Rep. Johnson helps secure HBCU funds in NDAA

Congressman helps procure $10M in research funding for Historically Black Colleges & Universities and Minority Institutions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) announced today that he helped secure a $10 million increase in the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) intended base funding level for science research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs).

HASC “marked up,” or amended and approved, the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday. In an 18-hour marathon session, the committee considered hundreds of amendments to the legislation.

One of Rep. Johnson’s key amendments increased science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) funding for HBCU’s by $10 million to $34.4 million. Johnson’s amendment prevented the funding from being cut by more than $14 million below FY14 levels. There is still work to be done during the authorization process in the House and Senate because the current approved $34.4 million is a cut below the current funding level of $35.9 million, and this is a critical investment for our nation.

“Some of the most important and advanced scientific research in the nation is taking place at HBCUs,” said Johnson. “We must ensure that innovation and expertise receives the funding it deserves and needs to thrive, while developing a minority workforce that excels at science, technology, engineering, and math. But this funding is still $1.4 million below current levels. We have more work to do to ensure our HBCUs are fully funded.”

“We are pleased to have worked closely with Rep. Johnson in drafting this amendment,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., president & CEO of Thurgood Marshall College Fund. “Increasing STEM funding for HBCUs will ensure the Department of Defense has a consistent, high-quality pipeline of diverse talent to help it deliver on its mission of providing the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country.”

“Congressman Johnson is an unfaltering advocate for HBCUs because he knows that HBCUs are just 3 percent of American colleges and universities, but they are educating disproportionate percentages of African Americans and others of the growing population of the nation in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Lezli Baskerville, Esquire, President & CEO of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education or NAFEO.

“The funds in the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act will enable HBCUs and MIs to continue and to increase their scientific research designed to find new, innovative, cost efficient solutions for health, human needs, energy, environmental and security challenges of the nation.”

“Diversifying our nation’s pool of experts and innovators can only strengthen our ability to compete in the global workplace,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO of UNCF. “The Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions program addresses this challenge and prepares students by improving access to STEM research, infrastructure and technological capabilities at HBCUs. UNCF thanks Rep. Johnson for his leadership, as shown in advancing this initiative.”

Other Johnson amendments approved by the committee:

-- Stops the Army’s implementation of new grooming regulations that discriminate against women of color: https://1.usa.gov/1ioDfLL;
-- Directs DOD to ensure that sufficient priority is given to services specifically for autistic children of military families living in rural or underserved communities using mobile diagnosis capabilities (with Rep. Austin Scott, R-GA);
-- Opposes the purchase of additional missile defense kill vehicles until after a successful test.
-- Recommends continued research into treatment and prevention of traumatic brain injuries and improved psychological health. It also supports research into the relationship between post-traumatic stress and sleep health.

###