Rep. Sewell Announces Alabama Colleges and Universities Have Received Nearly $800 Million Under Democrats' American Rescue Plan

Statement

Ahead of tomorrow's one-year anniversary of Democrats' American Rescue Plan, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced that the landmark law has delivered nearly $800 million to 70 colleges and universities in Alabama in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. These investments are helping make institutions of higher education--especially community colleges--more affordable, while ensuring Alabama students stay on track to graduate. At least half of these funds are being used to provide direct financial relief to students.

"As the only member of the Alabama delegation to vote in favor of the American Rescue Plan, I was proud to help secure urgently-needed funding to strengthen Alabama schools and support college students in our state," said Rep. Sewell. "The success of our colleges, universities, and students is critical to the success of the State of Alabama, and one year after President Biden and the Democratic Congress enacted the American Rescue Plan, Alabama's campuses are seeing results. Thanks to this landmark law, Alabama's colleges and universities have the resources to continue serving students and bring down costs despite unprecedented health and learning challenges. As we emerge from this pandemic, I will continue fighting to Build a Better Alabama--especially for our students."

The American Rescue Plan delivered one of the largest one-time infusions of funding ever provided to America's colleges and universities. Distributed by the U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), these investments are already having a significant impact. A recent survey of college presidents by the American Council on Education found that HEERF enabled:

93 percent of colleges to provide direct financial support to students at risk of dropping out
81 percent of colleges to keep student net prices similar to pre-pandemic levels
70 percent of colleges to continue to employ faculty, staff, and other employees otherwise at risk of unemployment
63 percent of colleges to keep students and faculty safe by purchasing COVID-19 tests, health screenings, and health care
American Rescue Plan funds included significant investments in key institutions in Alabama, including:

Approximately $301 million for community colleges
Over $334 million for 13 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Over $34 million for 4 MSIs -- which includes Hispanic-Serving Institutions,
Predominantly Black Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, and Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions.
Community colleges in Alabama receiving American Rescue Plan funds include:

Bishop State Community College: $34,271,512
Lawson State Community College: $34,045,562
Shelton State Community College: $29,004,331
H. Councill Trenholm State Community College: $21,002,921
Gadsden State Community College: $18,767,865
HBCUs in Alabama receiving American Rescue Plan funds include:

Alabama A&M University: $60,120,210
Alabama State University: $42,725,038
Bishop State Community College: $34,271,512
Lawson State Community College: $34,045,562
Tuskegee University: $30,961,457
Shelton State Community College: $29,004,331
H. Councill Trenholm State Community College: $21,002,921
Gadsden State Community College: $18,767,865
Miles College: $18,102,234
Talladega College: $14,112,105
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College: $11,584,720
Oakwood University: $10,806,960
Stillman College: $9,171,243
Minority Serving Institutions in Alabama receiving American Rescue Plan funds include:

Auburn University Montgomery: $15,781,694
University of West Alabama: $6,804,076
Chattahoochee Valley Community College: $6,000,926
George Corley Wallace State Community College ‐ Sel: $5,472,099
Examples of other colleges and universities in Alabama receiving American Rescue Plan funds include:

University of Alabama: $54,903,000
Auburn University: $40,998,202
University of Alabama at Birmingham: $37,329,104

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