{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://adams.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/black-colleges-finally-get-white-house-voice", "Black colleges finally get a White House voice", "2017-09-29", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "NC", "Alma Adams", "A000370", "adams.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Holifield will be executive director of an effort that\u2019s been stalled since President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February intended as a powerful statement that he viewed the health and well-being of the institutions as a priority.\n\t\tHolifield told HBCU leaders and advocates gathered at a two-day White House\u00a0summit\u00a0on black colleges, which began Sunday, that he looks forward to helping the schools with their mission to boost this country\u2019s competitiveness. He officially begins work on Oct. 2.\n\t\t\u201cThere is no path to sustained new job creation, shared prosperity, and enduring national competitiveness without the current and increased contributions of historically black colleges and universities,\u201d he told the summit held on the White House grounds at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.\n\t\tHBCU advocates\u2019 reaction to the appointment was mixed.\n\t\tJohnny C. Taylor Jr., president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, said Holifield \u201chas more than 20 years of multidisciplinary business and government experience, which will help lead the critical work of developing a robust policy and budgetary agenda to positively impact HBCUs.\u201d The fund represents 47 publicly-funded HBCUs.\n\t\tBut Marybeth Gasman, director of the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions at the University of Pennsylvania, questioned Holifield\u2019s qualifications and Trump\u2019s commitment to HBCUs.\n\t\t\u201cI have some concerns that Holifield doesn\u2019t have an HBCU experience,\u201d she said. \u201cHe does have experience working across a few organizations and his self-published book is focused on inclusiveness. I wish him the best.\u201d\n\t\tRep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus and a critic of Trump\u2019s HBCU effort, called the appointment of Holifield a \u201cfirst step for the White House as they strive to repair their relationship with HBCU leaders and members of Congress.\u201d\n\t\tShe extended an invitation to Holifield to come to Capitol Hill \u201cto learn more about the (HBCU caucus) and our legislative priorities,\u201d said Adams, who\u2019s also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://adams.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/black-colleges-finally-get-white-house-voice"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9649579878896475, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}