I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1054 
To strengthen the capacity and competitiveness of historically Black colleges 
and universities through robust public-sector, private-sector, and commu-
nity partnerships and engagement, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 7, 2019 
Ms. ADAMS (for herself, Mr. WALKER, Mr. HILL of Arkansas, and Ms. SE-
WELL of Alabama) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, 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- 
sector, private-sector, and community partnerships and 
engagement, 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 ‘‘HBCU Propelling 
Agency Relationships Towards a New Era of Results for 
Students Act’’ or the ‘‘HBCU PARTNERS Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) As many colleges and universities across the 
country kept their doors closed to African-American 
applicants, historically Black colleges and univer-
sities (referred to in this section as ‘‘HBCUs’’) 
played a central role in ensuring that African Ameri-
cans could attain an excellent education. 
(2) Today, HBCUs continue to play a critical 
role in ensuring that African Americans, and those 
of all races, can access high-quality educational op-
portunities. 
(3) HBCUs enroll nearly 300,000 students, an 
estimated 70 percent of whom come from low-income 
backgrounds and 80 percent of whom are African 
American. 
(4) According to the National Association For 
Equal Opportunity In Higher Education, HBCUs 
make up just 3 percent of American institutions of 
higher education but graduate more than a fifth of 
African-American college students. 
(5) According to the Thurgood Marshall College 
Fund (referred to in this section as ‘‘TMCF’’), ap-
proximately 9 percent of all African-American col-
lege students attend HBCUs. 
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(6) A March 2017 report from the Education 
Trust concluded that HBCUs have higher comple-
tion rates for African-American students than other 
institutions serving similar student populations. 
(7) In 2014, HBCUs generated a total direct 
economic impact of $14,800,000,000 and created 
more than 134,000 jobs, according to a study com-
missioned by the United Negro College Fund (re-
ferred to in this section as ‘‘UNCF’’). 
(8) According to TMCF, 40 percent of African- 
American Members of Congress and 80 percent of 
African-American judges are graduates of HBCUs. 
(9) According to UNCF, in 2013, HBCUs 
awarded a quarter of all science, technology, engi-
neering, and mathematics bachelor’s degrees award-
ed to African Americans. 
(10) According to UNCF, African-American 
graduates of HBCUs are almost twice as likely as 
African Americans who graduated from other insti-
tutions to report that their university prepared them 
well for life. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to strengthen the capacity and competitive-
ness of HBCUs to fulfill their principal mission of 
equalizing educational opportunity, as described in 
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section 301(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1051(b)); 
(2) to align HBCUs with the educational and 
economic competitiveness priorities of the United 
States; 
(3) to provide students enrolled at HBCUs with 
the highest quality educational and economic oppor-
tunities; 
(4) to bolster and facilitate productive inter-
actions between HBCUs and Federal agencies; and 
(5) to encourage HBCU participation in and 
benefit from Federal programs, grants, contracts, 
and cooperative agreements. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Execu-
tive Director’’ means— 
(A) the Executive Director of the White 
House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities, as designated by the Presi-
dent; or 
(B) if no such Executive Director is des-
ignated, such person as the President may des-
ignate to lead the White House Initiative on 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 
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(2) HBCU.—The term ‘‘HBCU’’ means a his-
torically Black college or university. 
(3) HISTORICALLY
BLACK
COLLEGE
OR
UNI-
VERSITY.—The term ‘‘historically Black college or 
university’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘part B 
institution’’ under section 322 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061). 
(4) PRESIDENT’S
BOARD
OF
ADVISORS.—The 
term ‘‘President’s Board of Advisors’’ means the 
President’s Board of Advisors on historically Black 
colleges and universities. 
(5) SECRETARY.—Except as otherwise provided, 
the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Edu-
cation. 
(6) WHITE
HOUSE
INITIATIVE.—The term 
‘‘White House Initiative’’ means the White House 
Initiative on historically Black colleges and univer-
sities. 
SEC. 4. STRENGTHENING HBCUS THROUGH FEDERAL 
AGENCY PLANS. 
(a) SUBMITTING AGENCY PLANS.—Not later than 
February 1 of each year, the head of each Federal agency 
shall— 
(1) submit to the Secretary and the Executive 
Director an annual Agency Plan describing efforts to 
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strengthen the capacity of HBCUs to participate in 
relevant Federal programs and initiatives under the 
jurisdiction of the Federal agency; or 
(2) if the agency does not work regularly with 
HBCUs, submit an annual Agency Plan describing 
efforts to identify specific HBCU initiatives and re-
sources that could benefit the HBCU community. 
(b) FURTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMISSION AND 
ACCESSIBILITY.—The head of each Federal agency shall 
submit each annual Agency Plan described in subsection 
(a) to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education 
and Labor of the House of Representatives. 
(c) AGENCY PLAN CONTENT.—Where appropriate, 
each Agency Plan shall— 
(1) establish how the Federal agency intends to 
increase the capacity of HBCUs to compete effec-
tively for grants, contracts, or cooperative agree-
ments; 
(2) identify Federal programs and initiatives 
under the jurisdiction of the Federal agency where 
HBCUs are underrepresented; 
(3) outline proposed efforts to improve HBCUs’ 
participation in such programs and initiatives in 
which they are underrepresented; 
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(4) if the agency does not have any programs 
or initiatives currently operating to benefit HBCUs, 
identify potential Federal programs and initiatives 
that could be created to help bolster the HBCU 
community; 
(5) describe any progress made towards advanc-
ing or achieving goals and efforts from previous 
Agency Plans; 
(6) encourage public-sector, private-sector, and 
community involvement in improving the capacity of 
HBCUs; and 
(7) meet, where relevant, any additional criteria 
established by the Secretary or the White House Ini-
tiative. 
(d) AGENCY ENGAGEMENT.—To help fulfill the ob-
jectives of the Agency Plans, the head of each Federal 
agency— 
(1) may provide, as appropriate, technical as-
sistance and information to the Executive Director 
to enhance communication with HBCUs concerning 
the Federal agency’s program activities and the 
preparation of applications or proposals for grants, 
contracts, or cooperative agreements; and 
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(2) shall appoint a senior official to report di-
rectly to the agency head on the Federal agency’s 
progress under this section. 
SEC. 5. PRESIDENT’S BOARD OF ADVISORS ON HBCUS. 
(a) ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—There is established the 
President’s Board of Advisors on historically Black 
colleges and universities in the Department of Edu-
cation or, if the President so elects, within the Exec-
utive Office of the President. 
(2) FUNDING
FROM
DEPARTMENT
OF
EDU-
CATION.—Except as provided in paragraph (3), the 
Secretary shall provide funding and administrative 
support for the President’s Board of Advisors, sub-
ject to the availability of appropriations. 
(3) FUNDING FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF 
THE PRESIDENT.—If the President elects to locate 
the President’s Board of Advisors within the Execu-
tive Office of the President, the Executive Office of 
the President shall provide funding and administra-
tive support for the President’s Board of Advisors, 
subject to the availability of appropriations. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The President shall appoint not 
more than 23 members to the President’s Board of Advi-
sors, and the Secretary and Executive Director or their 
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designees shall serve as ex officio members. The President 
shall designate one member of the President’s Board of 
Advisors to serve as its Chair, who shall help direct the 
Board’s work in coordination with the Secretary and in 
consultation with the Executive Director. The Chair shall 
also consult with the Executive Director regarding the 
time and location of meetings of the President’s Board 
of Advisors, which shall take place not less frequently than 
once every 6 months. Members of the President’s Board 
of Advisors shall serve without compensation, but shall be 
reimbursed for travel expenses, including per diem in lieu 
of subsistence, as authorized by law. Insofar as the Fed-
eral Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) may apply 
to the Board, any functions of the President under such 
Act, except for those of reporting to the Congress, shall 
be performed by the Chair, in accordance with guidelines 
issued by the Administrator of General Services. 
(c) MISSION
AND
FUNCTIONS.—The President’s 
Board of Advisors shall advise the President on all matters 
pertaining to strengthening the educational capacity of 
HBCUs. In particular, the President’s Board of Advisors 
shall advise the President in the following areas: 
(1) Improving the identity, visibility, distinctive 
capabilities, and overall competitiveness of HBCUs. 
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