On the recordSeptember 12, 2017
I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would take money from important college access programs, GEAR UP and TRIO, and use it to increase important funding for career and technical education. Because of the way the amendment is drafted, it would also jeopardize funding for minority- serving institutions to be used to increase that funding. This amendment reduces funding for programs meant to improve college access for low-income students. First of all, whether it is CTE or TRIO, all of these programs don't have enough money. One should not be stripped for the sake of another. By lifting one program that leads to one opportunity over neglecting another that leads to another opportunity, you limit the choice of future life outcomes at a time when members of the next generation should be able to choose the best opportunity for them. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment and try to fund both more robustly.
