Political Quotes

“Madam Chair, this amendment would increase by $2 million the Historic Preservation Fund to restore and preserve buildings and sites on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It is offset by a minor reduction in the administration account for the Department of the Interior. Most HBCUs were founded after the Civil War to provide higher education to African Americans, most of whom were newly freed from slavery. These institutions continue to serve a vital purpose and have deep historical connections with African Americans and American history. Most of them have sites and structures of historical significance that are in dire need of restoration and preservation. Early in my tenure in Congress, I worked with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and in leadership of this committee and the Committee on Natural Resources to authorize and appropriate funds to the GAO to study the breadth of this issue. The GAO identified 712 endangered historic buildings at an approximate cost of restoration of $755 million. My amendment today will increase the funding in the bill for this important program by $2 million, to a total of $7 million, still $3 million below the level authorized by the House-passed bill.…”