Legislative Tracker: Pell Grants
On this page, you'll find proposals that include recommendations for expanding or altering the Federal Pell Grant Program.
H.R.7880 — Degrees Not Debt Act of 2022
Sponsor: Rep. Carbajal [D-CA]
Cosponsors: 0 (0D; 0R)
Introduced: 05/27/2022
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would set the maximum Pell Grant award amount at $13,800 for the 2022-23 school year, and require annual updates based on inflation and cost-of-living adjustments.
H.R.6537 — Pell Grant Sustainability Act
Sponsor: Rep. Casten [D-IL]
Cosponsors: 15 (15D; 0R)
Introduced: 02/01/2022
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would ensure that federal resources keep up with changing economic trends by restoring the automatic annual inflation adjustment to the Federal Pell Grant program.
H.R.6425 — AID Act
Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio [D-OR]
Cosponsors: 0
Introduced: 01/19/2022
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would increase the maximum Pell Grant award to $10,230 and index the award going forward to inflation. The bill would allow the Pell Grant to be used for short-term workforce training programs of at least 150 hours or eight weeks and would increase funding for the Federal Work Study and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant.
H.R.5926 — Pell Grant Modernization Act
Sponsor: Rep. Grothman [R-WI]
Cosponsors: 0
Introduced: 11/09/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would lower the semester limit for Pell Grant eligibility from 12 semesters to 10 semesters. Under the bill, an eligible program would require an academic year of a minimum of 30 weeks of instruction time for credit hour programs and a minimum of 26 weeks for clock hour programs. In addition, the bill would increase the credit or clock hours required in the definition of full-time, 3/4 time, half-time, and less than half-time based on the change to the definition of an academic year.
H.R.3946 / S.2081 — Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2021
Sponsor: Rep. Pocan [D-WI]
Cosponsors: 74 (74D)
Introduced: 06/16/2021
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono [D-HI]
Cosponsors: 22 (22D)
Introduced: 06/16/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would make a number of improvements to the Pell grant such as doubling the maximum award of the Pell grant, indexing the award to inflation, and other changes in an overall effort to expand the award for more students and families. Additionally, the bill would make Pell funding fully mandatory, meaning it wouldn't be subject to year-to-year appropriations.
H.R.4002 — Expanding Access to Graduate Education Act of 2021
Sponsor: Rep. Kuster [D-NH]
Cosponsors: 3 (1D; 2R)
Introduced: 06/17/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would open Pell grant eligibility to students enrolled in graduate school programs. If enacted, this legislation would allow graduate students, who received Pell grants as undergraduates, the ability to apply remaining semesters of Pell eligibility towards a graduate degree, if they continue to meet income requirements.
H.R.2037/S.864 — JOBS Act of 2021
Sponsor: Rep. Levin [D-MI]
Cosponsors: 8
Introduced: 03/18/2021
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine [D-VA]
Cosponsors: 31
Introduced: 03/18/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would expand Pell Grant eligibility to short-term education and training programs. The bill would amend the Higher Education Act to expand Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in high-quality job training programs that are at least eight weeks in length and lead to industry-recognized credentials and certificates. Additionally, eligible training or education programs must offer training that meets the needs of the local or regional workforce.
Publication Date: 7/12/2022
