S.J. Res. 54

Floor Speech

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Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I am coming to the floor to speak on a different subject, but I do want to acknowledge that this is an issue I follow as well. I actually cosponsored Senator Lee's bill. I do hope what my friend from Illinois proposed, in terms of a process--that that process will take place and that we can get this legislation, or a variation thereof, passed through the Senate; that we deal with this issue is something I hear a lot from my constituents in Virginia-- specifically, Northern Virginia.

Again, although no piece of legislation is perfect, I think the direction Senator Lee has put forward is one I carefully considered before I cosponsored the legislation. Again, the only way we are going to get this resolved is if we go through this process. Nobody on the Senate works harder on immigration issues and with more passion and willingness to get to yes on an issue than the Senator from Illinois, so I thank him for his work as well. Tribute to Victoria Brahm

Mr. President, I came down here today to address the question I came for, to actually continue the tradition of my friend Senator Ted Kaufman. I had the distinction of serving here as a staff member for a long time and filled in for a few years when Senator Biden became the Vice President of the United States.

What Senator Ted Kaufman did was he came, during his tenure in the Senate, on a regular basis, came to this floor and highlighted the contributions of exceptional Federal employees. He highlighted the work they do every day to make our Nation and communities safer, healthier, and stronger.

I came to the floor earlier this year to congratulate three Virginians who were recognized by the Partnership for Public Service as finalists for the Service to America Medals. Within the world of Federal employees, this award may not be as well known as the Oscars, but the award, the Service to America Medals, are known as the ``Sammies.''

During my time on the floor earlier, when I spoke about the Virginians who were nominated, I spoke about Ambassador Michael Kozak from Arlington, Kara De Castro from Haymarket, and John Wagner from Ashburn. Each of these public servants have made significant contributions to our national security, as well as to global peace and human rights. We are indebted to them for their contributions, and I congratulate them again for their much deserved recognition as finalists.

Unfortunately, none of this year's winners hail from Virginia. Still, I want to congratulate the 2019 Federal Employee of the Year, Victoria Brahm from Wisconsin. Ms. Brahm is a career public servant who has spent more than 37 years working in the VA system.

Since 2015, she has served as the director of the Tomah VA Medical Center. When she arrived, the center was struggling with unsafe medical practices, high staff turnover, and other issues impacting the quality of care that veterans were receiving. In the years since her arrival, there has been a rise in patient satisfaction and a dramatic drop in the use of opioids and other prescription pain relievers.

Under Director Brahm's leadership, preventable inhospital complications have also dropped significantly, and the center has risen from one of the worst ranked hospitals in the VA system to the top 10 percent. This remarkable turnaround that is making life better for our veterans is due in many ways to the work of Ms. Brahm. Congratulations, Ms. Brahm, and thank you for your service.

Congratulations, as well, to all of this year's award winners who hail from around the country, not just Washington, DC. While the Federal workers we recognize today are exceptional, the truth is they are not the exception. Federal employees across the country dedicate their lives to serving the country, to protecting its people, and to making sure our tax dollars are properly spent.

Unfortunately, this commitment has not been honored by the Trump administration. In addition to the longest government shutdown in history, Federal workers have endured pay freezes, hiring freezes, bad- faith collective bargaining, and other efforts to dismantle our nonpolitical civil service. This is wrong. It is also unsustainable, and ultimately it will be everyday Americans who suffer the consequences of this administration's actions. If you drive out and drive down the morale of our workforce, the American people end up with a less good product.

I commit that I will continue fighting in the Senate to ensure this country is keeping its commitment to Federal workers because they deserve so much better than the treatment they have received recently. FUTURE Act

Mr. President, let me now, for a couple of moments, turn to another important issue where I fear we are not keeping our commitments, and that is our commitment to our Nation's historically Black colleges and universities, also known as HBCUs.

I will talk briefly in support of legislation introduced by my colleague from Alabama, Senator Jones, and my colleague from South Carolina, Senator Scott. The legislation they introduced is called the FUTURE Act.

The FUTURE Act would provide a 1-year reauthorization of the mandatory funding for HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions that already expired on September 30. This is a commonsense bipartisan fix that is fully paid for, and it would allow us to keep our commitment to institutions across the country that are educating historically underrepresented and underserved students.

Virginia is home to five outstanding HBCUs whose funding would be preserved by this legislation: Virginia State University, Norfolk State University, Hampton University, Virginia Union University, which I was proud, prior to my tenure in government, to serve on the board of, and Virginia University of Lynchburg. All told, these institutions received nearly $4 million in funding last year that is now at risk unless we pass the FUTURE Act.

I have letters of support here from the Presidents of Hampton, Norfolk State, and Virginia Union. These letters highlight the FUTURE Act and the importance of this funding to the representative universities.

Hon. Mark Warner, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

Dear Senator Warner: I am writing to request that you cosponsor S. 1279, the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act sponsored by Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). This bipartisan, bicameral bill was written to extend important mandatory funding for education in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act of 1965 until September 30, 2021.

Title III, Part F, benefits Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) by providing mandatory funds that allow these institutions to better serve their students in the STEM fields. As I am sure you are aware, a STEM education is crucial to the growth and continued development of our economy. Hampton University and other institutions have benefited greatly from the availability and usage of these funds.

A report released by the White House National Science and Technology Council stated that the ``national benefits of a strong STEM foundation cannot be fully realized until all members of society have equitable access to STEM education and [until] there is much broader participation by those historically underserved and underrepresented in STEM fields . . .'' The report goes on to highlight the importance of diversity in the workplace leading to more engaged, innovative, and higher-performing organizations. Hampton serves all students, some of whom are low-income, first generation post-secondary students of color; an underserved population. One benefit of funding through Title III, Part F is that it dlrectly helps achieve the goal of diversifying our workforce and ensuring more underrepresented students are entering STEM fields.

The mandatory funds included in Title III, Part F, were originally established by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act for the years of 2008-2009, retained in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, and then extended until 2019 in the Health Care Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010. All three pieces of legislation were passed in the House and Senate on a bipartisan basis showing support for this crucial stream of funding.

However, this stream of funding is scheduled to expire September 30, 2019. Therefore, it is imperative that this bill passes both Chambers and becomes law before the expiration date. Again, I ask that you cosponsor S. 1279 and help institutions of higher education, HBCUs in particular, continue to provide the much needed services to the students on our campuses. With all good wishes, William R. Harvey, President. ____ Norfolk State University, September 5, 2019. Hon. Mark Warner, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

Dear Senator Warner: On behalf of Norfolk State University, I ask your support in cosponsoring S. 1279, the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act sponsored by Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). This bipartisan, bicameral bill would extend important mandatory funding for education in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act of 1965 until September 30, 2021.

The mandatory funding included in Title III, Part F, was established in 2008 by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. The funding was later extended through authorizations in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, and the Health Care Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010. All three pieces of legislation passed in the House and Senate on a bipartisan basis with strong congressional support. Current funding will expire on September 30, 2019.

Title III, Part F, benefits Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) by providing mandatory funds that allow these institutions to support their students in the STEM fields. Whether it be innovations in cybersecurity, or emerging research in deep space exploration, Norfolk State University has a longstanding history of preparing students to excel in the STEM fields. Title III, Part F is a critical resource that has played an important role in NSU's success.

Continued funding for Title III, Part F is crucial to the growth and continued development of our economy and this University. Your cosponsorship and vote of support for S. 1279 is very much needed, and will represent a sound investment in America's future. Sincerely, Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D., President. ____ Virginia Union University, August 6, 2019. Hon. Mark Warner, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

Dear Senator Warner: I write to you today to ask you to cosponsor S. 1279, the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act sponsored by Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). This bipartisan, bicameral bill was written to extend important mandatory funding for education in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act of 1965 until September 30, 2021.

Title III, Part F, benefits Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) by providing mandatory funds that allow these institutions to better serve their students in the STEM fields. STEM education is crucial to the growth and continued development of our economy, and my institution has benefited greatly from the availability and usage of these funds.

A report released by the White House's National Science and Technology Council said that the ``national benefits of a strong STEM foundation cannot be fully realized until all members of society have equitable access to STEM education and [until] there is much broader participation by those historically underserved and underrepresented in STEM fields . . .'' The report goes on to highlight the importance of diversity in the workplace leading to more engaged, innovative, and higher-performing organizations. Like my institution, HBCUs and MSIs serve all students, but primarily serve students who are low-income, first generation, and students of color, which would directly help achieve the goal of diversifying our workforce and ensuring more underrepresented students are entering the STEM fields.

The mandatory funds included in Title III, Part F were originally established by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act for the years of 2008-2009, retained in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, and then extended until 2019 in the Health Care Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010. All three pieces of legislation were passed in the House and Senate on a bipartisan basis showing support for this crucial stream of funding.

This stream of funding is scheduled to expire September 30, 2019, so it is imperative that this bill passes both Chambers and become law before the expiration date. Again, I ask that you co-sponsor S. 1279 and help me continue to provide the much-needed services to the students on my campus. Sincerely, Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D., President & CEO.

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Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, recently our colleagues in the House passed this important legislation on a bipartisan basis. Now it is time for the Senate to do the same. Let's pass the FUTURE Act without further delay and then work together on a comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

As Dr. Harry Williams, president of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, said, America's HBCUs ``simply do not have the time to wait for Congress to work out a deal.'' So let's put our broader policy differences aside for now and honor the commitments we made to HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions before Congress's inaction harms students in Virginia and around the country.

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