{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://lawson.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-rep-lawson-secures-funding-hbcus-farm-bill", "U.S. Rep. Lawson Secures Funding for HBCUs in Farm Bill", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Al Lawson", "L000586", "lawson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON DC U.S. Rep. Al Lawson (FL05) worked to ensure the $867 billion Farm Bill included funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.The bipartisan legislation willincrease financial support and researchfor 1890-land grantuniversities, such as Florida A&M University, by more than $400 millionas well as provide much needed scholarship support for students.\nIt is critical for that ournation's HBCUs have the resources necessary to succeed, said Lawson who servesontheHouseAgriculture Committee and is a member of the HBCU Caucus. HBCUs are the backbone of our communities, cultivate a culture of excellence and set the foundation for our nation's best and brightest to make their marks on the world. This bill provides guaranteed funding for these schools and studentsby taking essential steps to create paritybetween the 1890 land grants and their 1862 counterparts.\nThe Farm Bill provides the following HBCU-exclusive funding over the next five years for research, education, extension and student scholarships:\n $80 million in newfunding to land-grant HBCUs for student scholarships -- approximately $2 million each year per school. (Includes $40 million in discretionary authorization and $40 million in mandatory funding).\n \n $10 million a year to support three new HBCU Centers of Excellence to address agricultural workforce development, nutrition and food security, economic development and emerging technologies.The location will be determined by a competitive grant process through the USDA.\n \n $15 million for HBCU cooperative extension and research\n \n The Farm Bill allows 1890s to carry over 100% of unused funds. Previously, HBCUs could only carry over 20 percent of their extension funding if it wasn't used in a calendar year. This funding helps to address public needs.\n \n Transparency Requirement:States are required to report to Congress how much funding they're providing both their 1890 land grants and their 1862 land grants. \n \n The bill also legalizes hemp growth and manufacturing, clearing the way for existing programs to expand research and development programs for medicinal and textile production.\n \n###", 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://lawson.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-rep-lawson-secures-funding-hbcus-farm-bill"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.478297170251608, "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"}