This message was distributed via Congress Plus at 9:40 a.m. today.

 July 14, 2011

Dear TRIO Colleagues:

Yesterday, we harassed the House. Today, we target the Senate! Call both of your Senators and tell them to "Protect TRIO & GEAR UP in the debt ceiling and FY12 negotiations!"


Complete Contact Information for Your Senators is available at http://www.contactingthecongress.org. You can also reach them via the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. 

Additionally, please see the attached joint letter from COE and NCCEP to President Obama regarding TRIO and GEAR UP as well as a letter from COE to Capitol Hill in opposition to the potential balanced budget amendment.

Let's continue to make our voices heard

ACTION ALERT! ACTION ALERT! ACTION ALERT!

 TRIO and GEAR UP to Shut Down Washington!

Dear TRIO and GEAR UP Colleagues:

As you know, the environment in Washington is quite heated with the Administration and Congress negotiating how to pare down the federal deficit. A number of rumors are swirling around town and the only thing that is certain is that all non-security programs – including TRIO and GEAR UP – are at risk.

We know our programs work. We know they make a tremendous difference in the lives of all of the students we touch. Many on Capitol Hill know this as well, but the nature of the current debate is so serious that we cannot sit idly by in hopes of being spared. Just a few months back, in the 11^th hour budget deal negotiated by President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), leaders cut TRIO and GEAR UP by 3.1% and 6.3%, respectively. All told, we were forced to absorb a joint loss of $47 million in funding cuts, impacting 65,000 students!

We cannot and will not allow this to happen again. Therefore, we are joining forces to make our voices heard on Capitol Hill and let federal leaders know that they MUST protect TRIO and GEAR UP from further cuts!

We strongly urge you, your co-workers, students, parents, alumni, friends, and neighbors to participate in each of our three call-days.

TRIO and GEAR UP Call-In Days

·       Wednesday, July 13 – U.S. House of Representatives

·       Thursday, July 14 – U.S. Senate

·       Tuesday, July 19 – White House

How to Participate? It’s Easy!

1. Call your House Representative via the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. (You can find out who your legislators here: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/)
2. Deliver the message: “Tell [LEGISLATOR NAME] not to cut TRIO and GEAR UP in the debt ceiling and FY 2012 negotiations!”
3. Find five other people to do the same!

(You do the same thing for the Senate on July 14 and for the White House on July 19. Call President Obama at (202) 456-1111.)

In order for this plan to work, we need thousands – literally, thousands – of TRIO and GEAR UP supporters to call the Washington, DC and speak in a unified voice. This is how we’ve won battles in the past and this is how we will win now!

Please do not hesitate to contact the Government Relations Team at COE (202.347.7430) or NCCEP (202.530.1135, ext. 110) for more information about this joint effort!

Sincerely,

Arnold Mitchem                     Nathan Monell

President                                 Executive Director

COE                                        NCCEP

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