Reps. Alma Adams and French Hill unveil IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act to fund campus infrastructure

Representatives Alma Adams (D-N.C.) and French Hill (R-Ark.) unveiled the IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act (H.R. 8791) at a Capitol Plaza event this morning, proposing federal grant funding to help historically Black colleges and universities modernize aging campus buildings, expand research capacity, improve student housing and bolster broadband and technology infrastructure.

"Today we unveil ... the IGNITE Act," Rep. French Hill said, framing the measure as a bipartisan effort to close long-standing funding gaps at HBCUs and to encourage private philanthropy and state support. Rep. Alma Adams, a co-chair of the HBCU caucus, described H.R. 8791 as "not symbolic work," saying it targets concrete needs such as classrooms, research facilities and residential life.

Supporters at the event included HBCU presidents and chancellors and national partners. "When we invest in HBCUs, y'all, we invest in the next generation of doctors, educators, engineers, entrepreneurs, Congress people, and change makers," Rep. Nikema Williams said, urging colleagues to back the bill. Organizers repeatedly emphasized a mix of federal grants and public-private partnerships as the intended financing model.

Speakers offered institutional examples of the need. Anthony Graham, chancellor at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, said the 1890 land-grant institutions generate "more than $4 billion in economic impact" and argued that upgraded research facilities and technology will strengthen workforce pipelines and regional competitiveness. Dr. Quinton T. Ross, president of Alabama State University, said his institution has invested more than $40 million in campus improvements but still faces more than $60 million in deferred maintenance, framing IGNITE as a way to address persistent capital shortfalls.

Other campus leaders described specific priorities the bill would address: modern laboratories for STEM and health professions, updated residence halls, expanded cybersecurity and AI research computing capacity, and reliable campus broadband. Several speakers, including representatives of UNCF and the 1890 Universities Foundation, said their organizations would help mobilize partners and urged congressional action to move the legislation forward.

Organizers did not hold a vote at the event. Adams and Hill said they will push the bill through the House and seek Senate partners to secure final action. The event closed with a question-and-answer exchange in which attendees asked how institutions obtain capital and how the bill would interact with state matching and philanthropic efforts; organizers reiterated that the measure is intended to be grant-based and to catalyze additional investments.

The bill was introduced as H.R. 8791 and sponsors asked colleagues to advance it through committee and floor consideration; no formal legislative action occurred at the press event.