Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) applauds the recent passage of Rep. Anthony Brown’s (D-MD), DoD HBCU/MI amendment to the FY18 DoD Appropriations bill. This is a promising sign that this Congress will continue its multi-year effort to increase federal DoD investment in HBCUs. Since 2015, we’ve seen Congress improve upon the President’s initial budget request for DoD HBCU-MI funding. If this amendment passes, the program would be authorized at $40M in FY18, solidifying the House’s commitment to this important DoD/HBCU partnership.
TMCF member-schools, with 80% of the nation’s HBCU students, have benefited from a myriad of programming through this specific funding line. TMCF will continue to focus its advocacy efforts on having these funds allocated for internships, faculty development, and institutional capacity-building. We will continue to work with the House and Senate to ensure that at the end of this budget process, the bill ultimately signed by President Trump, includes this increased level of funding.
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., President & CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund
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About Thurgood Marshall College Fund
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), established in 1987 is named for the U.S. Supreme Court’s first African-American Justice. TMCF represents all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and its member-schools include the 47 publicly-supported HBCUs. With TMCF member-schools educating 80% of all students attending HBCUs, TMCF helps students with a clear intention to succeed acquire a high-quality college education at an affordable cost. TMCF also efficiently connects high performing, world-ready students with top tier employment opportunities—access that students or employers might not have on their own. Through its scholarships and programs, TMCF plays a key role in preparing the leaders of tomorrow.
TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF and its initiatives, visit: tmcf.org.