Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act
June 16, 2021

​​“We applaud Senators Hirono and Murray and Representatives Pocan and Scott for introducing the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act. This exceptionally important legislation would ensure that Pell Grants will truly put college within the reach of millions of talented students.

We know that doubling the maximum Pell Grant to $13,000 and making Dreamers eligible is the quickest and most effective way to boost the ability of millions of students from low- and moderate-income families to access an affordable, high-quality college education.

Nearly 90 percent of Pell Grant dollars go to students with a family income below $50,000, and they are especially critical for students of color. Pell Grants help nearly seven million low- and moderate-income students attend and complete college annually, but the purchasing power of the grant is at an all-time low. Nearly 50 years ago, the maximum grant covered more than three-quarters of the cost of attending a four-year public college. Now, thanks to state budget cuts, it covers less than one-third of that cost.

Students from all 50 states and all corners of the country—from rural areas to cities to everywhere in between—rely on the Pell Grant program to pursue their college aspirations. The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act ​will dramatically boost access and opportunity for those and future students and their families, and will make needed improvements to secure the future of the program. We look forward to working with members of the House and Senate and the Biden administration to enact this vital legislation.”

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