Van Hollen says statue of Tubman belongs in US Capitol

A statue of Harriet Tubman may soon be on its way to the United States Capitol Building thanks to legislation sponsored by Maryland U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin.

Monday Van Hollen made an appearance at the University of Maryland Eastern shore to announce that the bill will prompt the joint committee on the Library of Congress to enter into an agreement with the Harriet Tubman Commission of Maryland to create that statue.

Van Hollen said they'll look to get bi-partisan support on the measure and adds that having the Tubman statue in the capitol building would serve as a good reminder for the many that pass through.

"It's really important that we celebrate her incredible story, not just to look back at the past, but to remind us of where we've come from and the progress we still need to make," Van Hollen said.

During his time at the university Van Hollen also met with school president Dr. Juliette Bell to discuss possible federal initiatives to increase the funding for historically black colleges and universities.