S. 2664Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

GEAR UP for Success Act of 2018

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 9:13 PM UTC

The GEAR UP for Success Act of 2018 rewrites parts of the GEAR UP program in the Higher Education Act to improve college‑readiness services. It gives priority to entities that have already run successful early‑intervention programs, limits duplicate funding, expands student supports, adds scholarship rules, and strengthens data‑collection and evaluation requirements. The changes affect state and local education agencies that receive GEAR UP grants and the students they serve.

Key Provisions

Grants will give competitive priority to entities that previously ran successful GEAR UP‑type programs, continued support for students through high‑school graduation, or meet both criteria.
An entity that receives a GEAR UP grant cannot receive another grant under the same program until the first grant period ends.
The Secretary must convene peer‑review panels and hold grant competitions whenever funds are available for new awards.
Program services are expanded to include mental‑health counseling, capacity‑building activities, dropout‑recovery programs, and data‑sharing agreements for post‑secondary outcomes.
Eligible entities must develop a scholarship plan, reserve 10‑50% of grant funds for scholarships, and follow new eligibility and award criteria.
Reporting metrics are added (FAFSA completion, scholarship awards, high‑school graduation, college enrollment, etc.) and technical‑assistance workshops are required for applicants.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2123-2124)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

April 12, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

April 12, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2123-2124)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

April 12, 2018

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about S. 2664 on the floor

2 Republicans1 Democrat

Sen. Ron WydenD-OR · Apr 12, 2018

Mr. President, every day, Social Security provides vital benefits to millions of Americans who worked and paid into the system, and I cannot overstate the important anti-poverty role that the program plays. Supplemental Security Income or SSI is the safety net of last resort for individuals who have not worked enough to qualify for Social Security. Even with these critical income support programs, more and more seniors and people with disabilities find themselves struggling to keep up with the costs of the things they need just to get by.

Although Social Security and SSI automatically increase each year when there is an increase in the cost of living, over time those increases do not allow beneficiaries to maintain their standard of living. Because Social Security provides an increasingly larger share of the elderly's income as they age, even a slight decrease in value of these lifeline benefits can lead to poverty and hardship. Too many seniors are walking on an economic tightrope, balancing their food bill against their rent against their utility bill. It's time to update Social Security's guarantee of a secure retirement, and this bill is a landmark step towards accomplishing that goal. I'm particularly hopeful about the benefits this bill will have for older American women, who live longer and often have less retirement savings.

To help combat the risk of poverty among the most vulnerable receiving Social Security and SSI, I, along with Senators Brown and Casey, are introducing the Elder Poverty Relief Act. This bill creates a monthly Poverty Relief Benefit for almost everyone over age 82, individuals who have been relying on Social Security or SSI for a long time, or who have worked in low-paying jobs and receive a very small Social Security benefit. The Poverty Relief benefit will also go to seniors who receive only SSI. If enacted, in 2019, the Poverty Relief Benefit would provide an additional $85 a month to almost 14 million people. The Poverty Relief Benefit will grow by roughly 4 percent each year. SSA estimates that the enactment of the Poverty Relief Benefit would reduce poverty among seniors who received the benefit by almost 25 percent in 2030 which would lift 420,000 seniors out of poverty. Notably, the enactment of the Poverty Relief Benefit would not accelerate the depletion year of the Social Security trust funds. The bill has been endorsed by the Gray Panthers, Justice in Aging, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Social Security Works, and the Strengthen Social Security Coalition.

For most seniors, Social Security is the only income they will receive that's guaranteed to last as long as they live. But despite these important benefits, poverty among seniors grows--with some studies showing the poverty rate among the very old is between 12 and 19 percent. We simply must do more to protect the financial stability of our elderly friends, neighbors, and relatives and enactment of the Poverty Relief Benefit would help reduce poverty among America's seniors. These are workers who sent a chunk of every paycheck to the Federal government with the understanding that they'd be getting it back in their later year when they needed it most. We must do right by them.

Mr. President: I ask unanimous consent that a letter from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare be inserted into the

Record following my remarks about the Elderly Poverty Act.

National Committee to Preserve

Social Security & Medicare,

Washington, DC, March 16, 2018.

Hon. Ron Wyden,

Washington, DC.

Dear Senator Wyden: On behalf of the millions of members

and supporters of the National Committee to Preserve Social

Security and Medicare, I write to endorse your bill, the

``Elder Poverty Relief Act.'' We applaud your leadership in

developing new and innovative approaches for alleviating

poverty among America's seniors.

The ``Elder Poverty Relief Act'' addresses the long-

standing problem of seniors falling into poverty after being

on the Social Security rolls for many years. This occurs when

inflation, only partially offset by annual cost-of-living

adjustments, gradually erodes the purchasing power of a

Social Security benefit for beneficiaries who have

participated in the program for several years.

The ``Elder Poverty Relief Act'' will help alleviate

poverty among the elderly and the disabled by granting each

beneficiary a monthly increase in their benefit equal to

about $85. This bump-up will increase for future

beneficiaries in tandem with growth in wages in the economy.

Benefits under the ``Elder Poverty Relief Act'' will be

paid to:

Social Security beneficiaries beginning at age 82 (or

older) and to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients

when they reach their full retirement age (currently 66,

increasing gradually to age 67);

Social Security and SSI beneficiaries who have received

benefits for 20 years; and to

Social Security beneficiaries with low monthly benefits

(currently about $944) when they reach their full retirement

age.

The ``Elder Poverty Relief Act'' embodies legislation that

the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and

Medicare has supported for a number of years. In testimony

given before the Senate Finance Committee at a hearing on

December 9, 2014, Catherine Dodd, who is the chair of the

National Committee's board of directors, recommended

increasing benefits for seniors who have received Social

Security for many years.

For these reasons, the National Committee endorses your

bill, the ``Elder Poverty Relief Act.'' We thank you for your

leadership on this matter and look forward to working with

you to enact this important improvement to Social Security.

Sincerely,

Max Richtman,

President and CEO.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. John CornynR-TX · Apr 12, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY · Apr 12, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. John CornynR-TX · Apr 12, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued April 12, 2018

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2664

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 12, 2018

Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Tillis, and Ms. Harris) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To reform the GEAR UP program.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the GEAR UP for Success Act of 2018.

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs amendments

Chapter 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–21 et seq.) is amended—

(1)

in section 404A (20 U.S.C. 1070a–21)—

(A)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of subsection (a)(1), by inserting for college readiness after academic support; and

(B)

in subsection (b)—

(i)

by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:

(3)

Priority

In making awards to eligible entities described in subsection (c), the Secretary—

(A)

may give a competitive priority—

(i)

to eligible entities that—

(I)

on the day before the date of enactment of the GEAR UP for Success Act of 2018, carried out successful educational opportunity programs under this chapter (as this chapter was in effect on such day); and

(II)

have a prior, demonstrated commitment to early intervention leading to college access and readiness through collaboration and replication of successful strategies;

(ii)

to eligible entities that ensure that students served under this chapter on the day before the date of enactment of the GEAR UP for Success Act of 2018 continue to receive assistance through the completion of secondary school; or

(iii)

to eligible entities that meet the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii); and

(B)

shall not give a competitive priority on any other basis.

; and

(ii)

by adding at the end the following:

(4)

Multiple award prohibition

Any eligible entity described in subsection (c)(1) that receives a grant under this chapter shall not be eligible to receive an additional grant under this chapter until after the date on which the initial grant period expires.

;

(2)

in section 404B(d)(1) (20 U.S.C. 1070a–22(d)(1))—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by inserting and after the semicolon;

(B)

in subparagraph (B), by striking ; and and inserting a period; and

(C)

by striking subparagraph (C);

(3)

in section 404C (20 U.S.C. 1070a–23)—

(A)

in subsection (b)(1)(A)—

(i)

by inserting matching funds after will provide;

(ii)

by inserting equaling after private funds,; and

(iii)

by striking the cost of the program, which matching funds and inserting total Federal grant award, which; and

(B)

by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:

(d)

Peer review panels and competitions

The Secretary—

(1)

shall convene peer review panels to assist in making determinations regarding the awarding of grants under this chapter; and

(2)

shall host a grant competition to make new awards under this chapter in any year in which there are funds available to make new awards.

;

(4)

in section 404D (20 U.S.C. 1070a–24)—

(A)

in subsection (b)—

(i)

in paragraph (1), by striking or former participants of a program under this chapter and inserting , former participants of a program under this chapter, or peers and near peers after adults;

(ii)

in paragraph (3), by inserting academic, social, and postsecondary planning after supportive;

(iii)

in paragraph (10)—

(I)

by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (K) as subparagraphs (F) through (L), respectively;

(II)

by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:

(E)

counseling or referral services to address the behavioral, social-emotional, and mental health needs of at-risk students;

;

(III)

in subparagraph (I), as redesignated by subclause (I), by inserting , cognitive, non-cognitive, and credit-by-examination after skills;

(IV)

in subparagraph (K), as redesignated by subclause (I), by striking and after the semicolon;

(V)

in subparagraph (L), as redesignated by subclause (I), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(VI)

by adding at the end the following:

(M)

capacity building activities that create college-going cultures in participating schools and local educational agencies.

; and

(iv)

by adding at the end the following:

(16)

Creating or expanding secondary school drop-out recovery programs that allow students who have dropped out of secondary school to complete a regular secondary school diploma and begin college-level work.

(17)

Establishing data collection and data sharing agreements to obtain, analyze, and report postsecondary outcome data for eligible students for a period of not more than 72 months after the end of the grant award period, which may include postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion data.

(18)

Establishing or maintaining an agreement with a consortium of eligible entities described in section 404A(c) to—

(A)

foster collaborative approaches to research and evaluation;

(B)

improve the quality of data collection, data sharing, analysis and reporting; and

(C)

apply evidence to improve programs and evaluation under this chapter.

(19)

Providing services under this chapter to students who have received services under a previous grant award under this chapter but have not yet completed grade 12.

;

(B)

in subsection (c)—

(i)

in paragraph (3), by inserting and technical assistance after support; and

(ii)

by striking paragraph (9); and

(C)

in subsection (d)—

(i)

in paragraph (3), by striking or;

(ii)

by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and

(iii)

by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

(4)

eligible for free or reduced-price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act; or

;

(5)

in section 404E (20 U.S.C. 1070a–25)—

(A)

in subsection (a)—

(i)

by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively;

(ii)

by inserting before paragraph (2), as redesignated by clause (i), the following:

(1)

Application requirements

(A)

Plan for maintenance of financial assistance

An eligible entity proposing to establish or maintain a financial assistance program providing scholarships for students assisted by the program of the eligible entity under this chapter shall include a plan regarding the financial application program with the application submitted under section 404C.

(B)

Scholarship details

Under a plan described in subparagraph (A), an eligible entity—

(i)

may elect to offer one or more types of scholarships; and

(ii)

shall describe, for each type of scholarship—

(I)

the minimum and maximum awards for the scholarships, consistent with section 404E(d), based on criteria and disbursement priorities established by the eligible entity;

(II)

the duration of the scholarships, which may be single-year or multi-year awards;

(III)

the enrollment requirements for participating students, which may include providing scholarships for participating students who are enrolled in an institution of higher education on less than a full-time basis during any award year; and

(IV)

notwithstanding subsection (g), any additional student eligibility criteria established by the eligible entity for earning and maintaining scholarships under this section, including—

(aa)

financial need;

(bb)

meeting participation milestones in the activities offered by the eligible entity under section 404D;

(cc)

meeting and maintaining satisfactory academic milestones; and

(dd)

other criteria aligned with State and local goals to incentivize postsecondary readiness, access, and success.

; and

(iii)

in paragraph (3), as redesignated by clause (i), by striking may award and inserting may use not less than 10 percent and not more than 50 percent of funds made available under this chapter to award;

(B)

in subsection (b)—

(i)

in the subsection heading, by inserting State before Limitation; and

(ii)

in paragraph (2), by striking eligible entity demonstrates and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following:

eligible entity—

(I)

demonstrates that the eligible entity has another means of providing the students with the financial assistance described in this section or eligible students have reasonable access to State and local financial assistance programs; and

(II)

describes such means or access in the application submitted under section 404C.

;

(C)

in subsection (e)—

(i)

by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

(1)

In general

(A)

Scholarship plan

Each eligible entity described in section 404A(c)(1) that receives a grant under this chapter shall hold in reserve, for the students served by such grant as described in section 404B(d)(1)(A) or 404D(d), an estimated amount that is based on the eligible entity's scholarship plan described in subsection (a)(1).

(B)

Interest use

Interest earned on funds held in reserve under subparagraph (A) may be used by the eligible entity to administer the scholarship program during the award period and through the post-award period described in paragraph (4).

;

(ii)

in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting , or been accepted for enrollment, after enrolled; and

(iii)

in paragraph (3)—

(I)

in subparagraph (A), by striking and after the semicolon;

(II)

by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and

(III)

by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:

(B)

the costs associated with enrolling in an institution of higher education; and

; and

(D)

in subsection (g)—

(i)

in paragraph (3)—

(I)

by inserting or, if the eligible entity chooses, in another program of study or credential program for which an individual could use funds received under a Federal Pell Grant to attend, before that is located; and

(II)

by striking except that, at the State's option and inserting except that, at the eligible entity's option; and

(ii)

in paragraph (4), by inserting and qualifies for an award, consistent with the eligible entity's scholarship plan as described in subsection (a)(1) after 404D(a);

(6)

in section 404G (20 U.S.C. 1070a–27)—

(A)

in subsection (b)—

(i)

in paragraph (1), by striking and after the semicolon;

(ii)

in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(iii)

by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

(3)

include the following metrics:

(A)

The number of students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid under section 483.

(B)

If applicable, the number of students receiving a scholarship under section 404E.

(C)

The graduation rate of participating students from high school.

(D)

The enrollment of participating students into postsecondary education.

(E)

Such other metrics as the Secretary may require.

; and

(B)

in subsection (c)—

(i)

in the subsection heading, by inserting and technical assistance after Federal evaluation;

(ii)

in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—

(I)

by inserting after consultation with the community of eligible entities receiving grants under this chapter and after Secretary shall,;

(II)

by striking 0.75 and inserting 1; and

(III)

by striking evaluate the effectiveness of the program and, as appropriate, disseminate the results of the evaluation. Such evaluation shall include a separate analysis of;

(iii)

by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting the margins appropriately; and

(iv)

before subparagraph (A) (as redesignated by clause (iii)), by inserting the following:

(1)

provide pre-application technical assistance workshops for eligible entities and potential applicants in any year in which new awards are expected to be made;

(2)

support initiatives designed to improve the research, data collection and infrastructure, and evaluation capacity of eligible entities; and

(3)

evaluate the effectiveness of the program and, as appropriate, disseminate the results of the evaluation. Such evaluation may include a separate analysis of—

; and

(7)

in section 408H (20 U.S.C. 1070a–28), by striking 2009 and inserting 2019.