A bill 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.

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand the authorized uses of grant funds for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), specifically targeting their arts, arts education, and cultural programs. It introduces several new categories for funding, including providing financial and other assistance to students in these fields, establishing outreach programs and development offices , and offering comprehensive wraparound services like mentorship and career advising. These provisions aim to strengthen HBCU arts departments, which have historically faced underfunding and resource limitations. Furthermore, the bill allows grant funds to be used for exhibiting, maintaining, monitoring, and protecting Black art collections , recognizing HBCUs' crucial role in preserving Black artistic heritage. It also supports providing well-paid apprenticeship, internship, and fellowship opportunities for students through partnerships with nonprofit arts and cultural institutes. Significantly, the legislation enables HBCUs to collaborate with the National Endowment for the Arts to carry out these newly authorized activities, fostering greater support and resources for these vital programs.