To increase funding for research, development, test, and evaluation for historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions of higher education.

SA 1050. Mr. SCOTT (for himself and Mr. Brown) submitted an amendment
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1003 proposed by Mr. McCain
(for himself and Mr. Reed) to the bill H.R. 2810, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle C of title II of division A, add the
following:

SEC. ___. IMPORTANCE OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES AND MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs)
and minority-serving institutions play a vital role in
educating low-income and underrepresented students in areas
of national need;
(2) HBCUs and minority-serving institutions presently are
collaborating with the Department of Defense in research and
development efforts that contribute to the defense readiness
and national security of the Nation;
(3) by their research these institutions are helping to
develop the next generation of scientists and engineers who
will help lead the Department of Defense in addressing high-
priority national security challenges; and
(4) it is important to further engage HBCUs and minority-
serving institutions in university research and innovation,
especially in prioritizing software development and cyber
security by utilizing existing Department of Defense labs,
and collaborating with existing programs that help attract
candidates, including programs like the Air Force Minority
Leaders Programs, which recruit Americans from diverse
background to serve their country through service in our
Nation's military.
(b) Increase.--Funds authorized to be appropriated in
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-wide, PE
61228D8Z, section 4201, for Basic Research, Historically
Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions, Line
006, are hereby increased by $12,000,000.
(c) Offset.--Funding in section 4101 for Other Procurement,
Army, for Automated Data Processing Equipment, Line 108, is
hereby reduced by $12,000,000.
______