Rep. Alma S. Adams of the 12th Congressional District of North Carolina proposed a new piece of legislation that would help support historically black colleges and universities for the foreseeable future. Adams spoke to congress and introduced plans for a $250 Million HBCU Innovation Fund Act that will work to supply underfunded schools with financial support through grants, according to the Root.

Reportedly, the money the fund would collect and be responsible for distributing would spark the introduction of programs that would lead to higher recruitment, enrollment and graduation rates as well as bolster the schools’ STEM programs.

“HBCUs provide opportunities for many low-income, first generation and often minority students to get a quality education,” said Adams, co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional HBCU Caucus and member of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education.

Over recent years, HBCU’s have come increasingly under attack by those who feel they’re not as necessary in a country where we’ve had a black president for the better part of a decade. However, many students still view them as a more appropriate environment for them to succeed. For some, it’s their best option to obtain a higher education.

“HBCUs give students the chance they deserve to succeed; however, they have been historically underfunded and lack many of the resources needed to address some of their most extreme challenges,” she continued. “The HBCU Innovation Fund Act is one way to help close some of the gaps that persist on HBCU campuses and within HBCU administrations.”

Adams has the ability to speak from personal experience after attending North Carolina A&T University for both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1968 and 1972, according to her bio. She also obtained a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 1981.

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