The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities

USNS John Lewis

General Dynamics NASSCO launched the future USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), the first of six vessels in the John Lewis-class fleet oiler program designed to support the U.S. Navy. The 742- foot long vessel is designed to transfer fuel to U.S. Navy carrier strike group ships operating at sea, the oilers will feature the capacity to carry 157,000 barrels of oil, a significant dry cargo capacity, aviation capability and up to a speed of 20 knots. Photo courtesy General Dynamics NASSCO.

John Lewis

The Navy will christen its first-in-class John Lewis replenishment oiler, the future USNS John Lewis the ceremony was held on July 17, in San Diego, California. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, will deliver the ceremonial principal address. Remarks will also be provided by Mr. James Geurts, performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Navy; Vice Adm. Ross Myers, commander, Fleet Cyber Command and commander, U.S. Tenth Fleet; Rear Adm. Michael Wettlaufer, commander, Military Sealift Command; and Mr. Marcus Tyner, nephew of the ship’s namesake. In a time-honored Navy tradition, the ship’s sponsor, Ms. Alfre Woodard Spencer, will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, will deliver the ceremonial principal address. Remarks will also be provided by Mr. James Geurts, performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Navy; Vice Adm. Ross Myers, commander, Fleet Cyber Command and commander, U.S. Tenth Fleet; Rear Adm. Michael Wettlaufer, commander, Military Sealift Command; and Mr. Marcus Tyner, nephew of the ship’s namesake. In a time-honored Navy tradition, the ship’s sponsor, Ms. Alfre Woodard Spencer, will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.

General Dynamics NASSCO launched the future USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), the first of six vessels in the John Lewis-class fleet oiler program designed to support the U.S. Navy.

“Tomorrow we christen the first John Lewis-class replenishment oiler,” said acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker on July 16, 2021. “Leaders like Representative Lewis taught us that diversity of backgrounds and experiences help contribute to the strength of our nation. There is no doubt that the future Sailors aboard this ship will be galvanized by Lewis’ legacy.”

The future USNS John Lewis is the first ship in its class and will be operated by the Navy’s Military Sealift Command. The ship is named in honor of the late politician and civil rights leader. John Lewis-class oilers will be named for other prominent civil rights leaders and activists.

The John Lewis-class ships are based on commercial design standards and will recapitalize the current T-AO 187-class fleet replenishment oilers to provide underway replenishment of fuel to U.S. Navy ships at sea. These ships are part of the Navy's Combat Logistics Force.

In June 2016, the Navy awarded a $3.2 billion contract to General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego for the design and construction of the first six ships of the Future Fleet Replenishment Ship, the John Lewis-class (T-AO 205), with construction commencing in September 2018. The Navy plans to procure 20 ships of the new class.

Lewis passed July 17, 2020; the christening marks the one-year anniversary of his death.

The WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, - September 23, 2017 The Circle City Classic Parade is an annual event prior to the Circle City Classic football game featuring two black universities (HBCUs).

WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES

& UNIVERSITIES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION On August 8, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed Executive Order 12232, which directed the Secretary of Education to “implement a Federal initiative designed to achieve a significant increase in the participation by Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Federally sponsored programs.” The order specified that “… initiative shall seek to identify, reduce, and eliminate barriers which may have unfairly resulted in reduced participation in, and reduced benefits from, Federally sponsored programs.” g

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African American academic students at Roger Williams University in Nashville, Tennessee, ca. 1899. Ca. 1899.

On September 15, 1981, President Reagan, under Executive Order 12320, reestablished the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which expanded the previous program and set into motion a government wide effort to strengthen our nation’s HBCUs.

On April 28, 1989, President George H.W. Bush signed Executive Order 12677, reestablished the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, directing among other things, “The Director of the Office of Personnel Management, in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor, shall develop a program to improve recruitment and participation of graduates and undergraduate students of historically Black colleges and universities in part-time and summer positions in the Federal Government.”

On November 1, 1993, President William Jefferson Clinton signed Executive Order 12876. This executive order reestablished the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, required a senior level executive in each agency have oversight in implementing the order, and that the Office of Management and Budget be involved in monitoring implementation of the order.

On February 12, 2002, President George W. Bush signed Executive Order 13256. This executive order reestablished

the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and transferred the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities to the Office of the Secretary within the U.S. Department of Education. Previously, the White House Initiative was housed in the Department’s Office of Postsecondary Education.

On February 10, 2010, President Barack H. Obama signed Executive Order 13532. This executive order renewed

the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and demonstrated the President’s strong appreciation for the historic role these institutions have played in educating our citizens and the Administration’s commitment to assisting HBCUs with accomplishing their mission. This order maintained the Initiative be housed

within the U.S. Department of Education.

On February 27, 2017, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13779. This executive order reestablished

the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and be housed in the Executive Office of

the President and led by an Executive Director designated by the President.

PRESIDENT’S BOARD OF ADVISORS (PBA) ON HBCUS

The Board issues an Annual Federal Plan for Assistance to

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to the President on participation by HBCUs in federally-sponsored programs; provides advice to the Secretary of Education and makes recommendations in reports to the President

on how to increase the private sector role in strengthening HBCUs, with particular emphasis on enhancing institutional infrastructure and facilitating planning, development, and the use of new technologies to ensure the goal of long-term viability and enhancement of these institutions. Members are appointed by the President and include representatives of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, other institutions of higher education, business and financial institutions, private foundations, and secondary education.

STUDIES ON HBCUs

HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities: This landmark study changes the narrative about HBCUs and details how much HBCUs support and make a difference in local, state and national job creation and economic development. The UNCF report also includes HBCU-and state-specific data.

Department Releases Economic Impact Study: The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) defined the economic impact of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 1976 to 2001: In September 2004, NCES released the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 1976 to 2001, a report that presents a quarter-century of Historically Black Colleges and Universities trends.

PRESIDENT TRUMP APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS

Johnny C. Taylor (Chairman), President and CEO, Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

September 21, 2018 President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities:

Aminta H. Breaux of Maryland James E. Clark of Florida

Phyllis Dawkins of North Carolina Rodney A. Ellis of Louisiana Marshall C. Grigsby of Maryland Billy Hawkins of Alabama Jerry M. Hunter of Missouri Nickolas Justice of North Carolina

Ronald A. Johnson of Georgia Harold L. Martin Sr. of North Carolina

Bernard J. Milano of New Jersey Connie Rath of Nebraska

Kevin Wilson Williams of Tennessee

June 19, 2020-President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individual to be a Member of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities:

Leonard L. Haynes III, of Louisiana.

REPORTS & STUDIES

Federal HBCU Competitiveness Strategy

White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Initiative) is excited to unveil the first Federal HBCU Competitiveness Strategy.

To successfully implement Executive Order 13779, The White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation

at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the White House Domestic Policy Council, the Initiative and federal agency partners convened to explore how the federal sector can best expand the overall impact of HBCUs on the principal missions of agencies. This resulted in the first Federal HBCU Competitiveness Strategy (Strategy) to build the internal federal scaffolding required to safeguard HBCU success for years to come and to continuously strengthen their role in delivering on agency goals and objectives.

This Strategy fortifies the Initiative’s resolve to evolve the federal government from a collection of disparate efforts serving HBCUs to a cohesive and comprehensive government-wide plan that will improve conditions for HBCUs to compete for federal investments. Moreover, beyond guiding federal focus, actions, and investments, this Strategy serves as a valuable “North Star” for nonfederal, state, local, and private sector engagement on the national goal to support HBCU competitiveness.

Importantly, this Strategy establishes the foundation, i.e., the floor, not the ceiling, of federal HBCU leadership.

It is our honor to present this Strategy to HBCUs and to federal and nonfederal public and private partners.

STATEMENTS OF FEDERAL AGENCY PRIORITIES

In accordance with Presidential Executive Order 13779, federal agencies are required to prepare annual plans describing efforts to strengthen the capacity and competitiveness of Historically Black Colleges and g