[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 138 (Wednesday, October 13, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S12552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPOINTMENTS

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, in the interest of moving this 
appropriations bill forward, I will withdraw my amendment to increase 
the funding for the successful GEAR-UP program. However, I urge the 
conferees to fund this program at $240 million--- $60 million over the 
Senate bill--so that now needy students can get the support they need 
to attend college.
  More than 130,000 students will be denied services if GEAR UP is 
funded at $180 million rather than at the President's request of $240 
million. $154 million is needed just to fully fund continuation grants 
for this year's grantees. We must uphold our commitment to these 
students, and extend the opportunity that this program offers to every 
needy student.
  This year, 678 applications for both state and local partnerships 
were received and we were only able to fund 185--only 1 out of 4 
applications. We have to do more to help children early so that college 
is accessible for every child.
  Many low-income families do not know how to plan for college, often 
because they have not done it before. We should do more to ensure that 
schools and communities can provide the academic support, early college 
awareness activities, and information on financial aid and scholarships 
so that students and their families can plan for a better future. We 
must encourage our young people to have high expectations, to stay in 
school, and to take the necessary courses so that they can succeed in 
college. We cannot abandon the five-year commitment that we made to 
these families last year.
  I commend my colleagues on the appropriations committee for making 
hard choices between important programs. But, I urge you to give GEAR 
UP your highest consideration in conference.

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