# 119-s-4528: IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act

119-s-4528, IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC] (R-SC); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4528
- As of: 2026-08-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4528
- Congress: 119
- Title: IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-05-14
- Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC] (R-SC)
- Cosponsors: 13
- Policy area: Education
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-10

## Summary

**Competitive grants to modernize Historically Black Colleges and Universities and expand campus technology and workforce facilities.** This bill would establish a federal grant program to fund long‑term campus improvements, support high‑speed broadband and emerging‑field equipment, and prioritize institutions with the greatest facility needs and the least capacity to raise funds. - Eligible institutions would get competitive grants for construction, renovation, deferred maintenance, broadband, labs, dorms, safety upgrades, and workforce hubs. Grants must supplement existing federal, state, and local funding and may reserve up to 5 percent for master planning and administrative costs. - Students at campuses with high shares of Pell‑eligible or need‑based aid would benefit because the program prioritizes institutions that serve those students and those facing environmental or disaster risks. - The Secretary could repay outstanding balances and payoff costs tied to certain closed HBCU Capital Financing loans for each covered disbursement, reducing some loan burdens on institutions. - Grant recipients must seek contracts from veteran‑owned and HUBZone small businesses, opening procurement opportunities for those firms. - The Department of Education must report annually on projects and outcomes. The Comptroller General must study program funding needs and implementation at 2 and 4 years to inform future appropriations.

## Cosponsors (13)

- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] (D-GA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE] (D-DE), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR] (R-AR), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA] (D-GA), 2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-06-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV] (R-WV), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2026-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] (R-WV), 2026-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] (D-WA), 2026-08-06T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Loan payoff help for HBCUs: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would require that each time an eligible institution gets a disbursement under a qualifying closed loan agreement, the Department of Education would repay the outstanding principal, interest, fees, and costs on that disbursement as of the disbursement date. The Department would…
- Federal grants to upgrade HBCU campuses: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would create a competitive grant program at the Department of Education to fund long‑term facility upgrades at eligible HBCUs and related institutions. Grants would pay for construction, renovation, broadband, HVAC and indoor air quality, water and power upgrades, dorms and din…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.
- 119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for the State of Michigan.
- 119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California.

## Sources
- [119-s-4528 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4528)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-755)
- [119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-739)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4528 (as of 2026-08-10).