Bill
HR 8264
Creates a centralized interagency Clearinghouse to identify and promote federal research grants for HBCUs, boosting access and capacity-building.
Purpose
- Establish a Federal Clearinghouse on Grant Opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to improve access to federal research funding and build institutional research capacity.
- Provide a centralized resource that identifies federal grant opportunities, shares best practices, and coordinates across multiple federal agencies to support HBCU research capacity.
Key Provisions
1) Establishment and Coordination (Section 3)
- Creates the Federal Clearinghouse on Grant Opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (the Clearinghouse) within the Department, with coordination from:
- Secretary of Commerce
- Secretary of Energy
- Secretary of Defense
- Secretary of Agriculture
- Director of the National Science Foundation
- Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
- Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Purpose of the Clearinghouse:
- Serve as the primary federal resource to identify and provide comprehensive information on federal grant opportunities for which part B institutions (as defined in the Higher Education Act) are eligible or exclusively eligible.
- Focus on grants that support research and development and building institutional research capacity.
- Staffing and Resources:
- The Clearinghouse will be assigned necessary personnel and resources.
- Federal agencies may detail personnel to the Clearinghouse.
- Access and Exemptions:
- Exempt from certain administrative requirements (Paperwork Reduction Act and Federal Advisory Committee Act) to streamline operation.
2) Clearinghouse Contents (Section 3)
- The Clearinghouse must include:
- Best practices and recommendations for HBCUs to build research capacity.
- Guidance on accessing federal research funding, incorporating input from federal, state, and local partners, including practices from Agency Plan submissions under the HBCU PARTNERS Act.
3) Notification and Reporting (Section 4)
- Notification to Institutions and Congress:
- The Secretary of Education must notify each HBCU part B institution and Congress when the Clearinghouse is established.
- The Secretary must provide an annual report to Congress detailing Clearinghouse contents.
- Updates to Institutions:
- Institutions can opt to receive quarterly updates on Clearinghouse contents; updates are sent to those who opt in.
4) Grant Program Review (Section 5)
- Federal agency reviews to align funding with Clearinghouse guidance:
- Each participating agency (Education, Commerce, Energy, Defense, Agriculture) must review its grant programs to identify those that could implement Clearinghouse best practices.
- Identify any Clearinghouse recommendations that lack an existing federal grant program.
- Annually report findings to appropriate Congressional committees.
Findings and Rationale (Sec. 2)
- Highlights the important role of HBCUs in STEM education and research output (e.g., 8.5% of Black undergraduates; ~18% of Black STEM bachelor’s degrees as of 2024) and their underrepresentation in federal research funding (less than 1% of approx. $60B in FY2023).
- Argues that a centralized Clearinghouse can reduce barriers such as knowledge gaps, transparency gaps, and capacity constraints.
- Emphasizes potential benefits for national security, economic growth, and innovation through broader inclusion of HBCUs in federal R&D.
Effective Date
- Not specified in the text provided; the bill outlines establishment and ongoing duties once enacted.
Impact and Beneficiaries
- Primary beneficiaries: Part B HBCU institutions seeking federal research funding and capacity-building opportunities.
- Other beneficiaries: Federal agencies (through clearer processes and better alignment of grants with capacity-building goals) and the broader higher education research ecosystem.
Notes
- The bill is introduced by Rep. Hill (with several co-sponsors) and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- It creates a centralized, interagency mechanism and includes reporting and oversight provisions to Congress.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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