Brown
Amendment Will Help Historically Black Colleges and
Universities like Central State University get Additional
Funds for Agricultural Programs and Research
Brown Secured Amendment in Senate Appropriations Bill that
is Set to Pass this Week
Special to The Truth
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) secured an amendment to
increase funding for agriculture research at Central State
University and other historically black Land-Grant colleges
established in 1890. Brown secured the amendment in the
Senate Appropriations bill to appropriate funds for the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA). The amendment increases
funding made available to 1890 Land-Grant colleges through
the Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching Policy Act
of 1977 by $6 million. The final Senate Appropriations bill
is expected to pass.
“It’s important that historically black colleges and
universities like Central State University have the
resources they need to equip students with the skills and
knowledge needed to advance their careers,” Brown said.
“This amendment builds on our work to ensure 1890 Land Grant
institutions have the resources they need to prepare
students for the future.”
Brown’s amendment
builds
upon his work in the Senate Farm Bill
to ensure Central State University receives additional USDA
funds that it was previously denied. For more than 100
years, Central State University was denied 1890 Land-Grant
status, meaning it was ineligible for funding from the USDA
for its innovative scientific research. In 2014, Brown along
with Reps. Fudge and Beatty, helped correct that injustice
in the last Farm Bill by ensuring Central State received
land-grant status.
Brown has also been fighting to ensure Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) like Central State
University are able to expand
their research capacity and outreach in
this year’s Farm Bill. Brown secured an amendment in the
Senate Agriculture Committee, of which he is a member, to
create six Centers of Excellence and Leadership on campuses
like Central State. Brown’s amendment was based on the
bipartisan REAL Opportunity Act, which was introduced in the
U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Alma Adams
(D-NC) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO).
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