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
This bill would expand arts-focused uses of Higher Education Act funds for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). It adds specific authorizations to support arts education, student services, art collection care, and partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts and defines what counts as “arts” for the section.
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- Students: Authorizes financial and other assistance for students in arts and cultural programs and comprehensive wraparound supports like faculty and peer mentorship, work-based learning, guidance counseling, and career advising.
- Institutions: Allows HBCUs to establish outreach programs and development offices for arts departments and to exhibit, maintain, monitor, and protect Black art collections in exhibition and storage.
- Career pathways: Creates authority to fund well-paid apprenticeships, internships, and fellowships through partnerships with nonprofit arts and cultural institutions.
- Federal collaboration: Permits formal partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts to carry out these activities and sets a clear definition of “arts” including performance, literary, visual, graphic, plastic, and decorative arts.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More arts support for HBCU students
If enacted, HBCUs would be allowed to use Section 323 grant funds for arts, arts education, and cultural programs. They would be able to fund student financial aid and other assistance, plus outreach and development offices for arts departments. They would also be able to provide wraparound services like faculty and peer mentorship, work-based learning, guidance counseling, and career advising. The bill would let schools exhibit, maintain, and protect Black art collections and offer well-paid apprenticeships, internships, and fellowships through nonprofit partners and the National Endowment for the Arts. The bill would define "arts" to include performance, literary, visual, graphic, plastic, and decorative arts.
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