WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today released the following statement applauding the signing of breakthrough Maryland legislation to provide $577 million in additional funding for Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore – following a 15 year-long lawsuit.

“This landmark legislation to settle the long-standing lawsuit by boosting funding for Maryland’s four HBCUs is long overdue. The additional funding will allow Maryland’s HBCUs to provide greater levels of financial assistance for students, create new niche academic programs exclusively at their institutions, enhance existing programs at the universities and place these programs online to expand the reach of the schools.

“I am proud of the students and alumni that first brought this case forward in 2006 and for the coalition of support amongst community and General Assembly leadership to reach a settlement and finally remove this ugly stain in Maryland higher education. Their sustained work to push to this settlement will ensure that future generations of students at Maryland HBCUs will have every opportunity to succeed.”