On the recordFebruary 12, 2016
I want to tell the story of Texas Southern University. It started out in Houston, Texas, in the early 1920s to educate then, of course, the colored or Negro population, and they have grown into the 21st century. In the 1940s, they were expanded because a young man by the name of Heman Sweatt attempted to attend the University of Texas School of Law and he was prohibited, he was prevented. So by a court, the law school was established which is now named Thurgood Marshall. I really rise to say that this school is a Texas asset, and yet the State of Texas publicly has underfunded this university. In 2000, I helped settle a desegregation lawsuit of which that school had sued because it was discriminated against. Sadly, I rise today to ask for another investigation by the Department of Education, Civil Rights Division, because the State of Texas is now again discriminating against the students and faculty of Texas Southern University by not funding them equally with other majority-based institutions. It is sad to rise today to say that. But in that school, Barbara Jordan graduated, our colleague; Mickey Leland graduated. Of course, Barbara Jordan was a colleague. Many outstanding scientists and doctors. Stop discriminating against Texas Southern University. We need to investigate it again to make this school whole. ____________________
