Page 30 - Florida Sentinel 10-29-21

More HBCU News
Talladega Grad And U. S. Congresswoman Leads Charge To Get More Infrastructure Funds For HBCUs
As the centerpiece of Pres- ident Joe Biden’s agenda works its way through Con- gress, Georgia’s Democratic representatives are calling for more money for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
“As the American Jobs and Families Plans have morphed into reconciliation legislation, President Biden’s proposed $45 billion for educational in- stitutions, including HBCUs, has been downsized to $2 bil- lion in the House’s version of reconciliation legislation,” Talladega College graduate, Rep. Nikema Williams wrote. “This will leave more work to do to make lasting in- vestments in HBCU infra-
structure.”
Williams’ name is at the top of an Oct. 19 letter sent to Vir- ginia Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott, who chairs the House Committee on Educa- tion and Labor, urging him to take up a bill called the IG- NITE HBCU Excellence Act in the committee.
“We will continue to priori- tize ensuring that reconcilia- tion legislation includes language providing for equi- table and robust investments in our HBCUs,” reads the let- ter, which is also signed by Georgia Reps. Lucy Mc- Bath, Sanford Bishop, David Scott, Hank John- son and Carolyn Bour- deaux and others
U. S. CONGRESSWOMAN AND TALLADEGA COLLEGE GRADUATE NIKEMA WILLIAMS.
representing other states. possible through reconcilia-
IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act can we address the compre- hensive infrastructural up- grades needed at our HBCUs.”
The IGNITE Act, introduced by a bipartisan group of law- makers in May, calls for a number of improvements to HBCU campuses, including broadband upgrades, preser- vation of historically signifi- cant buildings and renovation, and repair projects for facili- ties. The sponsors have not yet included a cost estimate.
Many HBCUs have grown accustomed to getting by with less, Atlanta Democratic Sen. Donzella James, who served alongside Williams before Williams was elected to Congress, said.
“However, the limited funding for HBCUs that is currently
tion will leave more work to do. Only by advancing the
Howard Vs. Morgan State Basketball Teams Will Be Showcased During NBA All-Star Weekend
HOWARD BISON’S VS MORGAN STATE BEARS
The men’s basketball teams from Howard University and Morgan State University will play a showcase game during the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, as the league seeks to expand its sup- port of Historically Black Col- leges and Universities.
The two Mid-Eastern Ath- letic Conference rivals will face off in the NBA’s inaugural “HBCU Classic” on Feb. 19, 2022, at Cleveland State Uni- versity’s Wolstein Center. While Howard had been scheduled to host Morgan State at Burr Gymnasium on that date, the schools’ partici- pation in the new event will be
televised nationally. The HBCU Classic is expected to air on multiple networks in be- tween the NBA All-Star Game practice session and the tradi- tional All-Star Saturday slate, which includes the Skills Chal- lenge, the Three-Point Contest and the Slam Dunk Contest.
The National Basketball Players Association, under the guidance of then-president Chris Paul, helped push for the inclusion of the Black edu- cational institutions, and the 2021 All-Star Weekend ulti- mately raised $3 million for HBCUs. Organizers expect this year’s All-Star event to gener- ate an additional $1 million.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 13-A