HBCU Research Capacity Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8264
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-14: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-21T08:08:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The HBCU Research Capacity Act (H.R. 8264) aims to create a centralized federal resource to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) identify grant opportunities and build their research capabilities. It addresses underfunding and barriers that limit HBCUs' access to federal research dollars, promoting greater equity in research funding to boost innovation, national security, and economic growth.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Federal Clearinghouse: Adds a new section (SEC. 328) to the Higher Education Act of 1965, creating the "Federal Clearinghouse on Research Capacity and Grant Opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities" within the Department of Education. Coordinated with agencies including Commerce, Energy, Defense, Agriculture, NSF, EPA, and NASA.
- Serves as the main federal hub for listing grants eligible for HBCUs (distinguishing general eligibility from HBCU-exclusive ones) focused on research/development and institutional capacity-building.
- Includes best practices and recommendations from federal, state, and local sources to help HBCUs secure funding.
- Personnel and Operations: Assigns staff/resources; allows detailees from partner agencies. Exempt from the Paperwork Reduction Act (rules limiting federal paperwork) and Federal Advisory Committee Act (rules on advisory groups).
- Notifications and Updates (SEC. 4): Secretary of Education notifies HBCUs and Congress of the clearinghouse's launch; provides annual reports to Congress; offers optional quarterly updates to HBCUs.
- Agency Grant Reviews (SEC. 5): Specified agencies must review their grant programs annually to:
- Identify programs aligning with clearinghouse best practices.
- Flag gaps where no suitable grants exist.
- Report gaps to Congress.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Part B of Title III of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1060 et seq.) by inserting a new section focused exclusively on HBCU research grants and capacity-building.
- Introduces interagency coordination, mandatory reviews, and reporting requirements not previously mandated for HBCUs.
- Grants exemptions from administrative laws to speed implementation.
Potential Impacts
- On HBCUs: Improves access to ~$60 billion in annual federal research funds (where HBCUs currently get <1%), reduces knowledge gaps, and shares strategies to overcome historical underfunding and smaller endowments.
- On Government Agencies: Requires resource allocation, personnel details, and annual reporting, fostering collaboration and accountability in grant distribution.
- On Citizens/Economy: Boosts HBCU STEM output (already 18% of Black bachelor's degrees despite enrolling 8.5%), enhancing workforce diversity, innovation, and underrepresented researcher participation.
- No direct international relations impacts noted.
Main Stakeholders
- HBCUs ("Part B institutions" under the Higher Education Act): Primary beneficiaries via grants info and best practices.
- Federal Agencies: Education (leads), Commerce, Energy, Defense, Agriculture, NSF, EPA, NASA (coordination, reviews, reporting).
- Congress: Receives notifications, annual reports, and gap analyses.
- HBCU Students/Scholars: Indirectly benefit from expanded research opportunities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Streamlines setup via exemptions from Paperwork Reduction Act and Federal Advisory Committee Act, potentially accelerating rollout but bypassing standard oversight.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power (Article I, Section 8) to direct federal funds; promotes equal protection by addressing documented disparities without mandating preferential treatment.
- Political: Builds on prior laws (e.g., HBCU PARTNERS Act); emphasizes equity and accountability, likely appealing to supporters of minority-serving institutions amid debates on research funding bias and diversity. No enforcement mechanisms or penalties specified for agency non-compliance.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-14: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-04-14: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- HBCU Research Capacity Act — issued 2026-04-14 — PDF (8 pages)