In Recognition of the One Year Anniversary of the HBCU Caucus

Floor Speech

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Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor to speak in recognition of the one-year anniversary of the Bipartisan HBCU caucus and highlight the great impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

HBCUs continue to stand as a bastion of learning and advancement for so many students of color. About 20 percent of African American students earning their bachelor's degrees do so from HBCUs.

HBCUs serve a disproportionate number of low-income, first-generation students. More than 75 percent of HBCUs students rely on Pell Grants and almost 13 percent of students rely on PLUS loans. It is clear that, for many students who would otherwise find higher education out of reach, HBCUs provide a strong pathway to success. HBCUs also provide a strong value to students and their families, allowing for a small- college experience with lower tuition and fees than comparable institutions.

This includes schools like Florida Memorial University, located in Florida's 24th district. Florida Memorial has the distinction of being the only historically black university in southern Florida and one of the oldest academic institutions in the entire state of Florida. Under the leadership of Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, Florida Memorial continues to provide students with the quality education, leadership skills, and heart for service they need to become strong global citizens in our changing world.

As a proud graduate of an HBCU, I am proud to work with my colleagues to advance policies that benefit HBCUs. I want to thank Congresswoman Alma Adams of North Carolina and Congressman Bradley Byrne of Alabama for their strong leadership on this bipartisan caucus over the past year. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues for the betterment of HBCUs in Florida and across the country.

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