WASHINGTON – House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott issued the following statement regarding the provisions in the American Families Plan to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs):

“As someone who championed increased funding for 1890 Land-Grant universities in the 2018 Farm Bill, it is very encouraging to see the Biden-Harris Administration include language to support HBCUs, tribal colleges and universities, and other minority-serving institutions in their American Families Plan,” said Chairman Scott. “I will gladly support President Biden’s call for Congress to make an historic investment in these institutions because they are absolutely vital in ensuring that the talent pool in agriculture and STEM fields reflects the diversity of our country as a whole.”

Background:

The White House has released a fact sheet on the American Families Plan, which states that “Research has found that HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs are vital to helping underrepresented students move to the top of the income ladder. For example, while HBCUs are only three percent of four-year universities, their graduates make up approximately 80 percent of Black judges, half of Black lawyers and doctors, and 25 percent of Black undergraduates earning STEM degrees.”