the lack of affordable housing units harms our communities.

A significant piece of legislation I introduced in this Congress, H.R. 3294, the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act, which really has support from conservative Senators to progressive Democrats.

Let me just remind you that, prior to 1976, for the previous 100 years, from 1876, it was just the reverse.

It is no secret, Madam Chair, that I am passionate about HBCUs.

I just want to mention, because I have heard several of our speakers talk about not being able to find students of color, African American students.

I think that it is important for us to pay attention to this whole notion of research dollars.

We must preserve and protect HBCUs for the sake of the next generation of change-makers and for those yet unborn.

One thing is clear, and that is the fight for colleges and universities who happen to be HBCUs is in desperate need for more persons to line up as allies.

We need them more than ever. We see what they are doing with woefully low investments.

I do want to talk a little bit about the research institutions, and so Dr. Baskerville, of the 131 schools that are classified as research 1 institutions by the Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Ed., none of those are HBCUs.

I am going to yield back.

I am hoping that--and perhaps it might be instructive to not just hope but to also signify or signal to college presidents all over the place that some of that money that is free to be used without a lot of discretion, ought to go straight…