RELEASE: HILL, ADAMS, MCCORMICK, AND FIGURES INTRODUCE HBCU RESEARCH CAPACITY ACT TO EXPAND ACCESS TO FEDERAL RESEARCH FUNDING

WASHINGTON - Today, House Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. French Hill (AR-02) and Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12), along with Caucus members Rep. Richard McCormick (GA-06) and Rep. Shomari Figures (AL-02), introduced the HBCU Research Capacity Act. The legislation is the House companion to S. 4167, introduced by Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) on March 24, 2026.

HBCUs are cornerstones of American higher education, producing a disproportionately large share of Black STEM graduates and playing an outsized role in building the nation's workforce, yet they receive less than 1% of the roughly $60 billion in federal research and development funding allocated to colleges and universities each year. The HBCU Research Capacity Act fixes that by establishing a federal clearinghouse giving HBCUs a centralized, regularly updated source of federal grant opportunities across agencies, along with best practices for building research capacity and stronger coordination to reduce longstanding barriers to access.

"Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including the four we are blessed to have here in Arkansas, have been a source of opportunity and innovation for generations," said Rep. Hill, Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan House HBCU Caucus. "Despite their outsized contributions, HBCUs receive a fraction of the federal research funding available to them. The HBCU Research Capacity Act takes a practical step toward changing that by ensuring these institutions have the information and tools they need to compete for federal dollars and continue fulfilling their vital mission for generations to come."

"HBCUs have always punched above their weight. HBCUs contribute nearly $16.5 billion to the economy every year despite receiving less than 1% of federal research funding. That gap isn't a reflection of merit, it's a reflection of decades of systemic underfunding," said Rep. Alma Adams, Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. "The HBCU Research Capacity Act will help by giving our institutions a clear path to federal grant opportunities. I'm proud to champion this House companion with Representatives Hill, McCormick, and Figures and alongside Sen. Rev. Warnock and Sen. Britt in the Senate to ensure HBCUs receive the funding they have earned."

"The time to act is now if we want to keep America leading in the world of STEM. Our nation's HBCUs are producing some of the brightest minds in science and technology, even as they face real funding challenges," said Congressman Richard McCormick. "I'm proud to co-sponsor the HBCU Research Capacity Act that ensures these students can stay ahead in the global technology race, which starts with investing in our own talent."

"HBCUs have a long-standing track record of making significant contributions to our nation's economy and workforce despite being consistently underfunded," said Rep. Shomari C. Figures. "With Alabama being home to the most HBCUs in the nation, this bill is a game-changer for the institutions in my state at the forefront of research and development because it creates a one-stop shop for all federal research funding opportunities. I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation, and I will continue fighting for HBCUs to receive the resources they need to continue training and educating the next generation of leaders, researchers, and scholars."

Background

The HBCU Research Capacity Act would:

• Establish a federal clearinghouse to provide a centralized source of information on federal grant opportunities available to HBCUs.
• Ensure HBCUs receive consistent and timely updates on research and development funding opportunities across federal agencies.
• Provide best practices and guidance to help institutions strengthen research capacity and improve competitiveness for federal grants.
• Encourage coordination across key federal agencies to better align funding opportunities and reduce barriers to access.
• Promote transparency and accountability through regular reporting to Congress and participating institutions.
• Direct agencie