From: Heather Valentine
Subject: TRIO ALERT ON FOXX AMENDMENT -- 8/20/05
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Dear TRIO supporter,
Today, the Council for Opportunity in Education staff met with the staff from Representative Boehner and Representative Foxx's Washington, DC offices. The meeting was very productive and COE staff is currently working on compromise language with the staff from Boehner and Foxx's office to address the TRIO community's concerns with the current Foxx language that was included in the bill that was passed in the House Education & the Workforce Committee. We are very hopeful that we can work out acceptable accountability language and ultimately support the TRIO accountability language that is included in the final bill.
During the meeting, the novice amendment was also discussed. While we are hopeful that we can support the Foxx amendment when it is revised, we are still not supportive of the 10 percent set aside for novice applicants. We expressed this to committee staff and they are aware that we are continuing to gather signatures for the Cole/Payne letter. As of today, we have 164 signatures on the letter. Please see the Council website for a complete list of those Members who have signed on.
If your Member has not signed on to the letter, it is important that you continue to outreach to him or her and the education legislative assistant in the office to express your concerns with the set aside. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Council for talking points or any other assistance you may need to set up a meeting with your Representative.
As always, the Council thanks you for all of your support and efforts in the field.
Heather