Letter to Hon. Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States - Reps. Ted Budd & Byron Donalds Demand That Biden Protect HBCU Funding

Letter

Dear Mr. President:

Today, we write you to express our deep concern following recent reports and mixed messaging
coming from the White House and Congressional leadership surrounding scrapping billions of dollars from
historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). As you and your Democrat colleagues continue to
negotiate your stalled socialist spending spree, it is troubling to see that Democrats have considered slashing
funding to such valued educational institutions. As it stands today, the "Build Back Better" plan will cost
the American taxpayer north of six trillion dollars. This blank check proposal aims to expand the federal
government's role by grossly pumping trillions of dollars the nation does not have for entitlement programs
intended on growing dependence on the government. This massive package includes trillions for climate
chasers, free college, free childcare, tax incentives for the rich, and the list goes on. Your party's
commitment to so-called human infrastructure seems to have phased out dollars that received bipartisan
support, funding for HBCUs, and in favor of radical spending priorities intended on fundamentally
changing America.

Throughout history, HBCUs have provided millions of Black Americans with an opportunity to control
their educational success and overall prosperity which was previously denied to them. Under the previous
administration and Congress, President Trump signed a bipartisan bill that permanently provided more than
$250 million a year to HBCUs and dozens of other institutions serving minority students. Despite many
ideological differences, members of the HBCU community, including the president and CEO of the United
Negro College Fund, praised President Trump for his leadership in restoring $255 million in annual funding
incorporated the FUTURE Act. President Trump famously stated that HBCUs "never had a better champion
in the White House," and we would agree. Many Black Americans are troubled that your party seems to
have sold out the Black community, once again, to appease the socialist wish list spending proposals of
Bernie Sanders, AOC, and Ilhan Omar.

While HBCUs only account for 3% of all higher education institutions, more than 20% of Black
college graduates receive their degree from a HBCU. Many of these degrees focus on science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM), including 31% of biology and math degrees. In addition to
providing this historical funding, President Trump's first action was to move the White House Initiative on
Historically Black Colleges and Universities from the Department of Education into the White House, a move long supported by HBCUs. Under the Trump administration, federal funding for HBCUs increased
by more than $100 million and nearly 20% throughout his tenure.

As Republican members of Congress who either proudly attended an HBCU or represent a
congressional district home to a HBCU, we seek your immediate attention and reassurance that your
administration and fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill will not starve our HBCUs following the bountiful
progress left to you by former President Trump. While we strongly oppose your radical leftist domestic
agenda that will bankrupt our nation and future generations, it is essential to prioritize funding for these
institutions.

Sincerely,

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