourage them to build collaborative partnerships and position the next generation of students for success in STEM fields.”
The STEAM Days event included highly informative sessions with EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, and Department of Education Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten. McCabe and Rep. Adams talked about the ways HBCU graduates can access and benefit from the President’s Justice40 initiative, which ensures at least 40% of the benefits from the job-generating Inflation Reduction Act go to historically disadvantaged communities. During the panel moderated by recent Hampton University graduate, Jessica Simmons, Marten and Rep. Adams discussed the many ways the Department of Education can help direct more resources to HBCUs, including over $7 billion that the White House has already sent to HBCU campuses.
In his opening remarks, Congressman French Hill highlighted the impacts of HBCUs as economic engines for their local communities and for the wider U.S. economy. Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07) also brought remarks, followed by a lunch panel featuring representatives from TIAA, IBM NCA&T State University, Delaware State University, and the Pathways Foundation, who discussed what organizations, schools and universities are doing in the STEM space new opportunities for students and their universities.
Reps. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) also joined Rep. Adams for a panel to discuss ways to appropriate more funding to support HBCUs over the long term.
The ongoing efforts by Reps. Adams and Hill, and the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus they co-chair, have coincided with both legislation and significant executive action. These include increased Research and Development and infrastructure funding for HBCUs through the U.S. Department of Education, and increased funding for HBCU line-items such as Title III, Part B, to their highest levels ever.
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