What does Preamble of HBCU Research Capacity Act do?

This bill is formally titled 'To establish the Federal Clearinghouse on Grant Opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and for other purposes.'

What does SHORT TITLE. of HBCU Research Capacity Act do?

This bill is formally titled the HBCU Research Capacity Act.

What does FINDINGS. of HBCU Research Capacity Act do?

This section outlines findings regarding Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their contributions to research and workforce development. HBCUs enroll 8.5% of Black undergraduates but produce nearly 18% of Black STEM bachelor's degree recipients as of 2024. Only one HBCU, Howard University, currently holds 'very high research activity' status. HBCUs received less than 1% of approximately $60 billion in Federal research and development expenditures in fiscal year 2023. Historical underfunding creates cyclical barriers for HBCUs in building research capacity and securing Federal funding. A National Science and Technology Council report suggests strategies to address research barriers, including funding flexibility and interagency collaboration. Expanding research diversity is considered strategically important for national security, economic growth, and innovation. The creation of a Federal clearinghouse to provide information on grant opportunities and share best practices is suggested. Coordinated agency review and reporting to Congress are proposed to improve accountability and equitable access to Federal research funding for HBCUs.

What does FEDERAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISTORICALLY of HBCU Research Capacity Act do?

This section amends Part B of Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a Federal Clearinghouse on Research Capacity and Grant Opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Clearinghouse will be within the Department and coordinated by the Secretary in conjunction with several other federal agencies. Its purpose is to serve as a primary resource for identifying and providing information on federal grant opportunities for HBCUs, distinguishing between those they are eligible for and those exclusively for them. The Clearinghouse will focus on opportunities supporting research and development and building institutional research capacity. The Secretary will assign personnel and resources to the Clearinghouse, and other agencies can detail personnel to it. The Paperwork Reduction Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act are exempted from applying to the Clearinghouse's activities. The Clearinghouse will also include best practices and recommendations for HBCUs to build research capacity and access federal funding, drawing from sources like Agency Plan submissions.

What does NOTIFICATION OF CLEARINGHOUSE. of HBCU Research Capacity Act do?

This section outlines notification procedures related to the Federal Clearinghouse on Grant Opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The Secretary of Education must notify each part B institution and Congress of the Clearinghouse's publication. The Secretary must also provide an annual report to Congress on the Clearinghouse's contents. Part B institutions have the option to receive quarterly updates of the Clearinghouse contents. The Secretary is responsible for sending these quarterly updates to institutions that choose to receive them.

What does GRANT PROGRAM REVIEW. of HBCU Research Capacity Act do?

This section requires specified federal agency heads to review grant programs within their agencies. The review aims to identify grant programs suitable for implementing best practices and recommendations from the Clearinghouse. Agencies must also identify best practices and recommendations lacking corresponding federal grant programs. Findings regarding the absence of grant programs for specific recommendations must be reported annually to Congress.

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HBCU Research Capacity Act

Last updated: 3/24/2026 · Introduced: 3/24/2026

Author: Raphael Warnock (D-GA)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes a Federal Clearinghouse within the Department of Education to centralize information on federal grant opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), focusing on research and development.
Federal agencies are required to review their grant programs to identify opportunities for incorporating best practices from the Clearinghouse and report any gaps to Congress.
The Secretary of Education must notify HBCUs and Congress about the Clearinghouse and provide annual reports on its contents, with options for quarterly updates to participating institutions.

119th Congressin committeeHR. 8264(In Committee)Official page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 4 more.

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