OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Letter to the Honorable Harold Rogers, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Honorable Tom Cole, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations, the Honorable Nita M. Lowey, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Appropriations, and the Honorable Rosa L. DeLauro, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations - Pell Grant Protections

Letter

By: Dina Titus, Jan Schakowsky, Loretta Sanchez, Charlie Rangel, Rubén Hinojosa, Sr., John Delaney, David Cicilline, Emanuel Cleaver II, Jim Clyburn, Grace Napolitano, Annie Kuster, Elijah Cummings, Frederica Wilson, John Garamendi, Joe Kennedy III, Earl Blumenauer, Paul Tonko, Eddie Johnson, Bobby Scott, Ruben Gallego, Mike Capuano, Diana DeGette, Eliot Engel, Tony Cárdenas, Jared Polis, Sean Maloney, Doris Matsui, Sandy Levin, Gerry Connolly, Rick Nolan, Bobby Rush, Marcia Fudge, Lacy Clay, Jr., Hank Johnson, Jr., Mike Honda, John Yarmuth, Rick Larsen, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Gregory Meeks, Joaquin Castro, Mike Thompson, Kilili Sablan, Albio Sires, Adam Smith, Barbara Lee, Mike Quigley, Richard Neal, Alcee Hastings, Sr., Danny Davis, Sheila Jackson Lee, Joe Courtney, Gwen Moore, Xavier Becerra, Karen Bass, Cheri Bustos, Yvette Clarke, Jerry Nadler, Peter DeFazio, John Sarbanes, Niki Tsongas, Brian Higgins, Mark DeSaulnier, Raul Grijalva, Adam Schiff, Ted Deutch, Al Green, André Carson, Jim Langevin, Ted Lieu, Bill Foster, Jim McGovern, Chellie Pingree, Debbie Dingell, Carolyn Maloney, Kurt Schrader, Jackie Speier, Mark Takai, Chris Van Hollen, Jr., Dave Loebsack, Grace Meng, Keith Ellison, Jim McDermott, Ben Luján, Jr., G. K. Butterfield, Jr., John Lewis, David Scott, Brenda Lawrence, Filemon Vela, Jr., John Conyers, Jr., Suzanne Bonamici, Mark Pocan, Donna Edwards, Ron Kind, Robin Kelly, Stacey Plaskett, Zoe Lofgren, Katherine Clark, Patrick Murphy, Judy Chu, Lois Capps, Henry Cuellar, Eleanor Norton, Sanford Bishop, Jr., Hakeem Jeffries, Janice Hahn, Louise Slaughter, Alan Grayson, Nydia Velázquez, Gene Green, Kathleen Rice, Bill Keating, Cedric Richmond, Dan Kildee, Mark Takano, Lloyd Doggett II, Corrine Brown, Seth Moulton, Alan Lowenthal, Donald Beyer, Jr., Bonnie Watson Coleman, Peter Welch
Date: July 6, 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Higher Education

In order for students to compete and excel in the 21st century economy, Congress must do more to ensure that they have access to a quality higher education and assurances that they will not be burdened by excessive student loan debt upon graduation. Pell Grants-- the foundation of federal financial aid for low-income students--are critical to this effort. Last month, we were disappointed to see the Senate Committee on Appropriations cut $1.2 billion in Pell Grant funding to address other funding needs in its Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) funding bill. As the House Committee on Appropriations continues to work on its LHHS bill, we strongly oppose any harmful cuts to Pell funding in this year's appropriations vehicle that will make college more expensive for students in future years.

To support future improvements to the Pell Grant program that will enhance access and affordability for low-income students, it is critical to preserve all available resources in the program--including a $7.8 billion surplus Pell is carrying forward in fiscal year 2017.

Rescissions, cancellations, or funding level cuts will worsen the funding outlook for Pell Grants and make it harder to strengthen the program through reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which Congress is expected to tackle in the coming months and years. Any current surplus balance reflects Congress' intent and commitment to make college more affordable for millions of students through updating the Pell Grant program.

The LHHS appropriations bill should not balance other funding needs on the backs of low-income college students. In 2017, we urge you to protect Pell Grants from damaging funding cuts that could make college less affordable for millions of Americans.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your response.


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