The U.S. House of Representatives voted to reauthorize the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Historic Preservation Program (H.R. 1135) today. The following is a statement from Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr., vice president, government relations and policy, National Trust for Historic Preservation:

“From Hampton to Howard and Morgan State to Morehouse, our Historically Black Colleges and Universities are testaments to African-American excellence and perseverance. They reflect the determination of generations of black Americans to achieve a quality education even in the face of profound discrimination. The historic buildings on HBCU campuses also hold a collection of stories and artifacts that reflect the important legacy of the black educational experience and continue to inspire future generations to create and innovate. We applaud Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC) for his leadership in introducing this much-needed legislation, and stand ready to work with him to help save these historic institutions, so critical to our American story.”