[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




GAINING EARLY AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS (GEAR 
                                  UP)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2001

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, the President's request for Gaining Early 
Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is $277 
million for fiscal year 2002. Funding at this level puts the GEAR UP 
program in my district and many others at serious risk. We should do 
everything in our power to protect and augment programs like GEAR UP 
that have proven to be effective.
  As you know, GEAR UP is a nationwide program to encourage 
disadvantaged children to have high expectations, stay in school, study 
hard and make appropriate decisions that will lead them on the road to 
a college education. With high school dropout rates so high among 
Hispanics, programs like GEAR UP are critical. The program directs the 
Department of Education to offer competitive grants that will build 
partnerships while creating and expanding alliances between colleges 
and school districts which have at least 50 percent low-income 
students.
  Since its enactment, GEAR UP has provided a much needed service to 
nearly 1.2 million children. No other federal program holds more 
promise for middle school children in low-income schools and does more 
to institutionalize the necessary reforms that provide early college 
awareness than GEAR UP. The 73 new partnership grants and seven new 
state grants awarded last year brought the two-year total to 237 GEAR 
UP partnerships and 28 state programs. The second year competition, 
like that of the first year, was extremely competitive. However, due to 
funding limitations, only 28 percent of the partnership applications 
and 33 percent of the state grant applications could be awarded. There 
is truly a demand for more GEAR UP money.
  I believe it is critically important that we remain steadfast in our 
commitment to GEAR UP, which sends a message to students that a college 
education is indeed within their reach. I urge my colleagues to support 
$425 million for GEAR UP in the fiscal year 2002 Labor, HHS and 
Education Appropriations bill to allow GEAR UP schools to continue to 
operate their programs.

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