“With the help of many of my friends on both sides of the aisle, we have included in this Farm Bill a pioneering historic effort to bring $95 million dollars to the Land Grant 1890 African American Colleges and Universities,” Scott said.
Scott said that the money will be a big help to the 19 schools that include Florida A&M University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1967.
“I appreciate now that the language is included in the Farm Bill and says this: that for each of the five years, these nineteen 1890 African American Land Grant Colleges and Universities will each receive $1 million dollars per year,” he added. “That means $5 million times nineteen colleges, which is $95 million dollars in total. I just know that the American people will say that this could not happen without Democrats and Republicans working together.”
The representative said he appreciated all the members of Congress who came to his aid during the negotiations.
“I want to thank my colleagues for stepping up to the plate,” he said. “Thank you so much Kevin Cramer from North Dakota for your work as my lead Republican cosponsor. I also want to thank Senator David Perdue, my Senate Republican cosponsor. Both have joined with myself and Representatives Fudge, Lawson, Adams, Cleaver and so many of us to make sure we get this measure passed… I now want to thank Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member Peterson and the leadership of the House and Senate.”
Scott ended with a reminder that the scholarship program will help people of all backgrounds who attend 1890 HBCUs.
“And may I say Mr. Chairman, for those who may not know, while these are traditional African American colleges and universities, everybody, White, Black, Hispanic, the whole nation, regardless of race, creed, or color, will be going to these schools,” Scott said.