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. 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 Whereas the universities that were founded and form the 1890 Institutions include— (1) Lincoln University, in Missouri, in 1866; (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; 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 (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 Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 5926(d) (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 7 U.S.C. 341 et seq. 7 U.S.C. 361a et seq. 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 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 science-based, 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 113–79 That Congress— (1) recognizes the 134 years of significant and meaningful contributions the 1890 Institutions have made to the United States; (2) encourages that the 134th anniversary of the 1890 Institutions should be observed with Federal and State ceremonies and other appropriate events around the country; (3) celebrates the collaborative work the 19 historically Black 1890 Institutions have undertaken to address the agricultural research and extension needs of the country; (4) supports the efforts of the Department of Agriculture and other Federal agencies to build stronger partnerships with the 1890 Institutions; (5) encourages the creation of task forces similar to the USDA–1890 Task Force across other Federal agencies; and (6) commits to working in a bipartisan way to address the past funding and program inequities of the 1890 Institutions.

Summary: This resolution (1) recognizes the 134 years of significant and meaningful contributions the 1890 Institutions (i.e., historically Black universities established under the Second Morrill Act of 1890) have made to the United States, (2) supports the efforts of the Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies to build stronger partnerships with such institutions, and (3) commits to working in a bipartisan way to address the past funding and program inequities of such institutions.