IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1424 

Expressing the sense of Congress that August 30, 2024, be observed as 

the 134th anniversary of the 1890 Institutions. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 

Ms. ADAMS (for herself and Mr. TURNER) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress that August 30, 2024, 

be observed as the 134th anniversary of the 1890 Institutions. 

Whereas former Senator Justin Morrill helped lead the passage of the Second Morrill Act of 1890 on August 30, 

1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), to establish and support 

land-grant institutions for African Americans to attend; 

Whereas the mission of the 1890 Institutions (as defined in 

section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and 

Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)) is educational instruction, agricultural research, and statewide 

extension efforts; 

Whereas the universities that were founded and form the 

1890 Institutions include— 

(1) Lincoln University, in Missouri, in 1866; 


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•HRES 1424 IH 

(2) Alcorn State University, in Mississippi, in 1871; 

(3) University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, in Arkansas, 

in 1873; 

(4) Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, in Alabama, in 1875; 

(5) Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University, in Texas, in 1876; 

(6) Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, in Louisiana, in 1880; 

(7) Tuskegee University, in Alabama, in 1881; 

(8) Virginia State University, in Virginia, in 1882; 

(9) Kentucky State University, in Kentucky, in 

1886; 

(10) University of Maryland Eastern Shore, in 

Maryland, in 1886; 

(11) Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, 

in Florida, in 1887; 

(12) Central State University, in Ohio, in 1887; 

(13) Delaware State University, in Delaware, in 

1891; 

(14) North Carolina Agricultural and Technical 

State University, in North Carolina, in 1891; 

(15) West Virginia State University, in West Virginia, in 1891; 

(16) Fort Valley State University, in Georgia, in 

1895; 

(17) South Carolina State University, in South 

Carolina, in 1896; 

(18) Langston University, in Oklahoma, in 1897; 

and 

(19) Tennessee State University, in Tennessee, in 

1912; 


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Whereas the Council of 1890 Universities is comprised of the 

19 presidents and chancellors of such universities and 

provides leadership to advance the interests of the 1890 

Institutions; 

Whereas collectively, such universities have over 88,000 undergraduate and graduate students in disciplines, including— 

(1) agriculture and related sciences; 

(2) computer and information sciences; 

(3) biological and biomedical sciences; 

(4) physical and social sciences; 

(5) the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) areas; and 

(6) other majors and degrees; 

Whereas the 1890 Association of Research Directors and the 

1890 Association of Extension Administrators, respectively, help lead university research activities and serve 

the extension needs of communities; 

Whereas the 1890 Universities Foundation was established in 

December 2016 to help facilitate strategic initiatives 

across the 1890 Institutions; 

Whereas in successive farm bills, including the Agriculture 

Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–334), Congress made new Federal investments in the 1890 Institutions, such as— 

(1) the program providing scholarships for students 

at 1890 Institutions under section 1446 of the National 

Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 

Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222a); 

(2) the recognition of at least 3 Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions under section 1673(d) of the 


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Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 

(7 U.S.C. 5926(d)); and 

(3) allowing for the carryover of funds for extension 

at 1890 Institutions under section 7114 of the Agriculture Improvement of 2018 (Public Law 115–334); 

Whereas in the ongoing Federal-State partnership to provide 

support for the 19 historically Black 1890 Institutions, 

sections 1444 and 1445 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 

U.S.C. 3221, 3222), the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 341 

et seq.), and the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et 

seq.) require the States to fully match the Federal funding provided under such provisions of law; 

Whereas Congress has provided significant Federal funding 

and resources to support and supplement agricultural research, education, extension, farmer and rancher assistance, and facility improvements, as well as scholarships 

and programs that provide internships and pathways to 

agricultural sector or Federal employment for 1890 Institutions; 

Whereas the Department of Agriculture has worked collaboratively with the 1890 Institutions through the USDA– 

1890 Task Force established in 1988, enabling such Institutions to work across the Department of Agriculture, 

and through a June 2022 Memorandum of Understanding, has reaffirmed and strengthened the ongoing 

relationship between the 1890 Institutions community 

and the Department of Agriculture; 

Whereas the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of 

Education have worked closely with Governors of the 

States that 1890 Institutions call home to bring attention 


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to, and rectify, funding disparities across the United 

States land-grant system; 

Whereas the Department of Agriculture launched a Nutrition 

Hub in 2023 under the Agricultural Science Center of 

Excellence for Nutrition and Diet for Better Health (ASCEND for Better Health) initiative at Southern University, in Louisiana, to be an engine for providing sciencebased, nutrition-related information at the community 

level; 

Whereas the 1890 National Scholars Program of the Department of Agriculture awarded 91 scholarships in 2024 to 

students enrolled at 1890 Institutions from rural and underserved communities who study food, agriculture, natural resource, and other related sciences through the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement of the Department of Agriculture; and 

Whereas the Department of Agriculture invested over 

$30,000,000 to 68 projects across all 1890 Institutions 

in 2024 through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s 1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program that aims to 

support scientific research addressing the Nation’s toughest agricultural challenges; 

Whereas the Department of Agriculture, in partnership with 

Congress, has worked with 1890 Institutions and other 

organizations to ensure that disadvantaged farmers and 

ranchers receive the assistance they need to better serve 

their communities; and 

Whereas Central State University, in Ohio, celebrated the 

10th anniversary of its official designation as an 1890 

Institution by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 


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113–79), thereby bringing the 1890 Institutions to 19 in 

number: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That Congress— 

2 (1) recognizes the 134 years of significant and 

3 meaningful contributions the 1890 Institutions have 

4 made to the United States; 

5 (2) encourages that the 134th anniversary of 

6 the 1890 Institutions should be observed with Fed7 eral and State ceremonies and other appropriate 

8 events around the country; 

9 (3) celebrates the collaborative work the 19 his10 torically Black 1890 Institutions have undertaken to 

11 address the agricultural research and extension 

12 needs of the country; 

13 (4) supports the efforts of the Department of 

14 Agriculture and other Federal agencies to build 

15 stronger partnerships with the 1890 Institutions; 

16 (5) encourages the creation of task forces simi17 lar to the USDA–1890 Task Force across other 

18 Federal agencies; and 

19 (6) commits to working in a bipartisan way to 

20 address the past funding and program inequities of 

21 the 1890 Institutions. 

Æ 


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