Adams Delivers Floor Remarks on Resolution Condemning Bomb Threats

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) delivered remarks on the floor of the House of Representative in support of H. Con. Res. 70, a resolution condemning threats of violence against historically Black colleges and universities ("HBCUs") and reaffirming support for HBCUs and their students.

Video of the remarks is available here for download.

Congresswoman Alma Adams' remarks as prepared for delivery:

I rise today in support of my resolution: House Concurrent Resolution 70, which condemns the recent despicable, cowardly bomb threats to more than 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

These were hate crimes: acts of terror.

As a proud two-time HBCU alumnae and retired professor of 40 years, I know HBCUs can overcome any challenge, but those challenges should not include terrorism or racism.

The Congressional response from my colleagues to these threats has been robust.

We came together to call for swift action from federal law enforcement.

The threats were quickly addressed by members of federal, state, and local law enforcement.

Thanks to the Department of Justice and its agencies for working swiftly in this regard.

My thanks to Chairman Scott, whose leadership has resulted in more than $6.5 billion in funding to HBCUs - more funding than the last 10 years combined!

Our HBCUs, their faculty, their staff, and especially their students are strong.

They are resilient and brilliant.

Paragons of academic excellence.

But they shouldn't have to respond to threats and secure their campuses on shoestring budgets.

While today's resolution rightly condemns these cowardly acts of violence against our hallowed institutions, Congress must continue to respond with action -- and legislation.

Finally, I want to address the perpetrators of these crimes.

I am praying that the hate that inspired these acts leaves your heart forever.

That you take a moment and imagine yourself in different circumstances.

Imagine growing up on the ghetto streets of Newark.

Your mother cleans houses to make ends meet.

You save every penny to go to college because the most important people in your life have taught you the value of education.

You make it to an HBCU, becoming the first member of your family to go to college. It's a big responsibility!

But because HBCUs are special places -- especially for Black Americans -- they invest in you.

They lift you up, help you succeed in ways you never thought possible. And take you from cleaning Houses with your mother to serving in the US House!

That experience is shared by millions.

THAT's what you attacked when you threatened our HBCUs.

That's what you deemed worthy of hate and violence.

That is why Congress must condemn these actions.

Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County) in the US House of Representatives. She serves on the House Committee on Education and Labor, the House Agriculture Committee, and the House Financial Services Committee in the 117th Congress. Before being elected to Congress, she served as a professor at Bennett College in Greensboro for four decades. She serves as the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus.

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