Debt Deal Would Preserve Pell Grants

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U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, discusses upcoming Congressional debt vote.

The pending federal debt deal would protect a college grant program for low-income students, according to an email from the National College Access Network.

The future of of the federal Pell Grant program has been in doubt as Congress and President Barack Obama negotiated a deal on raising the debt limit. Last week Republicans criticized a plan to add $17 billion in a failed compromise proposal for Pell Grants, which determines eligibility by income and does not require students to repay grants of up to $5,550 per year.

The National College Access Network email notes the next debate is around the corner:

“This deal is a victory for advocates of Pell Grants! Thanks again for your hard work protecting these important dollars for our students. While this is an important victory for our students, the battle over Pell grant and other education funding will continue this fall. Congress must still pass a federal budget for FY12 (Oct 1, 2011 – Sept 30, 2012) which is subject to the spending limit set in this new deal. In addition, the bipartisan panel will be looking for another $1.2 – 1.5 trillion in cuts by November 23.”

The U.S. House and Senate must still approve the compromise.

The grants are particularly important in Florida, whose students received $1.93 billion in Pell Grants during the 2009-2010 school year. Five of the top 20 public colleges receiving Pell Grants are in Florida.

The Florida College Access Network, the state affiliate of the National College Access Network, is a policy and community network partner of StateImpact Florida.