Rep. Vargas Joins Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Double Pell Grant, Make College More Affordable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) joined U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) in introducing 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, expand the program to include Dreamers, and make other changes to expand the award for all students and families. The Pell Grant program is the cornerstone of federal financial aid for postsecondary education, serving over six million undergraduate students.
“Pell Grants help make college more accessible for millions of students. However, as the cost of college continues to rise, these grants cover less than they used to,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “This legislation will strengthen Pell Grants, expand the program to include Dreamers, and increase educational and economic opportunities for students across the nation.”
In addition to doubling the Pell Grant maximum award and indexing the maximum award for inflation, the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act also 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.
In addition to Representatives Vargas, Scott and Pocan, the bill is cosponsored in the House by Representatives Cori Bush (MO-01), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01.), John Garamendi (CA-08), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), John Sarbanes (MD-03.), Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-Northern Marina Islands), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10.), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Alma Adams (NC-12.), Andre Carson (IN-07), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14).
In addition to Senators Hirono, Murray, Reed, and Whitehouse, the bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
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