Sponsors (4)
The bill creates a centralized, coordinated federal effort to boost HBCU research capacity and grant access—potentially expanding equity in federal R&D and workforce pipelines—while imposing new federal and institutional administrative costs, shifting some R&D priorities, and reducing certain procedural oversight.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), their researchers, and students will get centralized, regular access to federal research and grant opportunities through a Clearinghouse and quarterly notices, making it easier to find and apply for funding.
HBCUs and allied institutions will receive best-practice guidance and coordinated merit-review improvements that can build research capacity and increase competitiveness for R&D funding, potentially reducing bias in award decisions.
Federal agencies and researchers will benefit from greater interagency coordination (personnel detailing, coordinated reviews), which can broaden the research base and improve national innovation and security outcomes.
Taxpayers will face additional costs to create, staff, and operate the Clearinghouse and to provide regular updates and reporting, increasing federal administrative spending.
Federal agencies and Department of Education staff will incur new administrative and reporting workloads (annual reports, reviews, Clearinghouse operations) that could divert resources from other programs and priorities.
HBCUs and other applicant institutions may face added administrative burdens to comply with new reporting, coordination, or application processes tied to Clearinghouse activities.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Department of Education clearinghouse to identify federal grant opportunities and best practices to boost HBCU research capacity, with agency coordination and annual reports.
Introduced March 24, 2026 by Raphael Gamaliel Warnock · Last progress March 24, 2026
Creates a federal clearinghouse in the Department of Education to identify federal grant opportunities and provide best practices aimed at strengthening research capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The clearinghouse will coordinate with multiple federal science and research agencies, notify and update Part B HBCUs, and require participating agencies to review their grant programs and report gaps or unmet recommendations to Congress annually.