Heritage Legacy Act
Sponsored By: Representative Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
Introduced
Summary
Direct scholarships for descendants of enslaved individuals at HBCUs. The Heritage Legacy Act would create a federal grant program starting in fiscal year 2027 to fund tuition-level scholarships for eligible students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
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- HBCUs would receive annual grants equal to the sum of tuition charged to qualified students at that campus each academic year. Five percent of funds appropriated each year would be reserved for verification and administrative costs.
- Full-time undergraduates who verify descent from an enslaved ancestor would get direct scholarships up to their program tuition for each year, for up to 12 semesters, with payments made on the Pell Grant schedule.
- Scholarships awarded under the Act would be excluded from the student aid index used under the Higher Education Act when calculating need-based federal aid.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Tuition scholarships for HBCU students
If enacted, starting in fiscal year 2027 each HBCU would get a grant equal to the total tuition charged to its qualified students for the academic year beginning July 1. The HBCU would give each qualified full-time undergraduate a direct scholarship up to that student’s tuition, and scholarships would be limited to 12 semesters or the equivalent. The Secretary would pay scholarships using the same payment periods and manner as Federal Pell Grants. Of the money appropriated each year, 5 percent would be reserved for verification and HBCU administrative costs. Any scholarship a qualified student receives under this Act would be excluded from that student’s Student Aid Index when federal need is calculated.
Proof rules for descendant scholarships
If enacted, you would need verification before grants are awarded. You would have to show that at least 25% of your genes are attributable to an ancestor who was enslaved in the United States. Acceptable proof would include evidence an ancestor was listed in any U.S. census before October 3, 1965 under specified historical classifications (for example, African American, Black, Colored, Freedman, Mulatto, Octoroon, Quadroon, Slave). The Secretary may authorize other forms of proof. An HBCU may indicate a preference to perform verification and the Secretary may permit that.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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