,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ajed ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #g1 #bjai,ms4 ,adams 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,walker1 ,mr4 ,hill of ,arkansas1 and ,ms4 ,sewell of ,alabama7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,oversight and ,reform1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to strengthen the capacity and competitiveness of historically ,black colleges and universities through robust public-sector1 private-sector1 and community partnerships and engagement1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,hbcu ,propelling ,agency ,relationships ,towards a ,new ,era of ,results for ,students ,act or the ,,hbcu ,,partners ,act4 #b4 ,findings and purposes 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,as many colleges and universities across the country kept their doors closed to ,african-,american applicants1 historically ,black colleges and universities 7referred to in this section as ,h,b,c,us7 played a central role in ensuring that ,african ,americans could attain an excellent education4 7#b7 ,today1 ,h,b,c,us continue to play a critical role in ensuring that ,african ,americans1 and those of all races1 can access high-quality educational opportunities4 7#c7 ,h,b,c,us enroll nearly #cjj1jjj students1 an estimated #gj percent of whom come from low-income backgrounds and #hj percent of whom are ,african ,american4 7#d7 ,according to the ,national ,association ,for ,equal ,opportunity ,in ,higher ,education1 ,h,b,c,us make up just #c percent of ,american institutions of higher education but graduate more than a fifth of ,african-,american college students4 7#e7 ,according to the ,thurgood ,marshall ,college ,fund 7referred to in this section as ,,tmcf71 approximately #i percent of all ,african-,american college students attend ,h,b,c,us4 7#f7 ,a ,march #bjag report from the ,education ,trust concluded that ,h,b,c,us have higher completion rates for ,african-,american students than other institutions serving similar student populations4 7#g7 ,in #bjad1 ,h,b,c,us generated a total direct economic impact of #ad1hjj1jjj1jjj and created more than #acd1jjj jobs1 according to a study commissioned by the ,united ,negro ,college ,fund 7referred to in this section as ,,uncf74 7#h7 ,according to ,,tmcf1 #dj percent of ,african-,american ,members of ,congress and #hj percent of ,african-,american judges are graduates of ,h,b,c,us4 7#i7 ,according to ,,uncf1 in #bjac1 ,h,b,c,us awarded a quarter of all science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics bachelor's degrees awarded to ,african ,americans4 7#aj7 ,according to ,,uncf1 ,african-,american graduates of ,h,b,c,us are almost twice as likely as ,african ,americans who graduated from other institutions to report that their university prepared them well for life4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to strengthen the capacity and competitiveness of ,h,b,c,us to fulfill their principal mission of equalizing educational opportunity1 as described in section #cja7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajea7;b772 7#b7 to align ,h,b,c,us with the educational and economic competitiveness priorities of the ,united ,states2 7#c7 to provide students enrolled at ,h,b,c,us with the highest quality educational and economic opportunities2 7#d7 to bolster and facilitate productive interactions between ,h,b,c,us and ,federal agencies2 and 7#e7 to encourage ,,hbcu participation in and benefit from ,federal programs1 grants1 contracts1 and cooperative agreements4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,executive director ,the term ,executive ,director means-- 7,a7 the ,executive ,director of the ,white ,house ,initiative on ,historically ,black ,colleges and ,universities1 as designated by the ,president2 or 7,b7 if no such ,executive ,director is designated1 such person as the ,president may designate to lead the ,white ,house ,initiative on ,historically ,black ,colleges and ,universities4 7#b7 ,,hbcu ,the term ,,hbcu means a historically ,black college or university4 7#c7 ,historically black college or university ,the term historically ,black college or university has the meaning given the term part ,b institution under section #cbb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfa74 7#d7 ,president's ,board of ,advisors ,the term ,president's ,board of ,advisors means the ,president's ,board of ,advisors on historically ,black colleges and universities4 7#e7 ,secretary ,except as otherwise provided1 the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,education4 7#f7 ,white ,house initiative ,the term ,white ,house ,initiative means the ,white ,house ,initiative on historically ,black colleges and universities4 #d4 ,strengthening ,h,b,c,us through ,federal agency plans 7a7 ,submitting agency plans ,not later than ,february #a of each year1 the head of each ,federal agency shall-- 7#a7 submit to the ,secretary and the ,executive ,director an annual ,agency ,plan describing efforts to strengthen the capacity of ,h,b,c,us to participate in relevant ,federal programs and initiatives under the jurisdiction of the ,federal agency2 or 7#b7 if the agency does not work regularly with ,h,b,c,us1 submit an annual ,agency ,plan describing efforts to identify specific ,,hbcu initiatives and resources that could benefit the ,,hbcu community4 7b7 ,further requirements for submission and accessibility ,the head of each ,federal agency shall submit each annual ,agency ,plan described in subsection 7a7 to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives4 7c7 ,agency plan content ,where appropriate1 each ,agency ,plan shall-- 7#a7 establish how the ,federal agency intends to increase the capacity of ,h,b,c,us to compete effectively for grants1 contracts1 or cooperative agreements2 7#b7 identify ,federal programs and initiatives under the jurisdiction of the ,federal agency where ,h,b,c,us are underrepresented2 7#c7 outline proposed efforts to improve ,h,b,c,us' participation in such programs and initiatives in which they are underrepresented2 7#d7 if the agency does not have any programs or initiatives currently operating to benefit ,h,b,c,us1 identify potential ,federal programs and initiatives that could be created to help bolster the ,,hbcu community2 7#e7 describe any progress made towards advancing or achieving goals and efforts from previous ,agency ,plans2 7#f7 encourage public-sector1 private-sector1 and community involvement in improving the capacity of ,h,b,c,us2 and 7#g7 meet1 where relevant1 any additional criteria established by the ,secretary or the ,white ,house ,initiative4 7d7 ,agency engagement ,to help fulfill the objectives of the ,agency ,plans1 the head of each ,federal agency-- 7#a7 may provide1 as appropriate1 technical assistance and information to the ,executive ,director to enhance communication with ,h,b,c,us concerning the ,federal agency's program activities and the preparation of applications or proposals for grants1 contracts1 or cooperative agreements2 and 7#b7 shall appoint a senior official to report directly to the agency head on the ,federal agency's progress under this section4 #e4 ,president's ,board of ,advisors on ,h,b,c,us 7a7 ,administration 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established the ,president's ,board of ,advisors on historically ,black colleges and universities in the ,department of ,education or1 if the ,president so elects1 within the ,executive ,office of the ,president4 7#b7 ,funding from ,department of ,education ,except as provided in paragraph 7#c71 the ,secretary shall provide funding and administrative support for the ,president's ,board of ,advisors1 subject to the availability of appropriations4 7#c7 ,funding from the ,executive ,office of the ,president ,if the ,president elects to locate the ,president's ,board of ,advisors within the ,executive ,office of the ,president1 the ,executive ,office of the ,president shall provide funding and administrative support for the ,president's ,board of ,advisors1 subject to the availability of appropriations4 7b7 ,membership ,the ,president shall appoint not more than #bc members to the ,president's ,board of ,advisors1 and the ,secretary and ,executive ,director or their designees shall serve as ex officio members4 ,the ,president shall designate one member of the ,president's ,board of ,advisors to serve as its ,chair1 who shall help direct the ,board's work in coordination with the ,secretary and in consultation with the ,executive ,director4 ,the ,chair shall also consult with the ,executive ,director regarding the time and location of meetings of the ,president's ,board of ,advisors1 which shall take place not less frequently than once every #f months4 ,members of the ,president's ,board of ,advisors shall serve without compensation1 but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 as authorized by law4 ,insofar as the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 may apply to the ,board1 any functions of the ,president under such ,act1 except for those of reporting to the ,congress1 shall be performed by the ,chair1 in accordance with guidelines issued by the ,administrator of ,general ,services4 7c7 ,mission and functions ,the ,president's ,board of ,advisors shall advise the ,president on all matters pertaining to strengthening the educational capacity of ,h,b,c,us4 ,in particular1 the ,president's ,board of ,advisors shall advise the ,president in the following areas3 7#a7 ,improving the identity1 visibility1 distinctive capabilities1 and overall competitiveness of ,h,b,c,us4 7#b7 ,engaging the philanthropic1 business1 government1 military1 homeland-security1 and education communities in a national dialogue regarding new ,,hbcu programs and initiatives4 7#c7 ,improving the ability of ,h,b,c,us to remain fiscally secure institutions that can assist the ,nation in achieving its educational goals and in advancing the interests of the ,united ,states4 7#d7 ,elevating the public awareness of1 and fostering appreciation of1 ,h,b,c,us4 7#e7 ,encouraging public-private investments in ,h,b,c,us4 7#f7 ,improving government-wide strategic planning related to ,,hbcu competitiveness to align ,federal resources and provide the context for decisions about ,,hbcu partnerships1 investments1 performance goals1 priorities1 human capital development1 and budget planning4 7d7 ,report ,the ,president's ,board of ,advisors shall report annually to the ,president on the ,board's progress in carrying out its duties under this section4