February 10, 2010

Dear SSS and McNair TRIO Colleagues:

In his FY2011 budget request to Congress, President Obama recommended level-funding TRIO. If approved by Congress, this budget will produce serious consequences including:

• a continued strain on programs that have not seen a significant increase in funding for the last several years (It is important to note that since FY 2006, due to stagnant funding, TRIO has lost over 33,000 students and that number continues to rise.);
• the loss of nearly 200 Upward Bound projects in program year 2011-2012; and
• the imposition of an unfunded mandate to require rigorous curriculum for Talent Search.

A complete explanation of the FY2011 funding crisis appears on our website (http://www.coenet.us/ecm/AM/Template.cfm?Section=FY2011_Budget_Crisis). It is crucial that all TRIO alumni, personnel, students, and families call their Senators (http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm) and Representatives (https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml)
and protest this cut in funding.

Please be on the lookout for action alerts and updates from COE on this matter.

Sincerely,

Arnold L. Mitchem
President

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