Summary
Establishes a federal information center to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities find and apply for research and development grants.
What problem does this solve?
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) receive less than 1% of federal research funding, which makes it hard for them to grow their research programs. This bill creates a central hub of information to make it easier for HBCUs to find and win federal grants.
Who does this affect?
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Students and faculty at HBCUs
- Federal agencies that provide research grants
What does this bill do?
Establishes a federal clearinghouse for HBCUs
Creates a central government resource, called the Clearinghouse, to provide HBCUs with information on federal grant opportunities for research and development.
Requires multiple federal agencies to work together
Directs the Department of Education to coordinate with agencies like the Department of Defense, NASA, and the National Science Foundation to run the Clearinghouse.
Mandates agency review of grant programs
Requires federal agencies to review their grant programs, find any gaps where funding is not available to support HBCUs, and report these findings to Congress each year.
Provides best practices to build research capacity
Directs the Clearinghouse to share best practices and recommendations to help HBCUs build up their ability to conduct research and access federal money.
Requires notification and updates for HBCUs
Tasks the Secretary of Education with telling every HBCU about the Clearinghouse and sending quarterly updates on new grant opportunities to schools that want them.
What is the real world impact?
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Addresses funding inequality for HBCUs
Aims to correct the long-standing problem of HBCUs being underfunded in federal research. Provides a central resource to help these schools compete more effectively for grants, which could lead to more innovation and opportunities for students.
When does this start?
This bill will take effect when it is signed into law and includes several yearly and quarterly reporting deadlines.
Annual report on grant gaps
Each participating federal agency must report to Congress annually on any gaps found in their grant programs that could help HBCUs.
Annual report on clearinghouse
The Secretary of Education must provide a report to Congress each year on the contents and activities of the Clearinghouse.
Quarterly updates to HBCUs
The Secretary of Education will send updates on the Clearinghouse's contents every three months to HBCUs that choose to receive them.