The Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 appropriations process is underway, and we’re in a critical window for advocacy. The US House of Representatives is planning to mark up its FY27 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill in early June, and the US Senate is aiming for a markup later that month. This means that the decisions that Congress makes in the coming weeks will shape the future of the Pell Grant and the 7.2 million students who rely on it annually.
We need your support: join the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) for Virtual Advocacy Week, May 11–15, to urge Congress to fully fund the Pell Grant in FY27 and protect students from cuts to aid or eligibility.
Why Your Voice Matters
Every day, NCAN members see how Pell Grants help students enroll in and complete postsecondary education and training. Members of Congress need to hear directly from organizations serving students in their states and districts — especially as appropriators and education committee leaders negotiate FY27 funding priorities.
“So, How Can I Get Involved?”
Virtual Advocacy Week is a high-impact opportunity, and you can get involved in three easy steps:
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Schedule virtual Hill meetings with the offices of your federal policymakers.
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Conduct meetings to educate policymakers about the need to fully fund Pell and restore the purchasing power of the award.
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Share your meeting notes with NCAN, so we can keep track of our reach and impact!
Everything you need to plan, prepare for, and hold successful virtual meetings is linked below. First, for meeting scheduling:
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119th Congress education staffer contact sheet – use these contacts for your Hill outreach.
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Email template for Hill outreach – customize as needed.
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Meeting tracking spreadsheet – please use this shared sheet to document your scheduled meetings!
As you prepare for your meetings, we highly recommend pulling data points from the following sources:
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NCAN’s recent Pell Grant analysis – use the Tableau map to explore how your state and district would benefit if Pell kept pace with inflation!
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NCAN’s Economic Value of Postsecondary Education state profiles – check out the state profiles to see how your state economy benefits when residents complete higher education.
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NCAN’s College Affordability state profiles – explore data from NCAN’s annual Affordability Gap analysis.
Finally, use these Pell Grant Talking Points for internal prep. You can share this NCAN Policy Priorities one-pager (or “leave-behind”) with Hill staff after your meetings.
Key States and Committees for Pell Advocacy
This week, we’re focused on outreach to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, House Education and Workforce Committee, and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committees, and especially Republican Members of Congress, as they hold the majority in both chambers. We’re particularly seeking advocacy support from members and students in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, or Texas, where elected officials play a key role in shaping federal higher education funding and policy.
Help Us Keep the Momentum Going to Protect Pell
At NCAN’s Leadership Summit in April, more than 250 members and students participated in over 120 meetings on Capitol Hill to advocate for fully funding the Pell Grant. Virtual Advocacy Week is an opportunity to continue that momentum. Together, we can ensure Congress fully funds Pell and delivers on the promise of the program for the millions of students who rely on it each year.
Questions? Reach out to Louisa Woodhouse, Senior Associate, Policy and Advocacy, at [email protected].