H.R. 2664: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional uses of funds for grants to strengthen historically Black colleges and universities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor
Alma Adams
Democrat · NC
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Apr 7, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Why it matters
If enacted, the bill would give historically Black colleges and universities more flexibility to direct federal support toward arts students and arts-related programming instead of treating those programs as extras. The winners are HBCU students, faculty, and campuses trying to sustain music, visual arts, theater, and related fields; the practical effect is more room to fund scholarships, support services, and program capacity in disciplines that often struggle for resources. There is no obvious direct loser here, but in a tight appropriations environment the real fight is whether Congress is willing to back even modest expansions of permissible spending at HBCUs.
H.R. 2664 Common Questions
Can HBCUs use federal grant money for scholarships and support for arts students?
Yes. Under HR2664, HBCUs could use strengthening grants to provide financial and other assistance to students in arts, arts education, and cultural programs (Section 2, amending HEA Sec. 323(a)(14)).
Can HBCUs pay for arts internships and apprenticeships with federal funds?
Yes. Under HR2664, grant funds could support well-paid apprenticeships, internships, and fellowships for arts students through partnerships with nonprofit arts and cultural institutes (Section 2, Sec. 323(a)(18)).
Does HR2664 let HBCUs partner with the National Endowment for the Arts?
Yes. According to HR2664 Section 2, institutions may enter into partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts to carry out the new arts-related activities in paragraphs (14) through (18).
Can HBCUs use grant funds for wraparound services for arts students?
Yes. Under HR2664, HBCUs could fund wraparound services for arts students, including mentorship, work-based learning, guidance counseling, and career advising (Section 2, Sec. 323(a)(16)).
Can HBCUs use federal grants to protect and maintain Black art collections?
Yes. Under HR2664, grant funds could be used for exhibiting, maintaining, monitoring, and protecting Black art collections in exhibition and storage (Section 2, Sec. 323(a)(17)).
Can HBCUs create arts outreach programs and development offices with federal grant money?
Yes. HR2664 would allow strengthening grants to be used for outreach programs and development offices for arts, arts education, and cultural departments (Section 2, Sec. 323(a)(15)).
What counts as arts under HR2664?
Under HR2664, “arts” means forms used for self-expression and interpretation, including performance, literary, visual, graphic, plastic, and decorative arts (Section 2, Sec. 323(e)).
How much have HBCUs been underfunded compared with predominantly White colleges?
HR2664 states that HBCUs have been underfunded by $12.6 billion compared with predominantly White counterparts over the last 30 years (Section 1).
What percentage of artists in top U.S. museums are Black?
HR2664 cites a finding that 1.4% of artists featured in top U.S. museums are Black (Section 1).
What percentage of staff directors at top U.S. museums are Black?
According to HR2664 Section 1, 4% of staff directors at top U.S. museums are Black.
Based on H.R. 2664 bill text
HR2664 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Apr 7, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
About the Sponsor
Alma Adams
Democrat, North Carolina's 12th congressional district · 12 years in Congress
Committees: Agriculture, Education and Workforce
View full profile →
Cosponsors (17)
All 17 cosponsors are Democrats. Cosponsors represent 13 states: Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, and 10 more.
Jasmine Crockett
Democrat · TX
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
Democrat · FL
Joyce Beatty
Democrat · OH
Suzanne Bonamici
Democrat · OR
Eleanor Norton
Democrat · DC
Melanie Stansbury
Democrat · NM
Frederica Wilson
Democrat · FL
Terri Sewell
Democrat · AL
Jonathan Jackson
Democrat · IL
Valerie Foushee
Democrat · NC
André Carson
Democrat · IN
Maxwell Frost
Democrat · FL
H.R. 2664 Quick Facts
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Education
- Introduced
- Apr 7, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Apr 7, 2025
Constituent Resources
Official Sources
Official bill text, cosponsors, and legislative history for the HBCU arts strengthening bill
The Department of Education program page for the HBCU strengthening grants this bill amends — includes eligibility, award data, and FAQs
Current text of Section 323 of the Higher Education Act — the exact statute HR 2664 amends to add arts as an allowable use of funds
The NEA's dedicated HBCU partnership page — the bill authorizes HBCUs to partner with the NEA on arts activities
Homepage of the federal arts agency named in the bill as a potential HBCU partner for carrying out new arts programs
The subcommittee with jurisdiction over this bill — notably, sponsor Rep. Alma Adams serves as its Ranking Member
The federal interagency initiative supporting HBCUs — broader policy context for the bill's goal of strengthening HBCU programs
Who is lobbying on H.R. 2664?
2 organizations lobbying on this bill
Lobbying on H.R. 2664 is coming entirely from arts-world trade groups, led by the National Association for Music Education with four filings and the American Symphony Orchestra League, doing business as the League of American Orchestras, with three. That’s a telling signal: rather than HBCUs themselves or higher-ed advocates driving the push, the bill is attracting organizations that see expanded institutional support as a way to bolster arts education pipelines and cultural infrastructure at historically Black colleges and universities.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MUSIC EDUCATION | 4 |
AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LEAGUE - DBA LEAGUE OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS | 3 |
Showing 1-2 of 2 organizations
H.R. 2664 Bill Text
“To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional uses of funds for grants to strengthen historically Black colleges and universities, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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