Democrats introduce bill to restore Pell Grants

[central scrutinizer]

http://edworkforce.house.gov/democrats/releases/rel1505b.html

link above has more info, just received the following press release via e-mail. Since it was dated January 5, I didn't post it in LBN:


BISHOP, HOLT INTRODUCE BILL

TO RESTORE PELL GRANTS

Nearly 90,000 Students to Lose Grants,

More than 1 Million Students will see Aid Cuts

Washington, DC- Congressmen Tim Bishop (D-NY) and Rush Holt (D-NJ) have introduced legislation to protect students from a harmful rule enacted by the Bush Administration that is expected to disqualify nearly 90,000 students around the country for Pell Grants, and will cut aid for more than a million additional students.

The Administration implemented the harmful rule two days before Christmas, as college students were on recess and many high school seniors and their families were awaiting college acceptance letters. The Bishop-Holt legislation will restore funding to students who would be deprived of much-needed federal assistance by the new rule. Bishop and Holt serve on the House Education and the Workforce Committee and are committed to making college more affordable for working families.

The new federal rule will change the way the needs analysis system deducts taxes families pay, giving the appearance that families have more money available to pay for tuition, thereby reducing their eligibility for federal aid. Current tax law allows families to deduct state and local taxes when calculating how much income they have available to pay tuition. The Bishop-Holt Restoring College Access for all Americans Act will take the bite out of this harmful rule change, and make sure that federal aid is not denied to students who would otherwise be eligible.

"This new policy fails the test of providing opportunity to our students", said Bishop, a former Provost at Southampton College, who earlier in his career served as the school Director of Financial Aid. "At a time when college costs are rising, it is outrageous that we would make it harder for students from working families to make educational ends meet."

"For thousands of American students, this federal rule change will make dreams of a college education just that - a dream", said Holt, a former physics professor at Princeton University. "Education is the key to a brighter future, and denying our students this opportunity is unconscionable."

Joining the effort as an original cosponsor is Congressman George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the education committee and a national leader in increasing access to higher education.

"With this bill, we are trying to prevent Republicans from raising the price of college. Tuition is already far too high for most families. Congress should be trying to make college more affordable, not more expensive", Miller said.

This change of eligibility comes as the purchasing power of Pell Grants is declining. Today, the $4,050 maximum Pell Grant covers only 17 percent of private college costs and 42 percent at a public college. This has been one factor in escalating student debt. The average four-year college graduate accumulates over $16,000 in debt, with monthly payments of almost $200.

According to recent Internal Revenue Service statistics, 90,000 college students may no longer qualify for the program, and aid will shrink by $100-$300 for an additional 1.3 million students. In total, this would result in a $300 million cut for students from low and middle-income families.

-end-

[davidinalameda]

1. good

glad to see the Dems challenging Bush on this

perfect issue to use against him

[phusion]

2. Please write to support...

Please write your Dem and Repub reps and ask for support on this...

The Pell grants helped put my parents through college. It's a great program...

[cornermouse]

3. Its a start, but its not enough.

Not nearly enough...

[central scrutinizer]

6. you're right and Miller agrees

from the link:

Republicans have already failed to adequately fund Pell scholarships, the premier federal scholarship program for students from low- and moderate-income families. President Bush and Congressional leaders have frozen or cut the maximum value of the Pell scholarship four years in a row, despite the fact that the maximum $4,050 scholarship is now worth $800 less, in real terms, than it was in 1975-76. Miller has proposed boosting the maximum value of the Pell scholarship to $11,600 by 2009-10.

end excerpt. In 1975, a low income student's Pell Grant was equivalent to about 80% of the cost at most public universities. While Pell Grants have remained frozen, college tuition has had double digit inflation largely because state legislatures have cut support, shifting the cost onto the students. Currently, at the public university where I work, a student receiving a maximum Pell Grant finds that it barely covers 25% of the cost of attending. And don't get me started on the inherent inequity of most merit-based scholarship programs.

[txaslftist]

4. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL ISSUE.

To take on the reichwing with. We are the party of opportunity, we are the party of the future, we are the party that believes in education and in equipping tomorrow's leaders in business and industry.

They are the party that favors corporate tax breaks for those who've already made it in business and industry, they are the party of yesterday, they are the party denying opportunity.

I can't think of a single issue that more clearly illustrates the differences between the parties domestically.

[central scrutinizer]

5. if you want to read the spin from the other (dark) side

http://edworkforce.house.gov/

Clearly they are worried about the public perception on this issue.