The House-passed budget contained only $4 million for restoration efforts, but proponents of the plan are still hoping to get the full $10 million on the Senate side, according to Alexander's press secretary Ellis Brockman.

Rep. Clyburn noted that a 1998 report by the General Accounting Office (GAO) identified 713 historical buildings and sites on 103 historically Black campuses, including the five buildings at Grambling.

The GAO report estimated the cost of restoring all 713 sites at about $755 million, and estimated the cost of renovating the five Grambling buildings at about $5.77 million.

Grambling spokeswoman Vickie Jackson identified the five historical buildings at Grambling as the women's gym; Long-Jones Hall, which is used for administration offices; Jewitt Hall, a dormitory for female honor students; the old president's home, known as the Founder's Home; and Lee Hall, currently used for financial-aid offices.

In addition to refurbishing the historic buildings, Clyburn said he would like to see HBCUs get more involved in federal research programs.

Clyburn noted that a recent grant to study African Americans was awarded to a California school, but should have gone to an historically Black school like Grambling.

Federal Pell Grants were also discussed during the Grambling town meeting.

While the Black Caucus is trying to raise the maximum paid for federal Pell Grants from $4,050 to $5,100 per student, some conservatives are trying to cut Pell Grant funding, Alexander said.

"To say that we're going to chop $1,000 off Pell Grants, that's a lot of money," Alexander said. "A $4,000 Pell Grant today won't do a whole lot with tuition as high as it is and the cost of living."

Alexander said Pell Grants need to be expanded to ensure that needy students have access to higher education.