I understand that a group of Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill called the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024, bicameral legislation that would nearly double the Pell Grant maximum award, index the maximum award for inflation, and make other improvements to expand the award for working students and families. For the first time, this legislation would also expand the program to include Dreamers.
The Pell Grant program is the cornerstone of federal financial aid for postsecondary education, serving over 6 million undergraduate students. We should expand it to put higher education in reach so that every student has the opportunity to succeed.
In addition to doubling the Pell Grant maximum award and indexing the maximum award for inflation, the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act makes the Pell Grant funding fully mandatory to protect it from funding shortfalls and restores lifetime eligibility for the program to 18 semesters, among other changes that will benefit students.
Please pass this wonderful legislation! The whole country benefits when higher education is more affordable.
First sent on June 21, 2024 by Jess Craven
