The United Negro College Fund Supports President Biden's Budget

The UNCF (United Negro College Fund) today expressed strong support for President Biden’s budget legislation, which prioritized urgent needs for our country—with an emphasis on historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Today, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is defending the president’s budget before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. The budget funds federal programs, agencies and departments.

“The Biden-Harris administration budget for Fiscal Year 2025 is a strong document in all areas including education,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF.  “The administration has heard our recommendations, moved on them, and if Congress follows suit, then our nation’s students and HBCUs will be stronger.”

“For three of the last four years, President Biden has made increasing support of HBCUs a number one priority, especially The Title III Strengthening HBCUs Program at the Department of Education,” said Lodriguez V. Murray, senior vice president for public policy and government affairs, UNCF. “These funding increasing along with the inclusion of HBCUs explicitly, again, in this year’s State of the Union Address represent the administration’s ongoing commitment to support HBCUs and help them achieve the progress necessary for them to continue to grow stronger, as UNCF’s upcoming economic impact report will reveal later this year.”

Programs slated for funding increases include:

Department             Program                            Pres. Budget           Difference +/- FY24

Education                Strengthening HBCUs        $431.6MM               +$30MM

Education                Strengthening HBGIs         $108.5MM               +$7.214MM

Education                Title V HBCU Masters        $21.3MM                $1.07MM

Education                Minority Sc. Eng. Program $16.4MM                +$30,000

Education                HBCU Cap. Fin. Program   $20.7MM                level funding

Education                Pell Grant (maximum)        $9,898                    +$3,000

Education                SEOG                               $910MM                 level funding

Education                Federal Work Study           $1.23B                    +$30MM

Education                TRiO                                 $1.211B                  +$20MM

Education                GEAR UP                          $398MM                 +$10MM

Education                Howard University              $297MM                 -$7.018MM

HHS / NIH               Nat’l Inst. on Min Health     $527MM                 -$7.395MM

Defense                  HBCU MI Program             $100MM                 -$1.467MM

Rep. Donald Payne, Jr.’s Statement on Recent Cardiac episode

Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. issued the following statement today regarding a recent health concern that will keep him out of Congress this week.

“Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. suffered a cardiac episode based on complications from his diabetes during the weekend. He was admitted to a local hospital for treatment. Currently, he is recovering in the hospital as doctors conduct routine exams to monitor and observe his improvement. The Congressman’s prognosis is good and he is expected to make a full recovery.”

“The Fight For Black Lives” Documentary Film Highlights The Need For Black Maternal Health Week, April 11-17

The Fight For Black Lives documentary, directed and produced by University of Chicago Professor Micere Keels, explores how racial stress and systemic racism in healthcare disadvantages the health of Black Americans, by focusing on disproportionate maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. It will screen during Black Maternal Health Week, on April 14th, at the Blue Whiskey International Film Festival, in Elk Grove Village, IL.

WATCH THE TRAILER

The Fight For Black Lives combines personal stories of Black women who were pregnant during the first year of the pandemic and Black Lives Matter uprisings, with archival footage and expert insights to place a spotlight on the systemic injustices baked into America’s healthcare system. It also challenges viewers to confront the historical reluctance of the government to provide adequate healthcare for formerly enslaved people, perpetuating present-day racial health disparities.

“Through this film, I invite audiences to confront the systemic issues that persistently disadvantage Black Americans' health, urging us all to be catalysts for change," adds Dr. Keels.

The film is a timely reminder of the need for Black Maternal Health Week (MBHW), which is held annually on April 11-17. BMHW is a week-long campaign founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance​ to build awareness, activism, and community-building​ to amplify ​the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people.

The Fight for Black Lives documentary places Black maternal mortality in historical and international context. Even before the pandemic the Black maternal mortality rate in the U.S. was (55 per 100,000 births), which is higher than in developing nations like Tunisia (37 per 100,000) and Jordan (41 per 100,000). As stated by Dr. Monica McLemore, an expert highlighted in the film: “Pregnancy is not a disease, so if you're having high maternal mortality, there’s either something wrong with your country, your healthcare system, or both.”

The documentary shows that there is nothing new about the disproportionate rate of Black mortality that was associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic only worsened the maternal mortality crisis and in 2021, the Black maternal mortality rate climbed to 70 deaths per 100,000 births.

"I embarked on the journey of creating 'The Fight For Black Lives' with a commitment to uncovering the deep-rooted injustices within our healthcare system and their impact on Black lives. This documentary serves as a powerful narrative of the urgent need for health justice in America,” explains Dr. Keels.

Change agents and health experts featured in the film include Professors Monica McLemore of the University of Washington, Laurie Nsiah Jefferson of the University of Massachusetts Boston, Cynthia Boyd of Rush University, Dr. Chelsea Dorsey of the University of Chicago, and others.

Both produced and directed by Dr. Keels, The Fight For Black Lives marks her first foray into using popular narrative forms to influence public understanding of persistent inequities. Other film credits include Sharonda Harris Marshall who served as the editor, associate editors Danielle Thompson and Jazz Echevarría, co-producer Cindy Martin, Ian Crowder and Curtis Boone who served as the first and second director of photography, respectively, and animator Liam Weir.

Check out THE LEAGUE: A documentary about The Negro Leagues

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI), executive produced by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson (Oscar-winning SUMMER OF SOUL), Tariq Trotter (DESCENDANT), and produced by RadicalMedia, THE LEAGUE celebrates the dynamic journey of Negro League baseball's triumphs and challenges through the first half of the twentieth century.

The story is told through previously unearthed archival footage and never-before-seen interviews with legendary players like Satchel Paige and Buck O’Neil – whose early careers paved the way for the Jackie Robinson era – as well as celebrated Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Hank Aaron who started out in the Negro Leagues.

From entrepreneurial titans Cumberland Posey and Gus Greenlee, whose intense rivalry fueled the rise of two of the best baseball teams ever to play the game, to Effa Manley, the activist owner of the Newark Eagles and the only woman ever admitted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, THE LEAGUE explores Black baseball as an economic and social pillar of Black communities and a stage for some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game, while also examining the unintended consequences of integration.

THE LEAGUE is directed by Sam Pollard with Executive Producers Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson Tariq Trotter, and was produced by RadicalMedia.

Watch the trailer for THE LEAGUE and then check out the link below to find the documentary on your favorite streaming platform.

Use this link to find THE LEAGUE on your favorite streaming platform: https://www.magpictures.com/theleague/watch-at-home/