WASHINGTON— Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) helped include over $1.5 billion in the U.S. House of Representative’s fiscal year 2019 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to expand education programs for low-income students and Hispanic student populations. Specifically, this bill provides funding for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), Federal TRiO Programs and Pell grants. It also helps establish partnerships with higher education institutions, including Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and other minority serving institutions. There are more than a dozen HSIs in or near Congressman Cuellar’s district, including Laredo Community College, South Texas College, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, University of the Incarnate Word, and Texas A&M International University. This bill passed full committee markup on Wednesday and is scheduled to move for a vote on the House and Senate Floors this summer.

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs
Congressman Cuellar helped secure $360 million for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), a $10 million increase from FY18. GEAR UP Programs are designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP provides six-year grants that provide funding for services at high-poverty middle and high schools. They also provide college scholarships to low-income students and fund support services for students including tutoring, mentoring, offering dual enrollment classes and college tours. The objectives of these programs are to increase academic performance and preparation for postsecondary education, increase high school graduation and postsecondary participation rates, and increase families’ knowledge of postsecondary options, preparation, and finances.

Universities throughout the 28th District of Texas have greatly benefited from this funding. In 2017, Congressman Cuellar announced that the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was awarded $21.2 million to operate GEAR UP Programs. As part of the grant, UTRGV, Valley school districts and community partners matched the U.S. Department of Education’s funding, providing more than $42 million to benefit students in the Rio Grande Valley. Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) in Laredo has also used GEAR UP funds to prepare over 8,000 students, in 20 school districts throughout South Texas (See attached bill language).

Dr. Minita Ramirez, Vice President for Student Success for Texas A&M International University said, “Thanks to Congressman Henry Cuellar and the Department of Education. Through the GEAR UP Grant, Texas A&M International University has been able to help thousands of South Texas' most promising students realize their potential and the opportunities formal higher education makes real. These GEAR UP students realize the long-term impact good education has for themselves and their families. This program and others like it open doors, create dreams, and fuel hopes for brighter futures.”
“These funds allow UTRGV to expose more students to higher education and careers related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM),” UTRGV President Guy Bailey said. “This grant would not have been possible without the support of the Valley’s congressional leaders, U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) and Filemón Vela (TX-34).”

Federal TRiO Programs
This bill also includes over 1 billion for Federal TRiO Programs, a $50 million increase from FY18. TRiO programs are federal outreach and student services programs designed to help individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds progress through their academic careers from middle school to post baccalaureate programs. These programs primarily serve low-income, first-generation college students, as well as students with disabilities, veterans, homeless youth, foster youth, and individuals underrepresented in graduate education (See attached bill language).
At Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), the TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) Program helps increase college retention and graduation rates of its participants. TRiO SSS supports its students by offering academic tutoring, personal and academic counseling, and leadership conferences. Because of on-going support for program participants, TRiO SSS students continuously outperform non-program participants with increased retention, higher grades, and higher graduation rates. In the 2016-17 school year, TRiO’s retention rate was 93%, good academic standing was 94%, and the graduation rate was 61%, showing just how valuable the program is to TAMIU students and the community. Congressman Cuellar hopes to receive increased funding as the appropriations process continues.

Pell Grants
Congressman Cuellar announced that he helped maintain the maximum award for Pell Grants, $6,095, which will provide support to students with financial need, who have not earned their first bachelor's degree, or who are enrolled in certain post-baccalaureate programs, through participating institutions. This continues funding for year-round, or "Summer," Pell Grants, that will provide approximately 1 million students nationwide with an additional grant averaging $1,650.
More than 29,000 students in Texas’ 28th Congressional district received Pell Grants for the 2016-2017 school year, adding up to more than $122 million distributed to students in Congressman Cuellar’s district.

Universities in the South Texas region and their percentage of Pell Grant recipients (for which the latest National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data is available) who are first time, full-time degree seekers:

Baptist University of the Americas (San Antonio) 42%
Hallmark University (San Antonio) 58%
Laredo Community College 74%
Northwest Vista College (San Antonio) 44%
Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio) 64%
Palo Alto College (San Antonio) 66%
South Texas College (McAllen) 79%
St. Mary’s University (San Antonio) 48%
St. Philip’s College (San Antonio) 63%
Texas A&M International University (Laredo) 67%
The University of Texas at San Antonio 45%
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 28%
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 69%
University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio) 46%
Wayland Baptist University (San Antonio) 56%
Texas A&M San Antonio 64%

Securing Millions for Hispanic Serving Institutions
Congressman Cuellar’s additional wins include millions to serve Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). This includes $123 million to develop HSIs program, which provides grants to assists HSIs expand educational opportunities for, and improve the attainment of, Hispanic students. This bill also includes $44.6 million to help promote post baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Programs including the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). Both of these programs provide grants to expand post baccalaureate educational opportunities for Hispanic students.

“I know firsthand the transformative power of education,” explained Congressman Cuellar. “I experienced it in my own life. We need to ensure that every student, regardless of their economic background, is prepared to compete in a 21st-century, competitive job market. These programs provide academic assistance to first-generation and disadvantaged students in college, ensuring that they have the resources they need to succeed.”

Congressman Cuellar added, “I would like to thank my fellow Appropriators, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro, for helping me secure these funds. This money will ensure that low-income students get the education and opportunities they deserve.”

Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) speaks at the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Government Agencies Appropriations Committee Markup for fiscal year 2019 in Washington on Wednesday.

See video from the markup here.

See attached bill language here.

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