Roybal-Allard fights for Pell grants

During an Appropriations subcommittee hearing Wednesday about federal education funding in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) stood up for Pell grant funding and other federal assistance to low-and-middle income college students.Roybal-Allard gave the following statement to her congressional colleagues on the panel and to Education Under Secretary Martha Kanter who testified at the hearing: "Pell grants are the cornerstone of federal financial aid and make the dream of college a reality for more than 9 million low-and-middle income students across the country. Cutting this critical aid not only will deny college access to our talented young people, but will deprive our workforce of their contributions and threaten our long-term economic recovery. If we are going to stay competitive, we must increase the number of students that attend college and gain the skills necessary to compete in the world economy. Cutting Pell Grants as we try to increase college graduation rates is short sighted and counterproductive to our nation's interests. Reducing the maximum Pell Grant award would jeopardize college access for millions of students. This is unconscionable, especially when our nation's economic health depends on educating and training America's workforce. Now is not the time to decrease the Pell Grant. Maintaining the maximum award at $5,550 should be the top priority of this committee."

********** Published: March 17, 2011 - Volume 9 - Issue 48