Reps. Hill, Adams, Turner, Sewell, McCormick, Figures Introduce IDNITE HBCU Excellence Act

The co-chairs of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, Rep. French Hill (R-AR) and Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC), introduced H.R. 8791, the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act, following years of bipartisan work to strengthen historically Black colleges and universities. The legislation is co-led by HBCU Caucus Vice Chairs Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL), and Caucus Members Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) and Rep. Shomari C. Figures (D-AL). This bipartisan, bicameral legislation, IGNITE (Institutional Grants for New Infrastructure, Technology, and Education) Act, would direct the Department of Education to award competitive grants to historically Black colleges and universities for the renovation, repair, and construction of campus facilities, including classrooms, research labs, student housing, and broadband infrastructure, while expanding research capacity, developing workforce skills, building entrepreneurial capacity, and advancing AI education for generations to come. The companion Senate legislation is led by HBCU Caucus co-chairs Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE).