June 23, 2015
Dear Colleagues:
Today, the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (“LHHS”)
Appropriations Subcommittee voted on its FY 2016 LHHS bill. In contrast to
the House Subcommittee, which provided an increase of $60 million, the
Senate Subcommittee provided level-funding for a total of $840 million for
FY 2016. The full Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate are
expected to vote on their respective bills by the end of this week.
With respect to the Senate Subcommittee bill, it should be noted that a
number of higher education programs were cut, including funding for
Minority-Serving Institutions (including Title III), Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), and Federal Work-Study.
This turn of events makes two things clear.
First, we have much work to do in the Senate. While level-funding can be
viewed positively in light of this constrained budget environment, it
demonstrates that TRIO staff, students, alumni and other supporters must
engage more with their Senators in order to increase their support.
Second, we must encourage legislators in both chambers of Congress to work
towards a broad, bipartisan budget deal that lifts the current funding
caps. Only by doing so will we be able to sustain the gains in the House
LHHS bill.
A funding increase for FY 2016 is still very likely given our strong
support in the House. However, we won’t know what our final appropriation
will be until close to the end of the year. Therefore, we urge you to
continue sharing your TRIO stories, inviting Members of Congress – and
Senators, in particular – to visit your programs, and joining advocacy
efforts throughout the summer to raise awareness about TRIO in your
community.
Sincerely,
Maureen Hoyler
President
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Kelly Ann Ilseman
Upward Bound Math/Science Program
Assistant Director/Academic Curriculum Coordinator/Academic Counselor
Maine Educational Opportunity Association President
Registered Yoga Instructor, 500-Hour, South Boston Yoga; Namaste Institute
Instructor at Om Land Yoga
Best ways to reach me:
call or text: 617.784.2320
kelly.ilseman@m <[log in to unmask]>*aine.edu <http://aine.edu>*
other ways to reach me:
main office: 800.581.2522
office: 207.581.3720
fax: 207.581.2710
snail mail:
University of Maine
Upward Bound Math/Science Program
5713 Chadbourne Hall, Rm 224
Orono, ME 04469-5713
http://umaine.edu/ub/
*Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
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