I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8803 
To provide for the long-term improvement of minority-serving institutions, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 
Ms. ADAMS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To provide for the long-term improvement of minority-serving 
institutions, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘IGNITE HBCU, TCU, 
and MSI Excellence Act’’. 
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR THE LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENT OF 
MSIS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award grants 
to eligible entities, on a competitive basis, to support long- 
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term improvements to the facilities of such entities in ac-
cordance with this Act. 
(b) APPLICATION.—To be considered for a grant 
under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an appli-
cation to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require, 
including— 
(1) to the extent possible, the information nec-
essary for the Secretary to make the determinations 
under subsection (c); 
(2) a description of the projects that such eligi-
ble entity plans to carry out with the grant, and how 
such projects will advance the long-term goals of the 
entity; and 
(3) an explanation of how such projects will re-
duce risks to the health, welfare, and safety of stu-
dents, staff, administrators, faculty, researchers, and 
guests at such eligible entity. 
(c) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary— 
(1) shall give priority to eligible entities that— 
(A) demonstrate the greatest need to im-
prove campus facilities, as determined by a 
comparison of factors identified by the Sec-
retary, which may include— 
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(i) consideration of threats posed by 
the proximity of such facilities to toxic 
sites; 
(ii) the vulnerability of such facilities 
to natural disasters and environmental 
risks; 
(iii) the median age of such facilities, 
including the facilities that such eligible 
entities will use grant funds to improve; 
(iv) the extent to which student en-
rollment exceeds physical and instructional 
capacity; 
(v) the condition of major systems in 
such facilities such as heating, ventilation, 
air conditioning, electrical, water, and 
sewer systems; 
(vi) the condition of roofs, windows, 
and doors of such facilities; 
(vii) other critical health and safety 
conditions; 
(viii) the number and condition of fa-
cilities in significant disrepair; and 
(ix) the total amount of deferred 
maintenance of such facilities; 
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(B) demonstrate the most limited capacity 
to raise funds for the long-term improvement of 
campus facilities, as determined by an assess-
ment of— 
(i) the current and historic ability of 
the eligible entity to raise funds for con-
struction, renovation, modernization, and 
major repair projects for campus; 
(ii) whether the eligible entity has 
been able to issue bonds or receive other 
funds 
to 
support 
school 
construction 
projects; and 
(iii) the bond rating of the eligible en-
tity; 
(C) enroll the highest percentages of stu-
dents who are eligible to receive a Federal Pell 
Grant under subpart 1 of part A of title IV of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a et seq.), and whose families qualify for 
other Federal need-based aid; 
(D) are public institutions facing declining 
State support or investment; or 
(E) demonstrate an effort to seek support 
from public and private entities for projects 
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carried out with a grant awarded under this 
Act; and 
(2) may give priority to eligible entities— 
(A) 
that 
lack 
access 
to 
high-speed 
broadband and will use the grant funds to im-
prove access to high-speed broadband sufficient 
to support digital learning in accordance with 
section 3(a)(9); or 
(B) at which the highest degree that is 
predominantly awarded to students is an associ-
ate’s degree. 
(d) 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 States. 
(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary, di-
rectly or by grant or contract, may provide technical as-
sistance to eligible entities to prepare the entities to qual-
ify, apply for, and maintain a grant, under this Act. 
(f) RELATIONSHIP TO HBCU CAPITAL FINANCING 
PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may take into 
consideration whether an eligible entity has received 
a loan under a loan agreement made under part D 
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of title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1066 et seq.) when— 
(A) reviewing grant applications under this 
section; 
(B) determining priority under subsection 
(c); and 
(C) determining the amount awarded for a 
grant under this Act. 
(2) PRIORITY.—With respect to paragraph 
(1)(B), the Secretary may— 
(A) determine that an eligible entity should 
not receive priority under subsection (c) if such 
entity has received a loan under a loan agree-
ment made under part D of title III of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1066 
et seq.); and 
(B) determine that an eligible entity 
should receive higher priority under subsection 
(c) 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 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1066 et seq.). 
SEC. 3. GRANT USES. 
(a) PERMITTED USES.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), an eligible entity that receives a grant under 
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this Act shall use such grant funds to carry out at least 
one of the following activities: 
(1) Construct, modernize, renovate, or retrofit 
the campus facilities of such entity, which may in-
clude— 
(A) providing for the improvement of exist-
ing, or the establishment of new, instructional 
program spaces, laboratories, or research facili-
ties relating to fields of science, technology, en-
gineering, the arts, mathematics, health, agri-
culture, education, medicine, law, and other dis-
ciplines; 
(B) constructing or improving roads or 
other transportation infrastructure on campus, 
for which the eligible entity is responsible; 
(C) establishing or improving the use of 
campus facilities for the purpose of community- 
based partnerships that provide students and 
community members with academic, health, ca-
reer, and social services; and 
(D) preserving facilities with historic sig-
nificance, and facilities that house historic or 
cultural artifacts. 
(2) Purchase or modernize vehicle fleets owned 
and operated by such entity that are used primarily 
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