,,ii  #aaith ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #debh  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,may #ad1      
#bjbf,mr4 ,scott of ,south ,carolina    
7for himself1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4         
,warnock1 ,mr4 ,tillis1 ,mr4 ,van       
,hollen1 ,ms4 ,blunt ,rochester1 ,mr4   
,booker1 and ,mr4 ,boozman7 introduced  
the following bill2 which was read twice
 and referred to the ,committee on      
,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and        
,pensions  ,a ,,bill  ,to provide for   
the long-term improvement of            
,historically ,black ,colleges and      
,universities1 and for other purposes4  
#a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited
 as the ,institutional ,grants for ,new 
,infrastructure1 ,technology1 and       
,education for ,,hbcu ,excellence ,act  
or the ,,ignite ,,hbcu ,excellence ,act4
  #b4 ,grants for the long-term         
improvement of hbcus  7a7 ,in general   
7#a7 ,grants authorized ,the ,secretary 
shall award grants to eligible entities1
 on a competitive basis1 to support     

long-term improvements to the facilities
 of such entities in accordance with    
this ,act4  7#b7 ,grant period ,with    
respect to each eligible entity that is 
awarded a grant under this section1 such
 grant shall be for a period determined 
appropriate by the ,secretary based on  
the information submitted by such entity
 under subsection 7b74  7#c7 ,multiple  
grants permitted ,an eligible entity may
 apply for1 and be awarded1 more than #a
 grant under this section4  7b7         
,application ,to be considered for a    
grant under this section1 an eligible   
entity shall submit an application to   
the ,secretary at such time1 in such    
manner1 and containing such information 
as the ,secretary may require1          
including-- 7#a7 to the extent possible1
 the information necessary for the      
,secretary to make the determinations   
under subsection 7c72  7#b7 a           
description of the projects that such   
eligible entity plans to carry out with 
the grant and how such projects will    

advance the long-term goals of the      
entity2  7#c7 an explanation of-- 7,a7  
how such projects will reduce risks to  
the health1 welfare1 and safety of      
students1 staff1 administrators1        
faculty1 researchers1 and guests at such
 eligible entity2 and  7,b7 the         
anticipated number of years that any    
facilities constructed1 improved1 or    
replaced under such projects may be used
 before presenting a risk described in  
subparagraph 7,a72  7#d7 the median age 
of the facilities that such entity plans
 to improve or replace under such       
projects2 and  7#e7 in the case of an   
eligible entity seeking to carry out    
facility repairs described in section   
#c7;a77#c71 a preventative maintenance  
plan for such repairs4  7c7 ,priority   
,in awarding grants under this section1 
the ,secretary-- 7#a7 shall give        
priority to an eligible entity that--   
7,a7 demonstrates the greatest need to  
improve campus facilities1 as determined
 by a comparison of factors identified  

by the ,secretary1 which may include--  
7i7 consideration of threats posed by   
the proximity of such facilities to     
toxic sites2  7ii7 the vulnerability of 
such facilities to natural disasters and
 environmental risks2  7iii7 the median 
age of the facilities that such entity  
will use grant funds to improve2  7iv7  
the extent to which student enrollment  
exceeds physical and instructional      
capacity2  7v7 the condition of major   
systems in such facilities such as      
heating1 ventilation1 air conditioning1 
electrical1 water1 and sewer systems2   
7vi7 the condition of roofs1 windows1   
and doors of such facilities2  7vii7    
other critical health and safety        
conditions2  7viii7 the number and      
condition of facilities in significant  
disrepair2 and  7ix7 the total amount of
 deferred maintenance of such           
facilities2  7,b7 demonstrates the most 
limited capacity to raise funds for the 
long-term improvement of campus         
facilities1 as determined by an         

assessment of-- 7i7 the current and     
historic ability of the eligible entity 
to raise funds for construction1        
renovation1 modernization1 and major    
repair projects for campus2  7ii7       
whether the eligible entity has been    
able to issue bonds or receive other    
funds to support school construction    
projects2  7iii7 the bond rating of the 
eligible entity2  7iv7 the number of    
students enrolled as of the date on     
which the application is submitted2  7v7
 the total value of the endowment of the
 eligible entity as of the date on which
 the application is submitted2  7vi7 the
 total amount of deferred maintenance of
 such facilities2 and  7vii7 the amount 
and sources of institutional revenue2   
7,c7 enrolls the highest percentages of 
students who are eligible to receive a  
,federal ,pell ,grant under subpart #a  
of part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,higher 
,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#ajgj;a et seq471 and whose families    
qualify for other ,federal need-based   

aid2  7,d7 is a public institution      
that-- 7i7 faces declining ,state       
support or investment2 and  7ii7        
demonstrates limited ability to generate
 revenue1 as determined by assessing--  
7,i7 the total value of the endowment of
 the institution as of the date on which
 the application is submitted2 and      
7,,ii7 the costs of the deferred        
maintenance of the institution relative 
to the total revenue of the institution2
 and  7,e7 demonstrates an effort to    
seek support from public and private    
entities for projects carried out with a
 grant awarded under this ,act2 and     
7#b7 may give priority to an eligible   
entity-- 7,a7 that lacks access to      
high-speed broadband and will use the   
grant funds to improve access to        
high-speed broadband sufficient to      
support digital and technology-based    
learning in accordance with section     
#c7;a77#f72  7,b7 at which the highest  
degree that is predominantly awarded to 
students is an associate's degree2  7,c7

 that did not receive a grant under this
 ,act in the preceding fiscal year2 or  
7,d7 that proposes projects aligned with
 long-term infrastructure priorities    
that-- 7i7 serve as regional models1 as 
determined by the ,secretary2  7ii7     
address multiple needs on the campus of 
the entity2  7iii7 address the needs of 
at least #a eligible entity in addition 
to the entity receiving the grant2 or   
7iv7 encourage efforts described in     
section #c7;d74  7d7 ,geographic        
distribution ,the ,secretary shall      
ensure that grants under this section   
are awarded to eligible entities in a   
manner that reflects the geographic     
distribution of such entities in the    
,united ,states4  7e7 ,technical        
assistance ,the ,secretary1 directly or 
by grant or contract1 may provide       
technical assistance to eligible        
entities to prepare the entities to     
qualify1 apply for1 and maintain a      
grant1 under this ,act4  7f7            
,relationship to ,,hbcu capital         

financing program  7#a7 ,in general ,the
 ,secretary may take into consideration 
whether an eligible entity has received 
a loan under a loan agreement made under
 part ,d of title ,,iii of the ,higher  
,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#ajff et seq47 when-- 7,a7 reviewing    
grant applications under this section2  
7,b7 determining priority under         
subsection 7c72 and  7,c7 determining   
the amount awarded for a grant under    
this ,act4  7#b7 ,priority ,with respect
 to paragraph 7#a77;,b71 the ,secretary 
may-- 7,a7 determine that an eligible   
entity should not receive priority under
 subsection 7c7 if such entity has      
received a loan under a loan agreement  
made under part ,d of title ,,iii of the
 ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj  
,u4,s4,c4 #ajff et seq472 and  7,b7     
determine that an eligible entity should
 receive higher priority under          
subsection 7c7 if such entity has not   
received a loan under a loan agreement  
made under part ,d of title ,,iii of the

 ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj  
,u4,s4,c4 #ajff et seq474  #c4 ,grant   
uses  7a7 ,permitted uses ,except as    
provided in subsection 7b71 an eligible 
entity that receives a grant under this 
,act shall use such grant funds to carry
 out at least one of the following      
activities3 7#a7 ,construct1 modernize1 
renovate1 or retrofit the campus        
facilities of such entity1 which may    
include-- 7,a7 improving existing1 or   
establishing new1 instructional         
laboratories or workforce-aligned 7as   
determined by the ,secretary7 research  
facilities relating to fields of health1
 science1 technology1 engineering1 the  
arts1 agriculture1 education1 and other 
disciplines as determined by the        
,secretary2  7,b7 constructing or       
improving roads or other transportation 
infrastructure on campus1 for which the 
eligible entity is responsible2  7,c7   
preserving facilities with historic     
significance and facilities that house  
historic or cultural artifacts2  7,d7   

constructing1 modernizing1 renovating1  
and retrofitting any campus facility or 
dormitory 7including dining facilities7 
or other facility customarily used for  
housing students2  7,e7 improving       
security and safety for students1       
faculty1 and staff2  7,f7 installing or 
upgrading water1 wastewater1 power1 and 
underground infrastructure2 and  7,g7   
developing facilities or infrastructure 
that support job creation1              
entrepreneurship1 and community-based   
opportunities1 including establishing   
workforce development hubs that-- 7i7   
are aligned with regional labor market  
needs2  7ii7 focus on fields such as    
artificial intelligence2 and  7iii7     
support education1 training1 and career 
placement for students4  7#b7 ,purchase1
 manufacture1 or modernize vehicle      
fleets owned and operated by such entity
 that are used primarily for the purpose
 of facilitating campus accessibility   
and student academic activities4  7#c7  
,carry out repairs1 including with      

respect to deferred maintenance1 to the 
facilities of such eligible entity in   
accordance with the preventative        
maintenance plan submitted under section
 #b7;b77#e74  7#d7 ,acquire and install 
research-related equipment and          
technology in the campus facilities of  
such entity1 including specialty        
equipment with respect to emerging      
fields 7as determined by the ,secretary1
 in consultation with the head of the   
eligible entity71 such as artificial    
intelligence1 data science1 machine     
learning1 cybersecurity1 biotechnology1 
chemistry1 pharmaceutical sciences1     
robotics1 and advanced manufacturing4   
7#e7 ,for the purpose of facilitating   
the construction of new campus          
facilities that are not primarily used  
for classroom instruction or academic   
activities-- 7,a7 purchase or otherwise 
acquire title to land to serve as a     
permanent site for such facilities2 and 
7,b7 to the extent that other public or 
private funds are insufficient-- 7i7    

prepare land for the construction of    
such facilities2 and  7ii7 pay other    
preconstruction costs relating to the   
development of such facilities4  7#f7   
,install or extend the life of basic    
systems and components of campus        
facilities1 which may include-- 7,a7    
high-speed broadband internet           
infrastructure sufficient to support    
digital and technology-based learning2  
7,b7 high-capacity1 middle-mile         
broadband networks1 and campus-wide     
broadband networks1 including #e;,g and 
future network generations2  7,c7 fiber1
 cyber1 and telecommunications          
infrastructure1 including small cells2  
7,d7 heating1 ventilation1 and air      
conditioning 7,,hvac7 or other indoor   
air quality systems2  7,e7 support for  
last-mile service for rural campuses    
when other means of providing this      
support is unavailable2 and  7,f7 other 
infrastructure to support the success of
 operations and other digital and       
technology needs4  7#g7 ,strengthen the 

safety and security of the campus of    
such entity by improving or utilizing   
design elements1 principles1 and        
technology that-- 7,a7 guarantee layers 
of security throughout such campus2 and 
7,b7 uphold the function of such campus 
as a learning and teaching environment4 
7#h7 ,strengthen institutional planning 
and governance to support long-term     
infrastructure goals by-- 7,a7          
developing or updating campus           
infrastructure master plans1 facility   
condition assessments1 deferred         
maintenance strategies1 or long-term    
capital project timeliness2  7,b7       
aligning campus infrastructure master   
plans with academic and workforce       
priorities1 including with respect to   
the facilities used by programs in      
high-demand fields 7as determined by the
 ,secretary7 in order to address the    
needs of such facilities and support the
 growth of such programs2  7,c7         
modernizing auxiliary services to       
improve financial sustainability1       

service quality1 or institutional       
competitiveness2  7,d7 supporting       
high-quality research and development   
efforts1 including planning and         
expanding partnerships with             
manufacturers1 employers1 or innovation 
stakeholders that strengthen            
infrastructure and innovation2 and  7,e7
 establishing or expanding offices or   
initiatives for the recruitment and     
retention of faculty in fields of       
research4  7b7 ,prohibited uses ,an     
eligible entity that receives a grant   
under this ,act may not use such grant  
funds for-- 7#a7 payment of routine and 
predictable maintenance costs1 minor    
repairs1 or utility bills2  7#b7 any    
facility that is primarily used for     
athletic contests or exhibitions or     
other events for which admission is     
charged to the general public2  7#c7 the
 purchase or support of any             
communications equipment or service 7as 
defined in section #i of the ,secure and
 ,trusted ,communications ,networks ,act

 of #bjai 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #afjh77 that   
poses a risk to national security2 or   
7#d7 activities that are funded1 in     
whole or in part1 under part ,b of title
 ,,iii of the ,higher ,education ,act of
 #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfj et seq471   
unless the ,secretary approves such use4
  7c7 ,supplement not supplant ,an      
eligible entity shall use a grant       
received under this ,act only to        
supplement the level of ,federal1       
,state1 and local public funds that     
would1 in the absence of such grant1 be 
made available for the activities       
supported by the grant1 and not to      
supplant such funds4  7d7 ,encouraging  
partnerships ,the ,secretary shall      
encourage partnerships between eligible 
entities and public and private entities
 to-- 7#a7 provide additional funding2  
and  7#b7 assist in carrying out the    
activities under this ,act4  #d4 ,use of
 small business concerns ,in carrying   
out projects funded with a grant under  
this ,act1 an eligible entity shall seek

 to procure contracts from-- 7#a7 small 
business concerns owned and controlled  
by veterans 7including service-disabled 
veterans72 and  7#b7 qualified          
,h,u,b,zone small business concerns4    
#e4 ,reservation for administrative and 
other activities  7a7 ,reservation ,an  
eligible entity that receives a grant   
under this ,act may reserve a total of  
not more than #e percent of the amount  
of such grant to-- 7#a7 develop the     
facilities master plan required under   
subsection 7b72  7#b7 carry out         
activities to-- 7,a7 protect the health 
of students1 staff1 administrators1     
faculty1 researchers1 and guests during 
the construction or modernization of the
 campus facilities of such entity2 and  
7,b7 mitigate excessive noise caused by 
activities carried out under this ,act2 
7#c7 pay personnel to carry out         
administrative work relating to the     
grant program2 and  7#d7 pay other      
reasonable administrative costs         
associated with the grant program4  7b7 

,facilities master plan  7#a7 ,in       
general ,not later than #ahj days after 
receiving a grant under this ,act1 an   
eligible entity shall submit to the     
,secretary a comprehensive facilities   
master plan that-- 7,a7 describes how   
the entity will carry out the activities
 identified in the application submitted
 under section #b7;b7 with the grant    
funds received under this ,act2 and     
7,b7 identifies the anticipated benefits
 and outcomes of such activities4  7#b7 
,elements ,the facilities master plan   
required under paragraph 7#a7 shall     
include1 with respect to the eligible   
entity submitting such plan1 a          
description of1 as of the date on which 
such plan is submitted-- 7,a7 the extent
 to which the campus facilities-- 7i7   
meet the educational needs of students2 
and  7ii7 support the educational       
mission and vision of such entity2  7,b7
 the physical condition of the campus   
facilities2  7,c7 the current health1   
safety1 and environmental conditions of 

the campus facilities1 including-- 7i7  
indoor air quality2  7ii7 the presence  
of hazardous and toxic substances and   
chemicals on or near such facilities2   
7iii7 the safety of drinking water at   
the tap and water used for meal         
preparation1 including the level of lead
 and other contaminants in such water2  
7iv7 energy and water efficiency2  7v7  
excessive noise in academic spaces2 and 
7vi7 other health1 safety1 and          
environmental conditions that would     
impact the health1 safety1 and learning 
ability of students2  7,d7 the actual   
and anticipated impact of current and   
future student enrollment levels 7as of 
the date of application7 on the design  
of current and future campus facilities1
 as well as the financial implications  
of such enrollment levels2  7,e7 the    
dollar amount and percentage of funds   
such entity will dedicate to capital    
construction projects1 including-- 7i7  
any funds in the budget of such entity  
that will be dedicated to such projects2

 and  7ii7 any funds not in such budget 
that will be dedicated to such projects1
 including any funds available to the   
eligibility entity as the result of a   
bond issue or the ,historically ,black  
,college and ,university ,capital       
,financing ,program under part ,d of    
title ,,iii of the ,higher ,education   
,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajff et   
seq472 and  7,f7 the dollar amount and  
percentage of funds such entity will    
dedicate to the maintenance and         
operation of campus facilities1         
including-- 7i7 any funds in the budget 
of such entity that will be dedicated to
 the maintenance and operation of such  
facilities2 and  7ii7 any funds not in  
the budget of such entity that will be  
dedicated to the maintenance and        
operation of such facilities4  7#c7     
,consultation ,in developing the        
facilities master plan1 the eligible    
entity shall demonstrate that it        
conducted meaningful consultation with  
diverse stakeholders1 which may         

include-- 7,a7 staff and other          
institutional leaders2  7,b7 custodial  
and maintenance staff2  7,c7 emergency  
first responders2  7,d7 campus          
facilities directors2  7,e7 students and
 families2  7,f7 community residents1   
including those directly affected by    
actions undertaken as a result of       
utilizing grant funds2  7,g7 government 
entities2  7,h7 local charitable        
foundations2  7,i7 local employers2     
7,j7 ,indian ,tribes1 as applicable2 and
  7,k7 other such individuals and       
entities4  #f4 ,,hbcu capital financing 
loan disbursement and forgiveness  7a7  
,in general ,each time an institution of
 higher education receives a            
disbursement of a loan amount under a   
covered closed loan agreement1 the      
,secretary shall repay-- 7#a7 the       
outstanding balance of principal1       
interest1 fees1 and costs on such loan  
amount 7as of the date of such          
disbursement7 under the covered closed  
loan agreement2 and  7#b7 any           

reimbursement 7including reimbursements 
of escrow and return of fees and        
deposits7 relating to the covered closed
 loan agreement that are usual and      
customary when the loan is paid off by  
the institution4  7b7 ,covered closed   
loan agreement ,in this section1 the    
term covered closed loan agreement means
 a closed loan agreement-- 7#a7 executed
 before the date of enactment of the    
,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1     
#bjba 7,public ,law #aaf-bfj72  7#b7    
made under part ,d of title ,,iii of the
 ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj  
,u4,s4,c4 #ajff et seq472 and  7#c7 that
 provides for loan amounts that have not
 been disbursed as of the date of       
enactment of the ,consolidated          
,appropriations ,act1 #bjba 7,public    
,law #aaf-bfj74  #g4 ,reports  7a7      
,department of education report  7#a7   
,in general ,not later than #b years    
after the date of the enactment of this 
,act1 and annually thereafter1 the      
,secretary shall submit to the          

appropriate congressional committees a  
report on the projects carried out with 
grant funds awarded under this ,act4    
7#b7 ,elements ,the report required     
under paragraph 7#a7 shall include--    
7,a7 with respect to projects carried   
out by eligible entities with grant     
funds awarded under this ,act1 an       
assessment of-- 7i7 the types of such   
projects2  7ii7 the square footage of   
the improvements made by such projects1 
disaggregated by-- 7,i7 total square    
footage2 and  7,,ii7 square footage per 
each eligible entity2  7iii7 the total  
cost of each such project2  7iv7 the    
cost described in clause 7iii71         
disaggregated by the cost of-- 7,i7     
planning2  7,,ii7 design2  7,,iii7      
construction2  7,,iv7 site purchase2 and
  7,v7 improvements2  7v7 the geographic
 distribution of such projects2 and     
7vi7 the demographic composition of the 
student population served by such       
projects1 disaggregated by-- 7,i7 race  
and ethnicity2 and  7,,ii7 the number   

and percentage of students enrolled at  
such entities who are eligible to       
receive a ,federal ,pell ,grant under   
subpart #a of part ,a of title ,,iv of  
the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife    
7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;a et seq472  7,b7  
an evaluation of a sample of grant      
recipients1 selected by the ,secretary  
taking into account size and geographic 
location of each grantee1 to determine  
how such recipients are using the grant 
and the effectiveness of the activities 
carried out with the grant2 and  7,c7 an
 analysis of compliance with the        
requirement in section #c7;c74  7b7     
,comptroller ,general appropriations    
report  7#a7 ,in general ,not later than
 #b years after the date of the         
enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller
 ,general of the ,united ,states shall  
conduct a study on the amount of        
appropriations necessary to continue    
implementing the grant program under    
this ,act4  7#b7 ,elements ,the study   
conducted under paragraph 7#a7 shall    

include-- 7,a7 an evaluation of the     
approximate total cost of deferred      
maintenance across eligible entities2   
and  7,b7 an overview of sources of     
funding for addressing such needs other 
than the grant program under this ,act4 
7#c7 ,report ,after the completion of   
the study under paragraph 7#a71 the     
,comptroller ,general shall submit to   
the ,committee on ,appropriations of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on          
,appropriations of the ,house of        
,representatives a report on the results
 of the study4  7#d7 ,results ,the      
results of the study shall be used to   
inform the appropriation of funds to    
carry out this ,act for the fiscal years
 following the submission of the report 
under paragraph 7#c74  7c7 ,comptroller 
,general implementation report  7#a7    
,study required ,not later than #d years
 after the date of the enactment of this
 ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the 
,united ,states shall conduct a study on
 the implementation of the grant program

 under this ,act4  7#b7 ,elements ,the  
study conducted under paragraph 7#a7    
shall include-- 7,a7 an examination of  
program implementation challenges2 and  
7,b7 an assessment of whether any       
changes are needed to make grants under 
this ,act more accessible to eligible   
entities with fiscal challenges to help 
them raise capital for infrastructure   
projects4  7#c7 ,report ,after the      
completion of the study under paragraph 
7#a71 the ,comptroller ,general shall   
submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report on the results of   
the study1 including any recommendations
 to the ,secretary for improvements to  
the implementation of the grant program 
under this ,act4  #h4 ,definitions ,in  
this ,act3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the   
term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a part
 ,b institution1 as such term is defined
 in section #cbb7b7 of the ,higher      
,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#ajfa7b772 or  7,b7 an institution or   
program listed under section            

#cbf7;e77#a7 of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4
 #ajfc;b7e77#a774  7#b7 ,secretary ,the 
term ,secretary means the ,secretary of 
,education4  7#c7 ,state ,the term      
,state has the meaning given such term  
in section #ajc of the ,higher          
,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#ajjc74  #i4 ,authorization of          
appropriations ,there are authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as may be     
necessary to carry out this ,act for    
each of fiscal years #bjbg through      
#bjcb4