Recognizing the creation of the NASCAR-Historically Black Colleges and Universities Consortium.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, Mr. Davis, for yielding the time.

I am honored to be an original cosponsor with my friend, Congressman Rogers from Alabama, of this legislation. Some people probably are wondering why this kind of interesting coalition has come together.

Well, for me, it is about having the Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina, not inside my congressional district, it is actually in an adjoining congressional district represented by one of my other North Carolina colleagues. But we know the value of NASCAR and motor sports in North Carolina and in the area from which I come.

The second thing that converges here is the recognition that I have five Historically Black Colleges and Universities in my district, and two of them have already become a part of this partnership and will benefit from NASCAR's diversity initiative: North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Representative Davis has indicated the history of NASCAR when it comes to drivers, and that is important, but I want to emphasize that this is not only about having drivers in the cars. NASCAR is a massive conglomerate of entities, and a lot of people view NASCAR or motor sports as just the guys that are out there running around the track or the guys in the pits. There are marketing opportunities, there are accounting opportunities; this is a major corporate undertaking here. There are engineering opportunities.

I was so very impressed when I went to one of the shops there to know that this is not just somebody putting a car out there, it is massaging the tolerances and doing what is necessary to get those cars, engineering-wise, to perform at their maximum performance level. So we think this has tremendous potential for job opportunities for an increase of diversity.

Now, is this unique? It may be somewhat unique for NASCAR, but it is certainly not unique for the Congressional Black Caucus. The Congressional Black Caucus, which I am honored to chair, has been in the forefront of pushing job opportunities in every area of our lives: in the sports arena, in the business arena, in the financial services arena, you just name it, go down the list. So, for us, this is not a unique program, it is a natural progression and an expansion of what we set out to do.

And then, finally, I would just say that, as most things, this is at its bottom line about money.

If we can take the fan base of NASCAR and superimpose on it all of the African American potential that is out there, so that there is an equal amount of customer and fan base in the African American community as there is in other communities, you will see the same thing happen in NASCAR that you saw happen when Tiger Woods became the superstar that he is in golf.

You will see the same thing happen in NASCAR that has happened in football and basketball and baseball and other sports. They have recognized that there is a customer base out there that, if they take advantage of it, can be cultivated if people who look like the customers are involved in it.

So we dare not delude ourselves that this is all about just goodwill. This is about money at its base. And it is about the American way, the capital way of doing things.

We support that. We are not adverse to it. We are not opposing it. We are

supporters of that. We think this is a way to do it.

I want to congratulate my good friend, Mr. Rogers. And when we introduced this resolution, a stream of my colleagues came immediately to support the resolution.

I thank Speaker Hastert for joining us at the press conference where this was rolled out. And I thank the leadership on both sides of the aisle for expediting this resolution to the floor of the House.

It does not cost us any money. All we are doing is congratulating, encouraging private enterprise to be more diverse in their customer base, in their employment base, in their opportunities that are extended to all Americans. That is what this is all about. It deserves our unqualified support, and I encourage my colleagues to support it without even thinking about it a second time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 677) recognizing the creation of the NASCAR- Historically Black Colleges and Universities Consortium.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 677.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 677, a measure to recognize the creation of the NASCAR-Historically Black Colleges and Universities Consortium. I thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) for offering this legislation and for his support of this important partnership.

It is fitting that we are considering this resolution on the final day of Black History Month, 4 weeks during which our Nation has celebrated the countless contributions of African Americans to our Nation's history.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, have played an important role in enriching the lives of not just African Americans, but our entire country. In fact, President Bush once noted, ``Our Historically Black Colleges and Universities opened the door to knowledge when other doors were barred. And today they offer exciting opportunities to young people to contribute to their country.''

While compromising only 3 percent of our Nation's 2- and 4-year institutions, HBCUs are responsible for producing 28 percent of all bachelor's degrees, 15 percent of all master's degrees, and 17 percent of all first professional degrees earned by African Americans. And through its new partnership with the popular sport of NASCAR, the impact of HBCUs is sure to grow.

The new NASCAR-HBCU Consortium will promote diversity throughout NASCAR, including its marketing, service, and engineering departments. This is particularly meaningful as our Nation seeks to increase the number of students studying math and science in college. According to the Department of Education's most recent figures, only about 9 percent of students receiving a bachelor's degree in math or science are African Americans, so the creation of this consortium could not have come at a better time.

The United States must produce more students interested in math and science in order for our Nation to excel in an increasingly global economy. HBCUs are sure to be at the forefront of this effort.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud NASCAR for recognizing the contributions HBCUs have made to American education and culture and, more importantly, the contributions they will make in the future. I am proud that the House has taken the lead in promoting the efforts of this consortium, which will ensure new and exciting career opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students attending HBCUs. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the author of this important resolution, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers).

Mr. Speaker, I do not have any more speakers, and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for his leadership in managing this legislation as it comes to the floor, and let me give my appreciation to Mr. Rogers and Mr. Watt for really pinpointing an area that has such vast popularity and recognition and finding in it an opportunity for education and jobs.

This partnership between NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, as well as the HBCUs, is close to a partnership longing to be established.

This relationship that deals with a sport that has come to be one of the most popular in the United States of America, one that probably has the greatest Sunday afternoon or Saturday afternoon audience of any of our sports, and maybe our sports combined, now can stand as a symbol of opportunity and civil rights.

It is a symbol now of a combination of the needs of the NASCAR sports industry, and Historically Black Colleges. How important it is that we discuss and debate this on the last day of commemorating African American History Month.

Let me point out what is most exciting about this effort. One, HBCUs are known to be one of the greatest resources for talented African American students and others. In addition, Historically Black Colleges are found mostly in the South, where it is known that the NASCAR effort is most popular, but also the heart of that effort.

Of course, it combines education, skills and job opportunity. So this partnership is all that we would ask it to be. We now look to the Department of Education to really engage itself in whatever efforts are necessary to promote, encourage and facilitate this partnership. Let us provide the necessary resources, governmental if at all, necessary to ensure that the partnership continues.

Finally, let me say, let me encourage the young people who might be listening to this debate that the opportunity now stands for you to put your internship, full-time jobs, including entry-level management positions, part-time jobs and postgraduate job placement for students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees at partner HBCUs.

The skills would be, of course, the technical aspects of this business, and that is relating to the automotive business activities, including automotive engineering and technology, automotive safety, sports marketing and other automotive industry areas.

Mr. Speaker, as I conclude, I want to congratulate my colleagues and also say that this is, of course, planting the seeds. I have been discussing with my universities in Texas the idea of looking at sports management to cover the NFL, the NBA, and American baseball. These are important economic engines, and it is certainly a very important step that this resolution, H. Res. 677, is going forward, partnering HBCUs with NASCAR.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 677, which recognizes the creation of the recently formed partnership between NASCAR and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This partnership is aimed at increasing the number and quality of job opportunities for African American students in the NASCAR workforce, as well as other related fields, including automotive engineering and technology, automotive safety, sports marketing and other automotive industry areas.

This year, 2006, marks NASCAR's 57th year of racing. Sadly, during its 57 years, NASCAR has had just five black drivers to ever compete in a Cup Series race.

In 1963, Wendell Scott finished 10th or better in the points standings three times, and came away with the victory. However, Scott did not receive his trophy until a month after the fact.

Second place finisher Buck Baker, who was white, was awarded the trophy in fear of fan uproar. Today, nearly 45 years later, the number of black NASCAR fans have increased, but minority drivers and automotive technicians are still nearly nonexistent.

According to an ESPN poll, approximately 6.6 million NASCAR fans are black, yet no black driver has competed at the Cup Series level since Willie T. Ribbs ran three races 20 years ago.

The on-track program is not NASCAR's only effort at diversifying the predominately white sport. NASCAR offers awards, diversity scholarships to minority undergraduate and graduate students attending HBCUs.

The scholarship program is in its sixth year, and the NASCAR diversity internship program is in its seventh year. The internship program is a 10-week paid summer internship that introduces minority students to NASCAR and various career opportunities throughout the industry.

Many of the summer interns have graduated and are currently pursuing engineering and sports management careers. As the automotive industry grows and becomes more technologically demanding in the coming decades, this partnership between NASCAR and Historically Black Colleges and Universities will become increasingly vital.

Mr. Speaker, I support the resolution and urge my colleagues to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she might consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure now to yield such time as he may consume to the cosponsor of this resolution and the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Representative Mel Watt.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 677, a resolution recognizing the importance of the NASCAR-HBCU Consortium. On February 8, 2006, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, NASCAR, announced a new collaboration with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the Universal Technical Institute.

The effort, known as the NASCAR-HBCU Consortium, focuses on increasing the number of job opportunities for African American students in racing, technology, automotive safety and sports marketing. I am especially pleased that over 40 Members of Congress have joined my colleague, Representative Watt, and me in introducing this resolution.

Being from Alabama, I have firsthand knowledge of many of the partners in this consortium. As a race fan, I have spent many days at the Talladega Super Speedway, a facility that I am proud to represent here in Congress. In addition, I have the honor of representing three of the leading HBCUs in the Nation: Talladega College, Alabama State University, and Tuskegee University. Their excellence and commitment to education are known across our Nation.

In Alabama, we have been blessed by a thriving and growing automotive industry. Both Honda and Hyundai have built large plants in my congressional district, and they employ thousands of Alabamians with good jobs at good wages.

Mr. Speaker, it is critical that all our young folks have the skills to compete for these jobs. This new partnership should help more of tomorrow's workers take advantage of these new opportunities.

I also call on the United States Departments of Education and Labor to support this consortium as well. And finally I would like to thank Speaker Hastert for his participation at the announcement of this consortium.

Also I wish to thank Majority Leader Boehner and Chairman McKeon for expediting this resolution for consideration. With that, I respectfully ask the House for its support of this resolution.