HBCUs Get Millions Of Dollars Thanks To Bipartisan Law: Hogan

BOWIE, MD — Maryland's historically Black colleges and universities got a major funding boost Tuesday. Gov. Larry Hogan signed a bipartisan law to ensure the schools get a collective $577 million from the state annually from 2023 through 2032.

"We are sending a very clear message that we can work together in a bipartisan way to deliver real results," Hogan said in a speech. "We are ensuring that any student in Maryland who wishes to pursue a degree will have access to world-class programs and the highest quality institutions for many years to come."

The governor explained he has given more than $2.2 billion in state funding to HBCUs over his last seven budgets. He claimed this was the highest total of any Maryland governor ever.

Hogan also noted that his team has helped fund more than a billion dollars in projects at Maryland's four HBCUs: Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. One of those builds included the new Communication, Arts, and Humanities facility at Bowie State University, which hosted the bill signing ceremony.

"With our economic recovery and our much-improved fiscal situation, I am very pleased that we are now able to take this historic action," Hogan added. "I want to sincerely thank the presiding officers and legislators on both sides of the aisle for working together to make this possible."

These officials also attended the event:

• Lieutenant Governor Boyd K. Rutherford
• Senate President Bill Ferguson
• House Speaker Adrienne Jones
• Bowie State University President Aminta Hawkins Breaux
• Coppin State University President Anthony L. Jenkins
• Morgan State University President David Kwabena Wilson
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore President Heidi M. Anderson

"In addition to academic programs, the added funds will have an immediate benefit of increasing scholarships to make it possible for more students to come to BSU," Breaux said in a statement. "Too many students still struggle to have the financial resources to stay in school."

Click here to watch the remarks. The full legislation is available at this link.

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