HBCU Research Capacity Act

The HBCU Research Capacity Act aims to address long-standing funding disparities by streamlining how Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) access federal research dollars. Currently, while HBCUs produce nearly 18% of Black STEM graduates in the United States, they receive less than 1% of the approximately $60 billion in annual federal research and development funding. This legislation proposes to close that gap by requiring the Department of Education to establish a centralized federal clearinghouse and website.

If enacted, the bill would direct the Secretary of Education to coordinate with various federal agencies—including the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy—to maintain a comprehensive database of grant opportunities. This website would specifically highlight programs for which HBCUs are eligible and provide resources on best practices for building institutional research capacity. The bill also requires the Department of Education to assign dedicated personnel to manage this clearinghouse and provide regular reports to Congress on its progress.