Barbara Lee: “I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I thank her for her tireless leadership on this issue and so many issues, and…”

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I thank her for her tireless leadership on this issue and so many issues, and also for forming the bipartisan caucus as it relates to our HBCUs; because this bipartisan caucus, once she got here, she hit the ground running, and it has never been the same. I am a proud member of the caucus, and I just want to thank her for her tremendous leadership. Also, I thank our chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Karen Bass, for her leadership in helping to put together this Special Order tonight. It is really an honor to be here tonight to support our Nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and, of course, I am in full support of the FUTURE Act. Madam Speaker, Malcolm X once declared: ``Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.'' For over 150 years, Historically Black Colleges have provided these passports for students. One of the largest populations of students at HBCUs come from my home State of California. In fact, it may be the largest number of students at HBCUs are from California, including my grandson, Jonah, whom you know. Black students in California would never have the opportunity to go to college if it were not for HBCUs. So, for them and for their families, I am deeply grateful.…”