H.R. 5399

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5399 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5399

To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to 
support arts education at minority-serving institutions of higher 
education.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 16, 2025

Ms. Kamlager-Dove (for herself, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Fields, Ms. 
Bonamici, Ms. Norton, and Mr. Thanedar) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to 
support arts education at minority-serving institutions of higher 
education.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Equitable Arts Education Enhancement 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) According to a 2021 study by Americans for the Arts, 
the arts are an invaluable aspect of American society, as they 
strengthen the economy, improve healthcare, spark creativity 
and innovation, and unify communities, with 73 percent of 
participants agreeing that the arts help them to better 
understand other cultures.
(2) The American Alliance of Museums found that ``93 
percent of museum directors are white, as are 92.6 percent of 
board chairs and 89.3 percent of board members'', reflecting a 
clear lack of diversity in the leadership of museums.
(3) Minority-serving institutions, or ``MSIs'', are 
uniquely positioned to produce a diverse generation of art 
professionals and help bring much needed attention to works by 
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists. MSIs have 
historically served as long-standing conservators and crucial 
supporters of artist from diverse backgrounds. At a time when 
diversity, equity, and inclusion are being targeted, the 
teaching, supporting, and displaying of essential Minority 
artists who may otherwise have remained unrecognized must be 
prioritized.
(4) Arts programs and arts departments are expensive and 
have often fallen victim to funding shortfalls. In 2018, the 
College Art Association reported that at least 18 institutions 
of higher education planned to severely curtail or eliminate 
their arts departments.
(5) An increased investment in MSI arts, arts education, 
and culture programs can further help Black, Indigenous, 
students of color access an affordable arts education and 
ensure the continued preparation, conservation, display, and 
study of works by Minority artists.

SEC. 3. GRANTS TO MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Education (referred to in this 
section as the ``Secretary'') shall carry out a program under which the 
Secretary makes grants to minority-serving institutions, on a 
competitive basis, to support arts education at such institutions.
(b) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, a minority-serving institution shall submit to the Secretary 
an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require.
(c) Uses of Funds.--A minority-serving institution that receives a 
grant under this section shall use such grant to support increased 
racial minority access to arts education at the institution, which may 
include--
(1) providing financial and other assistance to students in 
arts, arts education, and cultural programs;
(2) establishing outreach programs and development offices 
for arts, arts education, and cultural departments;
(3) providing comprehensive wraparound services for arts, 
arts education, and cultural students, including faculty and 
peer mentorship, work-based learning opportunities, guidance 
counseling, and career advising;
(4) presenting and exhibiting art and performances produced 
by minority-serving institutions, and maintaining, monitoring, 
and protecting minority art collections in exhibition and in 
storage;
(5) providing well-paid apprenticeship, internship, and 
fellowship opportunities to students in arts, arts education, 
and cultural programs through partnerships with nonprofit arts, 
arts education, and cultural institutes;
(6) offering stipends to students in arts education 
preparation programs to enable such students to participate in 
clinical experiences;
(7) developing mentoring programs for future arts 
educators;
(8) providing training and stipends for mentor teachers; 
and
(9) paying for future arts educators and mentor teachers to 
participate in professional learning opportunities offered by 
nonprofit arts education organizations.
(d) Considerations.--In determining the appropriate uses of funds 
under subsection (c), a minority-serving institution shall give special 
consideration to uses of funds that directly benefit minority students.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) The term ``arts'' means art forms used for self-
expression and interpretation, including dance, music, theater, 
literary, visual, graphic, media arts, plastic, and decorative 
arts.
(2) The term ``minority'' means an individual from an 
underrepresented racial minority.
(3) The term ``minority-serving institution'' means an 
institution specified in section 371(a) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
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