Expressing support for the designation of National GEAR UP Day.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1311, supporting the designation of July 22, 2008 as National GEAR UP Day. Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) serves to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Through the hard work of program staff, students, families, and educators, GEAR UP has proven to be an incredibly successful program, providing services at high-poverty middle and high schools. This year marks the 10th Anniversary since Congress established the GEAR UP program, exemplifying our commitment towards providing a quality education to the disadvantaged youth of America.

In a society that depends on, and rewards, those who have a strong educational background, lagging behind can have severe consequences. In this day and age, when our country has transitioned from a post- industrial economy into a knowledge based economy, investing in education is more important than ever, and a high school degree is seen as one of the first steps towards achieving that quality education. Research has shown that having a high school degree significantly increases an individual's annual earnings and labor force participation rates, and that these rates increase with greater educational attainment.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 8.9 percent of 15-24 year-old students from low-income families dropped out during grades 10-12 in 2005, compared to 3.8 percent from middle-income and 1.5 percent from high-income families. In the same year, 53.5 percent of high school graduates from low-income families enrolled in college immediately after high school, compared to 65.1 percent of middle-income students and 81.2 percent of high-income students.

GEAR UP is currently focused on three objectives to reduce the disadvantages low-income students face compared to their middle-income and high-income peers: increasing academic performance and preparation for postsecondary education, increasing high school graduation and post-secondary enrollment rates, and increasing students' and their families' knowledge of postsecondary education options, preparation, and financing. These efforts are working--in 2006, 85.5 percent of the second cohort of GEAR UP students graduated from high school. This remarkable graduation rate is well above those of other low-income students who did not participate in GEAR UP (64 percent) and all students nationally (73.9 percent).

While the effects of GEAR UP are evident, there are currently many low-income students who are unable to participate in the program and many areas in which the program can improve. We need to raise awareness and bolster discussions about how to tailor GEAR UP for all of our low- income students. Recognizing July 22nd, 2008 as National GEAR UP Day could provide the opportunity for conversation about the challenges and opportunities faced by lower income students and will recognize the success of so many who have defied expectations. Funding is also vital towards the successful implementation and expansion of GEAR UP, and as a Member of the Appropriations Committee, I will work to ensure improved funding for GEAR UP and other critical Federal programs focused on improving educational opportunities, supporting the work of teachers and schools, and increasing access to higher education.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1311) expressing support for the designation of National GEAR UP Day.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Madam Speaker, at this time, I would yield 3 minutes to the sponsor of the bill, Chaka Fattah, the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Madam Speaker, I would now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas, Representative Hinojosa.

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to stand in consideration and support of H. Res. 1311 which expresses the sense of the House that today, July 22, ought to be designated as National GEAR UP Day.

The Federal education program GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is designed to foster partnerships amongst schools, school districts, business entities, and colleges and universities in order to improve public education and to increase low-income students' access to post-secondary education.

The author of the original legislation that created GEAR UP nearly 10 years ago, Congressman Chaka Fattah, serves as a sponsor of H. Res. 1311 and is joined by his colleagues, Representatives Hinojosa, Souder, Danny Davis, and 70 other Members of this body, Members who recognize the difference that attaining a quality education in a college or technical degree can make in a person's life.

H. Res. 1311 was introduced on June 26, 2008, and was considered by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on July 16 where it was approved favorably by voice vote.

Madam Speaker, the sole purpose of GEAR UP is to encourage millions of young Americans to succeed in middle and secondary school, to study hard and to make right choices to be prepared for college, and ultimately degree completion. Unlike any other Federal program, GEAR UP, through its partnerships, State projects and the thousands of practitioners that carry out its mission, has provided direct services to millions of aspiring students throughout every corner of our country. From tutorial services right here in our Nation's capital to precollege workshops and career fairs held at Buffalo State College in my home State of New York, GEAR UP is telling children that despite your circumstances you too can start early, set high expectations and be prepared to pursue and succeed in post-secondary education.

From the GEAR UP American Samoa Community College program to the dozens of University of California GEAR UP sites, this program is shaping and developing a whole new generation of leaders and scholars.

For this reason, I stand to join my colleagues, the thousands of GEAR UP professionals here with us today on the Hill, and the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships in support of designating July 22 as National GEAR UP Day. In celebration of the program's 10 years of success, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H. Res. 1311.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1311, a resolution to express support for the designation of a National GEAR UP Day.

I would like to commend the authors of this resolution, my good friend from Philadelphia, Representative Chaka Fattah, and my colleague on the Education and Labor Committee, Representative Mark Souder of Indiana. They're tremendous advocates for making the promise of GEAR UP a reality for all of our youth.

GEAR UP addresses the key factors necessary to successfully navigate the college process: The aspiration to go to college, the academic preparation, understanding the admissions and financial aid processes, and having the financial resources to pay for college. GEAR UP mobilizes the community to address these factors by using Federal resources to leverage State, local and private sector resources.

GEAR UP offers a simple but very powerful bargain. It tells students and families that if you stay in school and take the challenging classes, our community will guarantee that you have the financial aid and support you need to go to college.

We have seen the power of this new bargain in south Texas. With our first generation of GEAR UP partnerships, we have seen high school graduation rates and college preparedness soar. We have seen unprecedented growth in our college enrollment.

We are fortunate to have a second generation of GEAR UP programs in south Texas. Between the Region One Education Service Center and the University of Texas Pan American GEAR UP project, we will reach over 17,000 students and their families, over 95 percent Hispanic, nearly all economically disadvantaged and the first generation to go to college. Through GEAR UP, these students and families not only know that college is possible, but they also will know how to make it a reality, forever changing the aspirations and expectations of our entire region.

Today I had the tremendous honor of hosting a GEAR UP delegation of more than 100 parents, students and staff from Region 1 and the University of Texas Pan American. I would like to congratulate them for representing our area so well at the national GEAR UP gathering going on here in Washington.

I shared with them the Chaka Fattah story and how he introduced it and how I heard the story and told him I am committed, passionate about education, and I think this is the best thing that has come out since sliced bread, I told Chaka, and I worked hard to get the numbers we needed to pass this.

I say that Chaka Fattah is absolutely to be known here in Washington and in Congress for the great work he did in making GEAR UP the success story that it is.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution; and more importantly, to support the expansion of the GEAR UP program in their districts and across the Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise to explain my reason for missing votes on July 22 and July 23, 2008. My voting percentage is over 96% for the 110th and I rarely miss votes, but there are certain family events that cannot be missed, and for that reason, I was in Houston for the birth of our newest grandson. I am proud to report the newest grandson, as well as mother, father, and the rest of the family are doing fine.

Had I been present for votes, I would have voted as follows:

On rollcall vote No. 523, H. Res. 1344, On Agreeing to the Resolution, Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 3999--The National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 522, H. Res. 1344, On Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 3999--The National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act (H.Res.1344) I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 521, H.R. 6535, Table Motion to Reconsider, National Energy Security Intelligence Act of 2008, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 520, H.R. 6535, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, National Energy Security Intelligence Act of 2008, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 519, H.R. 3221, Concur in Senate Amendment with House Amendment, Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 518, H.R. 6532, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restore the Highway Trust Fund balance, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 517, H. Res. 1363, On Agreeing to the Resolution, Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the House amendments to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3221, to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 516, H. Res. 1363, On Ordering the Previous Question, Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the House amendments to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3221, to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 515, On Motion to Adjourn, I would have voted ``nay;''

On rollcall vote No. 514, H. Res. 1202, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Guard Youth Challenge Day, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 513, H. Res. 1311, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, Expressing support for the designation of National GEAR UP Day, I would have voted ``aye;''

On rollcall vote No. 512, H.R. 6493, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, Aviation Safety Enhancement Act of 2008, I would have voted ``aye.''

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Let me thank my colleague, Danny Davis, for helping to move this bill to the floor out of committee. And I also want to thank all 74 of the additional cosponsors, and this is bipartisan cosponsorship, as this program, GEAR UP, has always enjoyed bipartisan support. I want to thank Mark Souder and Tom Cole. And I also want to acknowledge the great staff work that has been done by William Miles and also the In Step organization which is the major national organization working with GEAR UP. And we will be hosting them here on the Hill.

This acknowledges the great success of this program, over $2.7 billion Federal investment over the last 10 years. We are in the 10- year anniversary. We see graduation rates from high school, for the largest early college awareness program in our country's history, off the charts. Some 85 percent of GEAR UP students graduated from high school, a full 20-plus points ahead of where low-income students unfortunately now graduate from high school. We see this in hundreds and hundreds of programs across our country. In rural and urban areas, on Native American reservations and State programs and in partnership programs, GEAR UP has been a tremendous success, something that in a bipartisan way this Congress can take great pride in.

And as the architect of the original legislation, I'm very proud to come and ask the Congress to support this resolution, naming this National GEAR UP Day. I spoke to the almost 2,000 attendees at the national bureau conference yesterday. I had my wife and my two young daughters, Cameron and Chandler, with me. It was a great occasion to see and meet people from 48 States with, now, GEAR UP programs. And many of our territories also are represented, from Guam and Puerto Rico.

It is a tremendous success to see the college-going rate among this population of GEAR UP students, now over 2 million young people being served at 60-plus percent, 64 percent of them going on to college.

I do want to acknowledge the great work of my colleague from southwest Texas, Ruben Hinojosa, who has led and chairs the subcommittee on Higher Education.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.