September 7, 2017



Dear Colleagues:



Late yesterday evening, despite strong opposition by Appropriations
Subcommittee Chairman and TRIO Champion Tom Cole (R-OK), the House Rules
Committee approved the “Lewis Amendment” that would take the $60 million
funding increase provided to TRIO and move it into funding for Career and
Technical Education (CTE) State Grants. This means that the amendment will
go on to be considered on the floor of the House of Representatives likely
late this evening. If passed, this would eliminate any proposed increase to
programs for the 2018-2019 program year.



CTE programs are very popular in Congress; therefore it is CRITICAL that
all TRIO supporters – staff, students, alumni, and others – take the
following steps immediately:


1. Find your Representative’s number at https://ziplook.house.gov/
htbin/findrep?ZIP <http://t.congressweb.com/l/?FNOCYEKZFUWHSHB> or call the
Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121 and give the operator your zip code.


2. Tell the staff member who answers the phone: “My name is _____ and I am
a resident of ______ and I want Representative _________________ *to vote
‘NO!’ on the Jason Lewis CTE Amendment to H.R. 3354.”*


3. Hang up and nudge three of your friends in TRIO to do the same thing.


Together we will defeat this attempt to deprive low-income,
first-generation students and students with disabilities with enhanced
opportunities to pursue postsecondary education.

Sincerely,

Maureen Hoyler, President
Council for Opportunity in Education

Karen Hadley Keim
MEEOA Government Relations

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit
there”
– *Will Rogers*