June 30, 2020
Today Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and colleagues introduced the Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief Act (CCCERA), a proposed COVID-19 emergency education funding bill to provide $450 million in emergency support for federal TRIO programs to serve low-income/first-generation students, unemployed adults, and students with disabilities.
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April 13, 2020
The COVID-19 crisis has hit TRIO students and families especially hard. While classrooms at all levels of the education pipeline have shuttered their doors for this semester, many low-income students do not have access to broadband internet or the technological tools (laptops, tablets, etc.) to continue coursework or receive support services online.
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April 1, 2020
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. It includes $12.56 billion to colleges, based mostly on their share of students with Pell grants.
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March 26, 2020
Our first ever virtual Policy Seminar was a success with over 700 TRIO professionals and alumni participating, and at least 225 virtual meetings held with House and Senate offices!
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February 10, 2020
Today the Trump Administration released the President’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget request to Congress. Overall, this budget slashes funding for U.S. Department of Education programs by $5.6 billion or 8%.
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December 16, 2019
This evening, congressional leaders released the text of two massive spending bills aimed at funding all agencies of the federal government through the remainder of the federal fiscal year.
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December 9, 2019
On December 5, 2019, COE co-hosted the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Student Aid Alliance on Capitol Hill. COE President Maureen Hoyler co-chaired the program and COE President Emeritus Arnold Mitchem offered reflections on the early days of the organization.
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November 4, 2019
Last week, the House Education and Labor Committee, which is chaired by Robert C. “Bobby” Scott of Virginia, held a three day markup of the College Affordability Act to reauthorize the Higher Education Act of 1965.
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October 16, 2019
Yesterday, the House Education and Labor Committee, which is chaired by Robert C. “Bobby” Scott of Virginia, released the College Affordability Act to reauthorize the Higher Education Act of 1965. This legislation, which proposes several reforms to the Federal TRIO Programs, has received a mixed reception from the higher education community.
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September 30, 2019
On Friday, September 27, President Trump signed a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open until November 21, operating at current funding levels.
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September 19, 2019
Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee released the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (“LHHS”) Appropriations bill for FY2020. As expected, the Senate bill recommended level-funding TRIO at $1.06 billion.
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July 22, 2019
On Wednesday, July 17, a bipartisan group of House Representatives introduced H.R. 3800, the Educational Opportunities and Success Act to reauthorize TRIO in the Higher Education Act.
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July 16, 2019
It’s time to show our strength! Over the next several weeks, Members of Congress will be back in their home States and Districts meeting with local constituents.
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June 12, 2019
On June 12, 2019, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), along with co-sponsors Jon Tester (D-MT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), introduced the Educational Opportunity and Success Act.
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May 14, 2019
On May 9, 2010, COE Board-Elect Chair Kyle Ethelbah, Director of TRIO Programs at the University of Utah, testified before the House Subcommittee on Higher and Education and Workforce Development in a hearing entitled "The Cost of Non-Completion: Improving Student Outcomes in Higher Education."
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May 3, 2019
On May 2, 2019, New America published Closing the Evidence Gap in Higher Education, which argues for better data collection and evaluation of higher education programs serving low-income, first-generation, and minority students.
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April 29, 2019
On Monday evening, the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (“LHHS”) Appropriations released its FY 2020 bill in advance of Tuesday afternoon’s “markup” of the bill.
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April 29, 2019
Late last week, the U.S. Department of Education issued Grant Award Notifications (GANs) to TRIO Upward Bound projects for the 2019-2020 program year The GANs reflected a 4.5% increase in each project’s base funding.
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April 15, 2019
During the 2019 Policy Seminar, we spent a lot of time discussing threats to TRIO through bills designed to increase requirements around serving different target populations.
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April 9, 2019
On Tuesday, April 9, COE’s inaugural Thomas R. Wolanin Intern, Brandy Dailey testified before the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee to argue for increased funding for TRIO in FY 2020.
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March 11, 2019
On March 11, 2019, the White House released the President’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget request to Congress. This budget request reflects the Administration’s spending priorities for the 2020-2021 program year.
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October 1, 2018
During the last week of September, Congress passed and the President signed the omnibus appropriations bill funding the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (“LHHS”) for FY 2019 (Program Year 2019-2020).
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August 29, 2018
As you know, Congress provided a 6% funding increase to the Federal TRIO programs for the 2018-19 program year.
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July 26, 2018
Last week, the Democratic Members of the House Committee on Education & the Workforce Committee introduced their response to the PROSPER Act.
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July 3, 2018
June was a busy month on Capitol Hill. First, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education ("LHHS") Appropriations Subcommittee approved its FY 2019 bill, which provides a $50 million or 5% increase to TRIO funding during the 2019-2020 program year.
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April 10, 2018
On April 10, 2018, a group of more than 400 institutions of higher education and advocacy organizations joined COE President Maureen Hoyler in expressing concern about the TRIO section of H.R. 4508, the PROSPER Act.
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March 23, 2018
On Friday, March 23, President Trump signed the $1.3 trillion FY18 omnibus appropriations bill into law. This legislation, which passed the House by a vote of 256-157 and passed the Senate by a vote of 65-32 guarantees a $60 million funding increase for Federal TRIO Programs for a total appropriation of $1.01 billion — the high watermark in the history TRIO!
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February 12, 2018
On February 12, 2018, the White House released the Trump Administration's Fiscal Year 2019 budget request to Congress.
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January 9, 2018
One day after the House Committee on Education and the Workforce passed its bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, which is known as the PROSPER Act, four TRIO champions wrote to Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) to express concerns about the legislation.
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December 1, 2017
Today, the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Chairman of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee introduced the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act.
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October 12, 2017
On October 12, 2017, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) sent a letter to the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Education to express their strong concerns about the continued lack of timeliness in the administration of TRIO grant competitions.
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September 19, 2017
In recent years, TRIO grant applicants and awardees have had to contend with late notifications, incomplete slates, and a host of other challenges.
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September 19, 2017
The week of September 10, TRIO Champion Tom Cole (R-OK) led a bipartisan coalition that included TRIO Caucus Co-Chair and Alumna Gwen Moore (D-WI) in speaking out against the "Jason Lewis CTE Amendment."
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July 31, 2017
On July 26, 2017, the Congressional TRIO Caucus hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill entitled, "Educational Opportunity Centers — Engines of Economic Mobility."
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July 12, 2017
Today, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education ("LHHS") Appropriations Subcommittee unveiled its FY 2018 legislation.
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May 24, 2017
Appropriations Subcommittee addressing Upward Bound Grant Application.
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May 23, 2017
Lawrence O'Donnell talks to Massachusetts Senior Senator Elizabeth Warren about Trump's new budget.
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May 8, 2017
Last week, the House and Senate reached an agreement regarding funding for FY17 (academic year 2017-18).
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May 1, 2017
The House and Senate reached an agreement regarding funding for FY17 (academic year 2017-18) over the weekend.
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March 16, 2017
Today, President Donald Trump released his first budget request to Congress. It includes a 15% cut to the U.S. Department of Education, including a $92 million (or 10%) decrease in TRIO funding.
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March 9, 2017
On Wednesday, March 8, 2017, TRIO student Joseph Longmire, Jr. testified before the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
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February 6, 2017
On Tuesday, January 31, the Congressional TRIO Caucus hosted a Welcome Reception for new and returning Members of Congress.
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February 3, 2017
On January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. Like every transition of presidential power, the Trump Administration has ushered in a new group of political leaders who, in turn, bring with them new attitudes regarding federal spending, generally, and education spending, in particular.
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January 18, 2017
Yesterday, Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to serve as the Secretary of Education, appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
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December 11, 2016
On December 9, the House and Senate passed a Continuing Resolution or "CR" that will level-fund all government programs through April 28, 2017.
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November 14, 2016
Now that the 2016 elections are over, Members of Congress will return to Washington, D.C., to complete its legislative business for the year.
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September 29, 2016
On September 28, 2016, both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed a continuing resolution ("CR") to maintain level funding of all government programs through December 9.
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September 27, 2016
The U.S. Department of Education has announced the recipients of its TRIO Training Grants for 2016-2018.
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September 18, 2016
On September 15, 2016, the New Democrat Coalition released its priorities for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
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August 17, 2016
On August 16, the U.S. Department of Education released an official notice announcing the Educational Opportunity Center applicants who received awards on the first slate.
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August 9, 2016
This Summer, COE challenges YOU to play TRIO BINGO! Winning is easy! You can invite your Member of Congress to visit your TRIO program.
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July 25, 2016
Late in the afternoon on Friday, July 15, the U.S. Department of Education began releasing the results of the Talent Search Grant Competition to Capitol Hill. More than 880 applicants applied for grant awards.
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July 14, 2016
In July, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education ("LHHS") Appropriations Subcommittee approved its FY 2017 bill.
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June 24, 2016
We recently learned that the U.S. Department of Education is behind schedule with respect to grant announcements for Talent Search and will be unable to meet the expectation laid out in the FY 16 Omnibus Appropriation bill that all Talent Search and EOC grants be announced by July 31.
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June 22, 2016
Yesterday, more than 100 Democratic Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to President Barack Obama and Education Secretary John King urging the Administration to expand TRIO eligibility to include students who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ("DACA") program.
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February 9, 2016
On Tuesday, February 9, 2016, President Obama released his final budget request to Congress. In the proposal, the Administration not only requests overall level funding for TRIO, but also reduces the funding allocation for virtually all of the individual TRIO programs in order to reserve $20 million to fund a "TRIO Demonstration Initiative."
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