Reed & Whitehouse Seek to Strengthen Pell Grant and Make College More Affordable

Press Release

In an effort to help make college more affordable, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Pell Grant Preservation & Expansion Act. The legislation seeks to expand and permanently safeguard the Pell Grant program, helping millions of low-income students offset the rising costs of college. The bill would improve the purchasing power of Pell Grants, permanently index the maximum grant to inflation, shift the Pell Grant program to fully-mandatory funding, and restore eligibility for defrauded students.

Pell Grants are federal, need-based financial aid awarded to qualified undergraduate students. Pell Grants help pay for tuition, but unlike student loans, they do not need to be paid back. Last year, over 7 million students nationwide, including 30,000 Rhode Island students, benefited from over $28 billion in Pell Grants. The maximum grant for the current school year is $5,815.

"Every day we hear stories about someone wanting to go to college but they can't afford it. Pell grants are one of the few options out there to help people get ahead educationally and economically. We heard a lot during last year's campaign about people getting left behind. Well, boosting Pell grants is a sure fire way to help those folks out," said Senator Reed. "This legislation will help ensure more qualified students have access to the financial aid they need."

"It's important that every Rhode Islander who wants to go to college can find a way to pay for it that won't saddle them with enormous debt," said Senator Whitehouse, a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. "Thanks to Senator Pell's vision, millions of students across generations have had vital help paying for college and joining the middle class. This important proposal sees his vision through by putting the program on sound fiscal footing and increasing the purchasing power of a Pell Grant."

"Last year, more than 20,000 Hawaii students received financial support through the federal Pell Grant program," said Senator Hirono. "However, much work remains to ensure that more students receive a meaningful Pell Grant award. This bill increases the maximum award for low-income students, makes sure that awards keep pace with inflation, and makes other improvements to the program so that Pell Grants can continue to make college more affordable for students. I thank Senator Murray for her support of this effort."

"Earning a college degree is the key to opportunity for so many low-income students, but far too many students must take on massive amounts of debt just to get the skills and education they need to get a good job with a decent living," said Senator Murray. "I am proud to introduce this legislation to expand the Pell Grant program and give the eight million students currently receiving Pell Grants some additional needed stability and security. As a recipient of Pell Grants myself, I know firsthand the danger of President Trump's vision for slashing student aid. Instead, I will keep fighting to make college more affordable for students across the country."

The Pell Grant is named in honor and in recognition of the extraordinary vision and service of former U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI) who was a lead author of the law creating the program.

The Pell Grant Preservation & Expansion Act also extends the program to DREAMers and restores eligibility to incarcerated individuals, encouraging them to support themselves and their families, upon release. The bill also increases support for working students, expands eligibility to short-term job training programs of high quality, and increases Pell Grant eligibility to 14 semesters to give non-traditional students more flexibility to complete their degrees.

The bill also incorporates priorities from other Members of Congress, and is cosponsored by Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Brian Schatz (D-HI). Companion legislation is being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA) and hironoSusan Davis (D-CA), Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Danny Davis (D-IL), and Derek Kilmer (D-WA).

Reed and Whitehouse say they hope to advance the legislation this year as Congress plans to pursue reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.