Statement on the Opportunity to Strengthen Pell Grants and the “Dangerous Precedent” in the Senate FY17 Appropriations Bill
The bipartisan Senate agreement to restore the ability of some students to access Pell Grants year-round is a positive step, but it will help only a small fraction of Pell Grant recipients. Moreover, the Senate FY17 appropriations bill being marked up also takes $1.2 billion out of the Pell Grant program to fund other programs. We agree with Senator Tammy Baldwin who called this “a dangerous precedent” and “troubling” given rising student debt levels. We can and must do more to help all 8 million Pell Grant recipients get to and through college without burdensome debt.
