Supporting Minority-Serving Institutions Goal of McCaskill-backed Effort

Statement

Continuing her work for Missouri's students, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is supporting an effort to permanently extend and increase mandatory funding levels for minority-serving institutions, like Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

"Missouri's HBCUs are cornerstones in our state, with long histories of providing a world-class education--preparing students with the knowledge and skills needed for the future," McCaskill said. "It's critical we support these institutions with the resources they need to continue growing, bolstering their strong traditions of academic excellence, community-service, and leadership."

The Strengthening Minority-Serving Institutions Act will help ensure the continued growth and success of HBCUs and minority-serving institutions of higher education by increasing mandatory funding levels from $255 million to $300 million. Most of this funding is set to expire in Fiscal Year 2019, although some funding expired in Fiscal Year 2014, placing financially troubled schools at-risk.

McCaskill has been a strong advocate for Missouri's HBCUs during her time in the Senate. Earlier this year, McCaskill joined a bipartisan push calling for funding in support of HBCUs--including Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis and Lincoln University of Missouri in Jefferson City--in upcoming government funding debates. Last year, McCaskill spoke out against Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' inaccurate statement that, "HBCUs are real pioneers when it comes to school choice"--citing their true founding as the only higher education option for black students in the Jim Crow south.

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