WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 4167

HBCU Research Capacity Act

119th Congress Introduced by Katie Britt and 3 co-sponsors

S 4167 establishes federal funding and infrastructure support to expand research capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, increasing their competitiveness for federal research grants.

Introduced in Senate
1
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4167

Legislative bill overview

S 4167, the HBCU Research Capacity Act, establishes federal funding mechanisms and support programs to strengthen research infrastructure and capabilities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The bill aims to increase competitive research funding, technical assistance, and institutional capacity-building at these institutions to enhance their ability to compete for federal research grants.

Why is this important

HBCUs serve approximately 300,000 students and have historically received disproportionately lower shares of federal research funding compared to other institutions, limiting their ability to conduct cutting-edge research and provide advanced research training to students. Strengthening research capacity at HBCUs could improve educational outcomes, increase minority representation in STEM fields, and advance scientific innovation by tapping into broader talent pools. This also has economic implications for communities surrounding these institutions.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding allocation debate: Questions about whether dedicated HBCU funding represents equitable investment or if resources should be distributed competitively regardless of institutional type
  • Implementation costs: Concerns about the overall federal budget impact and whether funding comes from new appropriations or reallocation from existing research programs
  • Definition of capacity-building success: Disagreement over metrics for measuring effectiveness and whether improvements justify long-term federal commitment

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.