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S4496119th CongressWALLET

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional uses of funds for grants to strengthen historically Black colleges and universities, and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Senator Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]

Introduced

Summary

Strengthen arts and Black cultural programs at historically Black colleges and universities. This bill would amend Section 323 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize new arts-focused student aid, outreach and development offices, comprehensive wraparound supports, protection of Black art collections, paid experiential opportunities, and formal partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts. It also defines “arts” to include performance, literary, visual, graphic, plastic, and decorative forms.

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  • Students and educators: Students in arts, arts education, and cultural programs would get financial and other assistance and access to well-paid apprenticeships, internships, and fellowships, plus wraparound services like faculty and peer mentorship, work-based learning, guidance counseling, and career advising.
  • Institutions and programs: Historically Black colleges and universities and their arts departments would be authorized to create outreach programs and development offices and to partner with the National Endowment for the Arts and nonprofit arts institutes to carry out these activities.
  • Collections and cultural preservation: Institutions would be authorized to exhibit, maintain, monitor, and protect Black art collections whether on display or in storage.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More arts support at HBCUs

If enacted, the bill would let eligible HBCUs use Section 323 grant money for arts-related activities. Schools would be able to give financial help to arts, arts education, and cultural students. Schools would be able to fund outreach and development offices and provide wraparound services like faculty and peer mentorship, work-based learning, guidance counseling, and career advising. Grants could also pay to exhibit, maintain, and protect Black art collections and to fund well-paid apprenticeships, internships, and fellowships through nonprofit arts partners. Institutions would be allowed to partner with the National Endowment for the Arts. The bill defines "arts" to include performance, literary, visual, graphic, plastic, and decorative arts. The bill does not set new dollar amounts or change who is eligible for Section 323 grants.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]

MD • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 5/12/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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