Alma Adams

09/13/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/13/2024 14:49

Rep. Adams Hosts White House Cabinet Officials at HBCU Braintrust

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) hosted three members of the White House Cabinet yesterday for her annual "HBCU Braintrust," a panel event and conversation within the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference, at the Walter Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Secretary of Education (USED) Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan each joined Rep. Adams on Thursday for separate conversations about how to support and sustain the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

"I was honored to welcome Secretary Becerra, Secretary Cardona, and Administrator Regan to discuss how the federal government is helping build a better future for HBCUs, their students and graduates," said Rep. Adams. "The Biden-Harris administration has helped deliver $17 billion to our schools and I look forward to making more progress in the years ahead to even out the playing field."

"I want to applaud Chair Adams for her visionary leadership and collaboration, which has been absolutely instrumental to this administration's efforts to Raise the Bar for Historically Black Colleges and Universities," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "Our nation's HBCUs have long punched above their weight and driven Black excellence in fields from law to medicine, arts to engineering. I am very proud that the Biden-Harris Administration has invested over $16 billion in HBCU schools and students - a historic investment - and in close partnership with leaders like Chair Adams, we will continue to fight tooth and nail for HBCUs to get the support and resources they deserve."

"Congresswoman Alma Adams has been a champion for HBCUs in Congress for her entire career," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "EPA is proud to be delivering on the Biden-Harris administration's charge to uplift HBCUs, and along with my fellow HBCU-alum Vice President Harris, this work is deeply personal and significant. Through historic investments secured by President Biden, we are ensuring HBCUs have the resources to foster innovation and cultivate the next generation of environmental leaders."

"HBCUs graduate more Black health professionals than any other institutions of higher education", said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, "That is why at HHS, instead of waiting for folks to find us, we go out and find students and let them know what their future could look like when they join the healthcare workforce and how we can support them financially to give back to their community."

The HBCU Braintrust on Thursday was a 90-minute session featuring three separate fireside chats with the three Cabinet officials. The conversations centered around the HBCU Braintrust's theme: MORE for '24 and Striving for '25: What We Must do for and with HBCUs to Build on Our Progress.

Rep. Adams hosted three events over three days, beginning with her kick-off event on Wednesday, as part of the larger Annual Legislative Conference.

Today she hosted the Second Annual Bipartisan HBCU Luncheon, with a keynote address from Dallas Mavericks' CEO and published author Cynt Marshall. The event continued with a panel discussion titled, When Women Lead, featuring three HBCU presidents:

  • Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis of Benedict College

  • Dr. Valerie Kinloch of Johnson C. Smith University

  • Dr. Tomikia P. LeGrande of Prairie View A&M University.

The panel was moderated by Dr. Lisa Herring, President of the PROPEL Center. Dr. Harold L. Martin (North Carolina A&T State University), Dr. Charlotte P. Morris (Tuskegee University) and Dr. Larry Robinson (Florida A&M University) were also recognized at the luncheon for their contributions to their respective universities and the larger HBCU community.

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Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. For more information contact the Office of Congresswoman Alma Adams: (202)225-1510.