Sheila Jackson Lee: “I want to thank the gentlewoman for her leadership, and I want to thank the Appropriations Committee, and this one in…”

“I want to thank the gentlewoman for her leadership, and I want to thank the Appropriations Committee, and this one in particular, for the great work that the committee is doing. I have had the privilege of doing amendments under the CJS, Agriculture, Interior, and let me express my appreciation for the added $2 million for research in Historically Black Colleges, and particularly the opportunity for my amendment to enable NIFA to increase funding by $2 million to the 1890 institutions, which are 19 HBCU land grants to support educational research. It is so very important as it relates to food and agriculture, in particular, to make an increase so that the 1890 institutions can again be at the forefront of research. One of the schools in my area, Prairie View A&M, and Texas Southern University prepare the leaders for the agriculture industry of the future. So this legislation provides support for the many schools, such as Alabama A&M, Alcorn State University, Prairie View A&M, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University; and, of course, they enroll 40 percent of all African American students. So I am grateful for this amendment, and I ask my colleagues to support the underlying bill. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Chair's En Bloc Amendment, which includes Jackson Lee Amendment No. 91. I wish to thank Chairman McGovern and Ranking Member Cole of the Rules Committee for making this Jackson Lee Amendment in order.…”