Page 6 - Florida Sentinel 2-15-19

White House And Political News
Lawmakers Reach Agreement 'In Principle' To Avert Shutdown
Lawmakers said on Mon- day night that they had reached an agreement "in principle" to avoid a second partial government shut- down set to begin on Satur- day.
“We’ve had a good evening. We’ve reached an agreement in principle be- tween us on the Homeland Security and the other six bills,” Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) told re- porters.
Shelby announced the deal alongside Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Reps. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and Kay Granger (R-Texas) — the top members of the Sen- ate and House Appropria- tions committees.
The breakthrough came after the core four negotia- tors met three times on Mon- day night in a last-ditch effort to get a deal after talks ap- peared to unravel over the
weekend with only days to prevent a partial government shutdown.
Negotiators refused to dis- cuss the particulars of the deal, with staff expected to work frantically to release the legislation as early as Tues- day. Lowey said she hopes for the bill, which she called a "good product," to be re- leased on Wednesday.
A congressional source told The Hill that the bill will
include $1.375 billion for physical barriers, the same amount included in the fiscal 2018 bill. The tentative agreement, according to the source, also specifically pro- hibits the use of a concrete wall. But, senior congres- sional aides separately noted that it will fund approxi- mately 55 new miles of barri- ers along the U. S.-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley sector.
Bill Led By Sen. Kamala Harris To Preserve And Improve Historic HBCU Buildings, Sites Passes Senate
As an alumna of Howard Uni- versity, HBCUs are very impor- tant to Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and on Tuesday the 2020 presidential candidate se- cured a big win for HBCUs after the Senate passed a bill she in- troduced to restore and improve on historic buildings and sites at these schools.
The bipartisan bill was intro- duced by Harris and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and sought to reauthorize the Histor- ically Black College and Univer- sities Historic Preservation Program, which would give funding for grants that would re- store the historic buildings and sites on HBCU campuses that have deteriorated over time and may be forever lost if not pre- served and protected.
“I am thrilled that the Senate has passed my bill to reauthorize a program to protect and pre- serve historic HBCU buildings and sites like the ones I came to love during my time at Howard University,” Harris said in a press release. “I am hopeful that we can get this signed into law so that HBCUs across the country can begin these vital improve-
SEN. KAMALA HARRIS
ment projects as soon as possi- ble.”
The bill is supported by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the UNCF and the Na- tional Trust for Historic Preser- vation.
Just last week, while on the campaign trail, Harris partici- pated in a Thurgood Marshall Collge Fund fireside chat on the importance of sustaining HBCUs and how to keep their students competitive and prepared for today’s world.
“I often say there are two things that shaped who I am today: my mother and my family and Howard University,” Har- ris said at the fireside chat. “Being at Howard University meant I knew I was interested in public policy.”
PAGE 6-A FLORIDA SENTINEL-BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019