Congressman Forbes’ Technology Legislation for Minority
Serving Institutions Includes Funding to Benefit NSU RISE Project
Norfolk, Va. – Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) met with Marie V. McDemmond, president of Norfolk State University yesterday to discuss strategies for rallying support for legislation that establishes a new grant program within the National Science Foundation. If approved, the grant will provide up to $250 million a year for the next five years to help minority serving institutions address the technology access gap that exists at these institutions across the country. H.R. 2183 – The Digital and Wireless Network Technology Program Act of 2003 was introduced by Congressman Forbes last week in the House of Representatives as a companion bill to legislation sponsored by Senator George Allen (S. 196). The Allen bill passed in the Senate 97-0 on April 30.
“Full access to technology has become a standard, not a bonus, in how we communicate and do our jobs every day,” said Forbes. “Many minority-serving institutions lack even the standard information and digital technology infrastructure, placing students at a disadvantage to compete and qualify for America’s best paying jobs.”
Earlier this year and at the request of Allen, McDemmond testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on behalf of this critical legislation. Funding made available through the Act also would assist NSU in its efforts to provide digital access to the Enterprise/Empowerment Zone, Hub Zone, and Hope VI Community surrounding Norfolk State University. With the combined resources provided through this federal grant, as well as funding approved at the state and local levels of government and through public/private partnerships, NSU will be able to leverage in excess of $100 million for its new Research and Innovations to Support Empowerment (RISE) Center and Corporate Park.
The RISE Center will provide research, education and training for the workforce of the future in science and technology and will link public and private businesses with an international high speed fiber network to position NSU and the Hampton Roads area as the primary communications technology hub for the entire southeastern United States. RISE will also facilitate providing broadband access to a cooperative of minority-serving institutions in the southern states.
“As the president of a public institution of higher learning and a historically black university,” said
McDemmond, “I want to ensure that the students we serve are achieving with excellence and that each one has the opportunity to be as competitively qualified as any other college educated student in Virginia and the nation…regardless of their heritage or socio-economic status. The bills sponsored by Senator Allen and Congressman Forbes provide funding to achieve this goal.”
“The digital divide affects 105 historically black colleges and universities across the country, five of which are located in Virginia,” said Forbes. “This legislation will strengthen these institutions so they can provide their students the access necessary to compete in our technologically-dependent world.”
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