Congress Could Cut Pell Grants for Nation's Poorest Students: News of the Day
Future cuts to the Pell Grant program proposed in Congressman Ryan’s budget would cause severe problems for those in most dire need of the funds, according to the Contra Costa Times. Pell recipients are more likely than other students to take out loans, and thus, cutting the grants would cause more debt problems for a population already struggling financially."We need more people going to college, and fewer people can afford it," [Lauren Asher, president of the Oakland, California-based Institute for College Access and Success] said. "The amount of the grant can really affect whether you go to or stay in college."
The Department of Education has shown the importance of Pell grants: recipients from the nation’s poorest families are more likely to stay in school and complete their college education than their non-Pell-receiving counterparts.
Though the Pell program avoided cuts in this year's budget, they could face cuts next year under a separate Republican budget proposal that would reduce the scholarships by at least $800 or up to $3,900.
The scholarships, which remained stagnant for several years under Republican leadership in the House even as college costs rose sharply, should not be among the budget solutions, said Rep. George Miller (D-CA):
"Obviously what we're trying to do is make the Pell Grant stay current with costs," said Miller, the ranking Democrat on the House Education and Labor [sic] Committee. "That's a pretty severe cut."
Miller made increasing Pell a top priority when Democrats took control of the House in 2006. Read more about the Democrats commitment to Pell here.