S. 4496

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4496 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4496

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional 
uses of funds for grants to strengthen historically Black colleges and 
universities, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 12, 2026

Ms. Alsobrooks (for herself and Mr. Justice) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional 
uses of funds for grants to strengthen historically Black colleges and 
universities, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. 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) Many United States museums are grappling with 
diversity. Studies report that only 1.4 percent of artists 
featured in America's top museums are black, only 4 percent of 
staff directors at top museums are Black, and only 2.5 percent 
of Black Americans are owners of Arts-Entertainment business.
(3) Historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, 
are uniquely positioned to produce a diverse generation of art 
professionals and help bring much needed attention to works by 
Black artists. HBCUs have historically served as long-standing 
conservators and crucial supporters of Black art and for the 
teaching, supporting, and displaying of essential Black artists 
who may otherwise have remained unrecognized.
(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) HBCUs have also been underfunded by $12,600,000,000 
compared to their predominantly White counterparts over the 
last 30 years. Some HBCUs have shrunk, consolidated, or cut 
their arts programs due to limited resources.
(6) An increased investment in HBCU arts, arts education, 
and culture programs can further help students of color access 
an affordable arts education and ensure the continued 
preparation, conservation, display, and study of works by Black 
artists.

SEC. 2. STRENGTHENING HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

Section 323 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1062) is 
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (14) and (15) as 
paragraphs (19) and (20), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (13) the 
following:
``(14) Providing financial and other assistance to students 
in arts, arts education, and cultural programs.
``(15) Establishing outreach programs and development 
offices for arts, arts education, and cultural departments.
``(16) 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.
``(17) Exhibiting, maintaining, monitoring, and protecting 
Black art collections in exhibition and in storage.
``(18) 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.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) National Endowment for the Arts.--An institution may enter 
into a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts to carry 
out the activities described in paragraphs (14) through (18) of 
subsection (a).
``(e) Definition.--In this section, the term `arts' means art forms 
used for self-expression and interpretation, including performance, 
literary, visual, graphic, plastic, and decorative arts.''.
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