Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Introduces a Resolution Recognizing Historically Black College and University Week

Washington, DC – (Friday, September 27, 2013) –  On Wednesday, September 25th, 2013, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson introduced a resolution recognizing September 22nd through 28th as national Historically Black Colleges and Universities week. This resolution comes a year after a Presidential Proclamation by President Barack Obama in 2012 recognizing HBCUs for their contributions.

“We cannot move forward as a country until all our children have the opportunity to succeed academically,” Said Congresswoman Johnson. “Each day, Historically Black Colleges and Universities help us to bridge the achievement gap—and it is critical that we properly recognize those contributions.”

Despite HBCUs comprising only 3% of the nation’s colleges, HBCUs enroll 16% of all African Americans in 4-year degree-granting institutions, graduate 30% of African Americans in 4-year degrees, and confer 24% of all doctorates earned each year by African Americans. Additionally, HBCUs produce minority scientists, doctors, teachers, and lawyers at a much higher rate than their counterparts. HBCUs continue to provide a path to high-quality education and are extremely effective in graduating African American students while also preparing them to compete in a global economy. 

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Kessler Park, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, South Dallas & South Oak Cliff; all of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Ferris, Glenn Heights, South Grand Prairie, Oak Lawn, Ovilla, Uptown/Victory Park and West Dallas