April 7, 2011

Dear TRIO Colleagues:

Many of you have reached out to COE to inquire about the pending government shutdown and what this could mean for TRIO.

As you know, over the last several months Congress has been embroiled in a battle over FY 2011 spending levels, with most radical sectors of the Republican Party in the House of Representatives calling for as much as $100 billion in funding cuts. At present, it does not appear that the Senate will agree to these cuts and the House Republicans will not compromise. If this happens, the federal government will shut down tomorrow, Friday, April 8^th. You will not be able to draw down TRIO grant funds during the period of the shutdown. Most institutions will simply advance the funds and cover the expenditures until the government resumes functioning. If your institution can not or will not do so, contact Angelica Vialpando ([log in to unmask] or 202.347.7430), the Director of New Programs and Services at COE. Your grant award is already committed, so any costs your program incurs over the period of the shutdown will be covered.   

If, in fact, the government does shut down, it is vital that you contact your Members of Congress and demand that they pass legislation that funds education and protects TRIO. Legislators are hedging their bets that the government shutdown will work to their favor. You must let them know that our students’ futures amount to more than a political bargaining chip and hold them accountable for their responsibility to keep our nation afloat. Contact information for all Members of Congress is available at http://www.contactingthecongress.org/.

Thank you for your continued support of TRIO programs and students.

Sincerely,

Arnold Mitchem

President

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September 25-28, 2011

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