U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) announced today that she is fighting to save the Upward Bound program, which has benefited thousands of low-income students in the Tampa Bay area since its inception 41 years ago. 

    The U.S. Department of Education has cut federal funding from approximately 100 Upward Bound programs nationwide, including three major Florida universities: the University of South Florida, Florida A&M University, and the University of Florida. Upward Bound has had a strong presence at all three of these schools for decades, but without federal funding they would have to discontinue the programs. 

    “I was very disappointed when I heard about the funding cuts to Upward Bound at USF, FAMU and the University of Florida,” said Castor. “This program serves as an excellent tool for mentoring students and helping thousands of low-income children to be the first in their families to attend college. Upward Bound requires the benefit of federal funding to continue to make a positive impact on our students. Today I am proud to say that I am standing up for those children and their families to keep the program running.” 

    In response to the loss of funding, Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia introduced an amendment to Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller's College Cost Reduction Act, which will be considered in the budget reconciliation this week. Scott's amendment restores $120 million from 2008 to 2011 to many Upward Bound projects, including the University of South Florida. The amendment was passed in Committee and will be included in the bill considered by the House of Representatives this week. Representative Castor will likely manage the bill on the House floor. 

    Castor voiced her concerns through a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings expressing disappointment with the decision to cut funding, and was joined in the letter by six additional Members of the Florida delegation. 

    Castor represents Florida's 11th Congressional district, which covers parts of Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee counties.