2025-09-19 17:17:04 -0400
To: Tim Burchett, Marsha Blackburn, Bill Hagerty, Bill Lee, Diana Harshbarger, Chuck Fleischmann, Scott, DesJarlais, Andy Ogles, John Rose, Mark Green, David Kustoff, Steve Cohen
Upward Bound Advocacy!
Dear [[Recipient's Title and Name]]:
I am a constituent and proud advocate for Federal TRIO Programs, which support thousands of students in «City», «State». I am deeply concerned that, with only a few days left in the federal fiscal year, the Department of Education still has not released a number of TRIO grants, including Veterans Upward Bound, Talent Search, Education Opportunity Centers, and McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement. Many of these grants are past due - resulting in many projects having to temporarily shutter their doors and turning away students from needed academic services. I am writing to ask that <<Senator/Representative>> contact Education Secretary Linda McMahon to request that all TRIO Grant Award Notifications (GANs) be released immediately. Every day of delay denies low-income, first-generation students the support they need to succeed.
Thank you for your commitment to supporting education and opportunity for all students. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your support in protecting TRIO programs.
[ Your Full Name ]
Why is this important?
Hundreds of thousands of people WILL be impacted if these programs do not receive funding, leaving clients and students with less ability to pursue education and program staff without jobs!
I used Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) when I left the service to go back to school. Without the resources and guidance of Education Specialists with VUB, my transition would have been unimaginably difficult and I may not be where I'm at today, about to graduate and applying for my Master's degree.
There are countless stories like mine, and many more who have faced even greater obstacles to try to create a better life for themselves and their families.
There are countless stories like mine, and many more who have faced even greater obstacles to try to create a better life for themselves and their families.
As Upward Bound programs, including Veterans Upward Bound, near the FY deadline for the programs to continue, advocacy is needed to disburse funds to the programs. Upward Bound programs provide needed support to people from first-generation and low-income backgrounds to pursue higher education. Specific programs are tailored for high school students, veterans, and other adult learners who would other lack the opportunity to start or complete their education.
The Grant Award Notices (GANs) have allocated the funding for the new fiscal year, but the funds still have not been released. If the funding is not released by September 30th, Upward Bound programs will not be able to continue providing services and the programs will end.
The populations served by these programs often lack realistic opportunities to pursue or complete higher education. Having worked directly with these people, your friends, family, and coworkers, I can attest to their work ethic and passion. And that carries beyond the classroom. That same work ethic and passion will feed back into their careers and communities, making them better and stronger!
The populations served by these programs often lack realistic opportunities to pursue or complete higher education. Having worked directly with these people, your friends, family, and coworkers, I can attest to their work ethic and passion. And that carries beyond the classroom. That same work ethic and passion will feed back into their careers and communities, making them better and stronger!