By Raymond AlQaisi, Senior Manager of Policy and Advocacy
Reading time: 3 min.
Last night, President Biden delivered his first State of the Union address, updating the public
on his administration's accomplishments and outstanding priorities.
During the speech, which covered a range of economic, foreign policy, and pandemic recovery issues, the president called on Congress to increase Pell Grants.
NCAN applauds President Biden for continuing to push for a stronger Pell Grant, a top policy priority for NCAN and our members.
“Everyone – regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status – should have the opportunity to complete affordable, high-quality education after high school. But that isn’t always the case,” said NCAN CEO Kim Cook. “Strengthening the need-based Pell
Grant is one of the best, and best-targeted, ways to help close equity gaps in postsecondary attainment. We urge Congress to help create postsecondary opportunities for all students, no matter their financial circumstances, by funding the president’s
request for a stronger Pell Grant.”
The day before the speech, a fact sheet released by the White House stated that the president plans to ask Congress to increase the maximum Pell Grant award by more than $2,000. If Congress were to act on this request, the max Pell Grant would increase to $8,495. This would raise its purchasing power from 28% of the
average cost of attendance for a bachelor’s degree at an in-state public institution to 37% for 2022-23.
Such an increase would be a considerable step forward on NCAN’s goal of #DoublePell, which would restore the maximum grant’s purchasing power to 50%.
For the president’s vision of a stronger Pell Grant to come to fruition, Congress needs to act. The president can make requests in a budget proposal (and reiterate them in the State of the Union), but it is Congress’ responsibility to fund federal education
programs.
But that annual funding, or appropriations, process is significantly delayed. Congress continues to negotiate federal funding for fiscal year 2022, which technically began back on Oct. 1. So far, the U.S. House has passed an appropriations bill that included
a $400 maximum Pell Grant increase – triple the average increase in the last five years – but the Senate has not yet taken action on this proposal.
We may know how much funding Congress will give the Pell Grant program for the 2022-23 award year sometime next week.
NCAN will keep our membership updated on further developments from Capitol Hill.
Email to a Friend