# Plain Language Summary: HBCU Research, Innovation, Security, and Excellence Act

This bill creates a new federal funding program designed to help historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) expand their research capabilities. Right now, only a tiny fraction of federal research money goes to HBCUs—less than one percent—even though these schools do an outsized job of training Black scientists and engineers. The bill aims to change that by giving grants to HBCUs that already have strong research programs, helping them grow even bigger and more competitive.

Here's what the program actually does: The Department of Defense will award grants to eligible HBCUs (specifically those already classified as having "high research activity") to help them reach "very high research activity" status—a higher tier that currently has zero HBCUs. Schools that get these grants can use the money to hire and keep top researchers, buy lab equipment, pay student stipends, build or upgrade research facilities, and develop programs in areas the military cares about, like advanced technology and engineering. The grants can last up to ten years, and schools have to show measurable progress toward their research goals or risk losing funding.

The bill recognizes that HBCUs punch above their weight in producing Black graduates in science and engineering fields—even though they're only three percent of all colleges, they graduate a quarter of Black students earning science degrees and produce nearly 30 percent of Black science and engineering PhD holders. By investing in their research capacity, the government hopes to both strengthen national security and create a more diverse pipeline of researchers and innovators. Schools that receive grants must report back every three years on their progress and explain how they'll keep their research programs strong after the federal money runs out.

HBCU Research, Innovation, Security, and Excellence Act

Adams, Alma S.

HBCU Research, Innovation, Security, and Excellence Act This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish a pilot program to increase capacity for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that are designated as high research activity status to achieve and maintain very high research activity status. High research activity status (known as R2 status) and very high research activity status (known as R1 status) are classifications by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. DOD must award grants to support research activities in the areas of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) and critical technologies. DOD may expand the program to other HBCUs beyond those that are classified as high research activity status if DOD determines that the program can support such an expansion. DOD must annually establish a list of research areas for STEM and critical technologies for which grant applicants may seek funding.