[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13] [House] [Pages 18358-18360] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]SUPPORTING NATIONAL GEAR UP DAY Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1638) supporting the goals and ideals of National GEAR UP Day. The Clerk read the title of the resolution. The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 1638 Whereas Congress created the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) in 1998 to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education; Whereas increasing the number of low-income students who complete postsecondary education is critical to the health and vitality of our communities and the Nation as a whole; Whereas, on February 24, 2009, President Barack Obama addressed a Joint Session of Congress, during which he stated his goal that the United States would once again have the highest proportion of college graduates; Whereas GEAR UP is currently providing essential college preparatory services to 670,000 students in over 5,000 schools across 46 States, the District of Columbia, America Samoa, Micronesia, and Puerto Rico; Whereas GEAR UP students are taking more rigorous and advanced courses, graduating from high school and enrolling in postsecondary education at rates significantly higher than their low-income peers; [[Page 18359]] Whereas these remarkable achievements are attributable to the selfless dedication of the students, families, education professionals, and business and community leaders involved in GEAR UP; Whereas in September 2009 GEAR UP Day was recognized across the United States, including proclamations by the Governors of the States of Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Oklahoma, and West Virginia, the Governor of American Samoa, and other observances noticed in the Congressional Record on Tuesday, September 22, 2009; and Whereas September 29, 2010, would be an appropriate day to designate as National GEAR UP Day: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) supports the goals and ideals of a National GEAR UP Day; (2) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of caring teachers, counselors, and program staff who encourage and prepare students for success in college; and (3) encourages all students to set ambitious goals and to work hard to achieve their dreams. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) will each control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California. {time} 1700 General Leave Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1638 into the Record. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from California? There was no objection. Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1638 which recognizes the goals and ideals of National GEAR UP Day, celebrated on September 29, 2010. GEAR UP, or Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, was created by Congress in 1998 to help increase the number of low-income and underserved students who are prepared to succeed in postsecondary education. This year, the GEAR UP program provided college prep services to over 670,000 students in over 5,000 schools across 46 States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Micronesia, and Puerto Rico. National GEAR UP Day, sponsored by the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships, is an opportunity for us to recognize the continued success of GEAR UP programs nationwide. It guarantees an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follows that group through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low- income students. Students participating in the GEAR UP program, Mr. Speaker, are encouraged in a variety of ways to enter and complete postsecondary education. They may visit local postsecondary institutions and survey classes that interest them, learn about financial aid and scholarship opportunities, or meet with a counselor for career planning. I want to thank Representative Fattah for introducing this resolution and, once again, express my support for House Resolution 1638, which celebrates National GEAR UP Day. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1638, supporting the goals and ideals of National GEAR UP Day. While access to postsecondary education is a barrier for many low- income students, far too many students who enter college fail to complete programs and attain credentials. The goal of the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, GEAR UP, program is to address both access and success changes to ensure more low-income students succeed in the workforce. GEAR UP provides 6-year grants to States and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle schools and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school or their first year of college. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students. Nearly 77 million Americans will retire over the next several decades, and the United States will face a worker gap, a skills gap, and a wage gap. Filling these gaps will require developing better trained and more skilled workers for productive jobs with upward mobility. Ensuring that the Nation's youth enter adulthood well educated, prepared for work, and able to integrate into society will help to ensure we are able to fill these gaps. Currently, the GEAR UP program is providing important college preparatory services to approximately 670,000 students in over 5,000 schools throughout the country. Today, we support the goals and ideals of National GEAR UP Day, recognize the contribution of teachers, counselors, and program staff that encourage and prepare students for success in college and beyond. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), the author of this resolution and the author of GEAR UP. Mr. FATTAH. I thank the gentlelady and I thank her colleague for their support for this resolution. GEAR UP continues, as from its inception, to have bipartisan support. On National GEAR UP Day, we had Governors like Haley Barbour from Mississippi and Governors throughout the country claim GEAR UP Days in their State. We had mayors and school superintendents and college associations all across our country celebrate the great achievements of young people who have been a part of this program and the adults who have worked with them. The Federal Government partners with States and with higher education institutions in what I call an elongated conversation with young people over the course of 6 years. And in this Congress, we reauthorized GEAR UP and we have now added a seventh year. GEAR UP has proven to be successful over its first decade of work, given the research that has been done, and it has shown that there has been a remarkable success across the 40-plus States, and now 46 States. In communities of every stripe, GEAR UP has worked to increase the number of young people graduating from high school, taking rigorous courses, and going on to college. We saw a multiday series in The Washington Post focusing on students in Virginia, and thankfully going to colleges in Pennsylvania, through GEAR UP. I have visited GEAR UP youngsters in Wichita, Kansas, and Oklahoma City and California, all across our land. It is an amazing and extraordinary feat to see young people who statistically others would have written off, but now, because of the work of the GEAR UP program and because of their own work and parental involvement, they have been written back in. The President has said we need to return our country to leadership in the world by 2020 with the number of adults with a college degree. We now are ninth in the world with the number of our young people graduating from college. This is an important program. It is the largest early college program in our country and in our country's history. It began with bipartisan support, and it continues to have that support because it is locally administered. It is a partnership program involving higher education institutions in partnership with middle schools and high schools and community and civic associations. It has worked well in Native American communities and rural communities and urban cities. It has helped in terms of youngsters who have English as a second language. My great partner in this, Congressman Hinojosa, who will be speaking, and many others in this Congress have been strong supporters of GEAR UP. I thank the gentleman and the gentlelady for yielding me an appreciable amount of time, and I thank them for their support of this resolution. [[Page 18360]] Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa). Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1638, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National GEAR UP Day. As subcommittee chairman for Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness, I want to thank my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), the father of the GEAR UP program, for his outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to ensure that low-income students enter and succeed in postsecondary education as well as in life. I am proud to have joined Congressman Fattah on the Education Committee back in 1998 to be an original cosponsor of this great GEAR UP program that he introduced. In supporting the goals and ideals of National GEAR UP Day, it is important that we recognize national teachers and counselors and program staff for their tireless work on behalf of our neediest students. Throughout the year, these extraordinary individuals provide essential college preparatory services to over 670,000 students in over 5,000 schools across 46 States, as well as in the District of Columbia, and American Samoa, Micronesia, and Puerto Rico. I am extremely proud of GEAR UP students in the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas for setting ambitious career goals and for making their education a top priority. Our region serves approximately 18,000 students, and these young people are studying hard, taking rigorous courses, graduating from high school, and preparing themselves to earn a college degree. In my congressional district, we are fortunate to have talented and committed individuals who have made GEAR UP a huge success. I personally want to thank Tina Atkins, the director of the Region 1 GEAR UP program, as well as Dr. Martha Cantu, director of the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg for their GEAR UP program, and business and community leaders in our region who have done a terrific job in educating and encouraging GEAR UP students and their families to reach for the stars. On March 30, 2010, President Obama signed the Health Care Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 into law. With the enactment of this law, President Obama and Congress are taking bold steps to ensure accessibility and affordability in higher education. {time} 1710 The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired. Ms. WOOLSEY. I yield the gentleman an additional 1\1/2\ minutes. Mr. HINOJOSA. These investments in education will undoubtedly provide thousands of GEAR UP students throughout the country with the financial aid and support they need to succeed in college. As our Nation strives to build a world-class educational system, to increase graduation rates at all levels and to lead the world in the proportion of college graduates by the year 2020, it is critical that we continue to invest in successful Federal programs like GEAR UP. Today, I urge my colleagues and our Nation to support H.R. 1638 and to encourage greater numbers of low-income students to pursue their dreams by supporting the goals and ideals of a National GEAR UP Day. Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Fattah and Representative Hinojosa for their participation in introducing this resolution. Once again, I want to express my support for House Resolution 1638, which celebrates National GEAR UP Day--a chance for all of us to recognize the GEAR UP program's accomplishments and its success in increasing the accessibility of college for those students who need it the most. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1638, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National GEAR UP Day. Since 1998, the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) have been serving thousands of at-risk students in entering into and succeeding in postsecondary education. The GEAR UP programs have been extremely successful in raising expectations amongst our youth. They show our students that obtaining a college education is possible. In communities and high schools where the dropout rate is much greater than the graduation rate, students face an uphill battle in achieving a degree in higher education. GEAR UP exposes them to achievement, and gives them the tools to create academic success in their own lives. GEAR UP is implementing the type of intervention programs that we need on a larger scale, including: promoting educational ideals of parent involvement; rigorous curriculum; academic and personal counseling; mentoring and tutoring; and college awareness. GEAR UP tracks student progress, rather than letting our children become part of a larger statistical tally. These GEAR UP students were able to attend and succeed in college; a goal that all students should be able to achieve. We are currently losing millions of bright minds to the achievement gap. Our failure to invest in all of our students has resulting in America falling behind in the rankings of global education. If this continues, America will not be able to compete in the global economy. Programs such as GEAR UP help close that gap. I would like to thank Congressman Fattah for introducing this resolution and support its passage. Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1638. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed. The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn. ____________________