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SUPPORT UNCF's FEDERAL POLICY AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS
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UNCF's Federal Policy and Advocacy work is centered on one simple, yet powerful commitment: To invest in better futures for our young people by making sure that the needs of students of color and the colleges and universities they attend top the agenda whenever policymakers set education priorities.
The Federal Policy and Advocacy team works to educate elected officials about the needs of our students, the value of HBCUs and the important role education plays in keeping America strong. This UNCF division endeavors t
o achieve two main goals: ensure that lawmakers have the information they need to make smart, well-informed decisions about UNCF students and member HBCUs; and ensure that our stakeholders like you have the information and tools they need to make their voices heard.
Click here for more information about our efforts to advance these important goals.
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SUPPORT UNCF'S NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION TO #PRESERVEHBCUs ON OCT. 26
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Y
ou can help save some of America's National Treasures.
The fate of more than 700 historic buildings on HBCU campuses hinges on the support of the U.S. Senate. Congress can preserve historic buildings on HBCU campuses by passing long-overdue legislation before the end of the year to provide much needed funds for the HBCU Historic Preservation Program. Or they could do nothing and let these historic national treasures deteriorate. Make a difference by urging your senators to support at least $5 million for the HBCU Historic Preservation Program in the final FY 2017 federal budget. Your voice matters!
On Oct. 26, please join UNCF in a national call to action by contacting your legislators and participating in an all-day social media blitz using the hashtag #PreserveHBCUs!
Click here to e-mail or tweet your senators and share photos on social media of a historic HBCU building.
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UNCF BACKS HBCU INVESTMENT EXPANSION ACT TO ATTRACT PRIVATE INVESTMENT
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Rep. Keith Ellison
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At the 2016
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference, UNCF presidents Dr. Ronald Johnson, Dr. Jimmy Jenkins, Sr., and Dr. Tashni-Ann Dubroy joined U.S Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and U.S. Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) at a press conference to announce their support of H.R. 6048, the HBCU Investment Expansion Act of 2016, introduced by Ellison and Adams.
The HBCU Investment Expansion Act would expand private investment in HBCUs by allowing municipal bonds issued by HBCUs to have triple tax-exempt status (local, state and federal). The bill is a response to a recent study which found that HBCUs pay more in fees to raise funds through bonds. According to the study, HBCUs spent about $5.1 million more in total, for bond placement than white institutions with the same credit rating.The HBCU Investment Expansion Act is one of a trilogy of bills that UNCF Federal Policy and Advocacy team is lobbying for in order to boost private and public investment in HBCU campuses.
O
ther key bills are H.R. 295, a bill to reauthorize the HBCU Historic Preservation Program at $10 million annually through 2023 for the rehabilitation of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, introduced by U.S. Rep. James Clyburn
(D-SC); and
and H.R. 5530, a bill making improvements to the HBCU Capital Financing Program that provides low-interest federal loans to HBCUs for campus facilities, introduced by U.S. Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) and U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL).
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| Rep. James Clyburn |
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U.S. HOUSE PASSES $10 MILLION HBCU PRESERVATION PROGRAM
UNCF applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for unanimously passing H.R. 295, a bill that would reauthorize $10 million annually through 2023 for Historically Black Colleges and Universities Historic Preservation Program. U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC), a proud HBCU alumnus, was steadfast as he shepherded this important bill across the finish line. HBCUs are national treasures, and the recent vote puts us one step closer to securing the needed resources to support the restoration of a backlog of more than 700 historic buildings on HBCU campuses.
"HBCUs have a significant place in American history and provide incredible value and values
to minority and low-income students,
and to the communities in which they reside," said Cheryl Smith, UNCF Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs. "The HBCU Historic Preservation Program serves an essential purpose to HBCUs, which have a special place in the fabric of American history, culture and education. We look forward to working with the Senate to ensure final passage before the 114th Congress adjourns."
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UNCF HOSTS CIA
DIRECTOR, HIGHLIGHTING
CIA DIVERSITY INITIATIVE
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CIA Director John Brennan |
On Sept. 13, UNCF hosted a dinner for CIA Director John Brennan in Birmingham, AL, as a capstone to his day-long tour in Birmingham, highlighting his diversity initiative.
Earlier in the day, Brennan was the keynote speaker at the Miles College National Security Colloquium, an annual dialogue among academia, government and non-profit sectors on topics relevant to the country's strategic security. Miles College is one of three HBCUs that have been designated as lead Intelligence Community Centers of Academic Excellence.
T
he dinner was coordinated by the UNCF Birmingham Office and UNCF Federal Policy and Advocacy team, and at
tended by several UNCF Presidents-Dr. George French, Miles College; Dr. Billy Hawkins, Talladega College; Dr. Leslie Pollard, Oakwood University; Dr. Brian Johnson, Tuskegee University; and Dr. Phyllis Dawkins, Bennett College; as well as Dr. Myra Burnett, Interim Provost at Spelman College.
At the dinner, Brennan
said the
CIA has fallen short in
ensuring it
has a diverse workforce.
In 2014, he appointed former UNCF Executive Director Vernon Jordan to lead a diversity study at the agency to chart a path forward. As a result, the CIA is seeking to collaborate with HBCUs to enhance minority recruit
ment.
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STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE: HELP REDUCE STUDENT DEBT BURDEN
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Our mission at UNCF is to help more students of color get to and through college but there's more yet to be done. One matter increasingly holding our young people back from their true potential after graduation is the burden of #StudentDebt. Join UNCF as we work to help more individuals enroll in income-based plans with flexible repayment options to avoid delinquency and default. We're answering the
White House's call to action
by providing anyone experiencing the burden of #StudentDebt
what
they need to know to take advantage of these income-based repayment plans. For more information,
click here, and to read Dr. Lomax' blog on the topic,
click here.
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UNCF
1805 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
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