Brown, Turner Praise Inclusion Of Amendment To Establish A Minority Institute For Defense Research In FY22 NDAA

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) and Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) praised the inclusion of his amendment to direct the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to establish the Minority Institute for Defense Research in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The amendment mirrors the previously introduced BEACON Act, H.R.5107.

"Preparing for future threats will require innovation and investment in research and development. Our national security depends on us utilizing all of this country's intellectual capital to realize our full potential and ensure military readiness," said Congressman Brown. "There is a large, talented and eager pool of burgeoning scientists, researchers and engineers that this country has not yet tapped into. Our country's greatest strength is our diversity. This legislation would ensure we are building a strong foundation at every institution for the future."

"The Department of Defense must invest in engineering, research, and developmental capability programs at minority institutions to continue to prepare for potential threats from our adversaries," said Rep Turner. "The inclusion of this initiative in the FY 2022 NDAA will lead to critical advancements for our armed services, and I am eager to see the impact it has on our military."

Congressman Brown, Congressman Turner and Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) previously passed into law the HOMECOMING Research Act which created a study at the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to review the state of defense research at certain minority institutions of higher education.

The interim report found that "limited set aside dollars and no requirements or incentives to increase their participation in non-targeted programs, [congressional] encouragement has not translated into significant capacity-building or sustained support." The report further found that "new funding streams may be necessary to expand opportunities to HBCU/MIs" and "mutually beneficial partnerships may serve as a strategy for HBCU/MIs to build and better utilize their current capacity to conduct DoD-funded research."

The BEACON Act would act on these findings by requiring a plan for a consortium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) to execute leading defense research and development (R&D) as a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). Additionally, it would create a new funding stream by requiring current UARCs and Department Federally Funded Research and Development Centers to subcontract with one or more minority institutions for no less than 5 percent of an awarded contract.

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