U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Tim Scott (R-SC) on Tuesday introduced a resolution to officially recognize the week of September 6, 2021 as “National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.” The resolution would honor HBCUs by recognizing their contributions across the nation.

With 15 historically black academic institutions, Alabama is home to more HBCUs than any state in the nation.

“There are over 100 HBCUs across the nation, but no state is home to more than the great state of Alabama,” said Tuberville. “Each one of the 13 HBCUs in Alabama plays a key role in providing a high-quality education and empowering young men and women with the resources for success. Whether it be a two-year college or four-year university, the important contributions of HBCUs are engrained in our great state, and I am proud to honor the work they do and values they instill.”

Along with Tuberville, Scott wishes to recognize the positive impact HBCUs have had in students’ lives as well as the nation as a whole.

“America’s HBCUs are an integral part of our nation’s higher education system and provide pipelines to opportunity for millions of students, many of whom come from underserved communities,” said Scott. “HBCUs have been engines of innovation in states like South Carolina, and their impact is felt across the nation. I am proud to recognize their importance and will continue to build on the good work we’ve done on Capitol Hill to support the HBCU community.”

According to a study conducted by the UNCF, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial support to minority college students, Alabama’s HBCUs produce a total of $1.5 billion in economic impact. Additionally, the study shows the Yellowhammer State’s HBCUs have played a role in creating over 15,000 jobs and $12.5 billion in total lifetime earnings.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL