[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 15, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   OPPOSING BUDGET CUTS TO EDUCATION

  (Ms. SOLIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in opposition to the President's 
budget proposal to turn his back on low-income and ethnic minority 
students, particularly Latino and African Americans, and in particular 
first-generation students who have never had a chance to go to college.
  And I say that because in the President's budget proposal he wants to 
eliminate completely the GEAR UP Program, the Upward Bound Program, and 
the Talent Search Program. As a result, 1.3 million students, 70 
percent who are minorities, will lose a chance to go to college.
  California was awarded about 15 percent of the funding for the GEAR 
UP program. In fact, in my school district in East L.A., El Sereno 
Middle School and Belvedere Middle School are the recipients of the 
GEAR UP program, middle school meaning 7th and 8th grade students who 
are learning about the opportunities to go to college.
  How dare the President turn his back on our youth, on those who want 
to succeed and go on to college. We need to ensure that this President 
has to keep the compassion that he says that he has for all people of 
color.
  And I would ask my colleagues and urge them to reject these proposals 
that will put back our community by many, many decades. Let us restore 
funding in higher education for all of our students.

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