WASHINGTON, DC (April 30, 2019) – The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) thanks House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and House Appropriations Labor-HHS Subcommittee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) for proposing this historic investment in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and higher education as a whole in the House version of the Labor-HHS FY20 appropriations bill.

The bill would increase direct funding to HBCUs by $93 million to $375 million. The bill also intentionally invests in low-income students by increasing the maximum Pell Award by $150 per student, providing a $304 million increase in the Federal Work Study program, and increasing overall investment in the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant by $188 million.

The proposal also notably includes an additional $10 million to be invested in the HBCU Capital Financing Program with the specific purpose of allowing public HBCUs to participate in the loan modification option that was previously only available to private institutions. TMCF has worked with Congress over the past year to allow public HBCUs to participate in this aspect of the program. TMCF represents the 47 publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

With the understanding that this is only the first step in the appropriations process, we encourage the House to pass this version of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill and for Senate to consider similar investments in HBCUs and its students in their version of the bill. TMCF will continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to the benefit of our 47 member-schools to help achieve our collective legislative goals.

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ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND (TMCF)
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.

TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: tmcf.org.