Cantwell Applauds Students' Efforts to Save College Prep Programs
Cantwell Applauds Students' Efforts to Save College Prep Programs
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released a statement of support today for local efforts to save education programs designed to help students transition from high school to college. Seattle-area high school students plan to gather this afternoon at Westlake Center to protest federal budget cuts to the "TRIO" family of college preparatory programs.
"As the first member of my family to graduate from college, I know that the transition from high school to college can be tough," said Cantwell, who finished college with the help of federal Pell grants. "TRIO helps students make college enrollment - and college success - a reality. I admire the courage and conviction of these students who are speaking out today about the real importance of continuing the TRIO programs."
Cantwell co-sponsored two amendments to the fiscal year 2006 federal budget to restore funding to the TRIO programs. One of the amendments, which supported several education programs and was paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes, was included in the Senate's version of the budget. Unfortunately, that amendment was stripped from the final version of the budget by House and Senate leaders.
"It is regrettable that the President and Republican congressional leaders are trying to eliminate the TRIO Talent Search, Gear-Up, and Upward Bound programs," Cantwell said. "Thousands of students from Washington state have benefited from the programs over the years, and I will fight so thousands more can have that opportunity in the future."
The funding could still be restored through the federal appropriations process. Cantwell sent a letter last month with a bipartisan group of senators urging the Appropriations Committee to provide TRIO with a "significant increase" from previous years' funding levels, so that more students could take advantage of the programs.
http://cantwell.senate.gov/news/releases/2005_06_02_trio_rally.html