The challenge of providing educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of social or economic circumstance has resulted in the creation of a series of programs to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America\'s economic and social life. Such programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are referred to as the TRiO Programs. While student financial aid programs help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRiO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education. Presently President BushÂ’s FY 06 budget proposes the elimination of Upward Bound and Talent Search (two TRiO programs) as well as Gear Up (an initiative created by President Clinton). The total budget proposed by the President for TRIO for FY 06 is $369.4 million, a 56% cut. Now is the time to communicate to Congress one\'s opposition to this AdministrationÂ’s recommendation and save these programs for American students!
We, the undersigned TRiO/Gear Up supporters, express our distress over the possible demise of three federally funded programs. We are referring to the proposed elimination of TRiOÂ’s Upward Bound and Talent Search programs as well as Gear Up in President BushÂ’s FY 06 budget. We request that Congress carefully consider what the loss of such programs will mean to our nationÂ’s youth in general, and more specifically to our local youth who are presently benefiting from these programs. We firmly believe that we, as a nation, cannot socially or economically afford the eradication of college access programs such as Upward Bound, Talent Search and Gear Up. Please support funding for the continuation of TRiO programs. Not only will this support benefit the young people that TRiO and Gear Up serve, but each and every citizen of the United States. Again, we ask for your support of favorable funding of TRiO Programs in the Fiscal Year 2006 appropriations bill.