[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14252]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  COMMENDING THE FEDERAL TRIO PROGRAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 2005

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an important 
group of Federal Education Programs known as the TRIO programs. In 
short, TRIO programs help to support and prepare low income students 
for post high school education.
  TRIO is funded through the Labor, Health and Human Services 
Appropriations Bill that this body passed earlier today. I was proud to 
vote for this bill that included full funding for all TRIO programs. 
Two of the TRIO programs, Upward Bound and Talent Search had been 
slated for elimination in the Administration's Fiscal Year 2006 budget 
request. As the co-chairman of the Congressional TRIO Caucus and a 
member of the Appropriations Committee, I worked with my colleagues on 
that Committee to make sure that these programs were restored to Fiscal 
Year 2005 funding levels.
  I have received countless emails, letters and faxes from constituents 
in my district and other districts around the country urging me to 
spare Upward Bound and Talent Search. It is easy to understand why so 
many were concerned about the potential end of these two valuable TRIO 
programs that help over 3,500 low income Idaho students prepare for 
college. Parental income is one of the top predictors of whether or not 
a child will succeed in college or even go to college in the first 
place. Upward Bound and Talent Search help students exceed societal 
expectations and predictions by providing tutoring in college 
preparatory classes and help in navigating through the sometimes 
daunting maze of required forms and tests known as the college 
admission process.
  Like so many other members of this House who joined me in the effort 
to save TRIO, several of whom are TRIO graduates themselves, I fully 
understand the worth and importance of these programs, and I will do 
everything I can to ensure that these programs continue to receive 
funding for many years to come. While the cost of Upward Bound and 
Talent Search may seem an unnecessary expense to some, I would ask them 
to consider the long term savings in public assistance generated by 
graduates of TRIO who go on to earn college degrees and become 
productive, self sustaining citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the over 900,000 students currently 
enrolled in TRIO programs nationwide, I would like to thank and commend 
all those involved in the TRIO programs for a job well done. You are 
truly changing lives and making the impossible a reality for many of 
our Nation's students.

                          ____________________