The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PELL GRANT
______
HON. DANNY K. DAVIS
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, Nelson Mandela imparted a lesson to all of us when he said: ``Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.'' This summer, we mark the 50th anniversary of the Pell Grant--a program that put postsecondary education in reach for tens of millions of low-income students, a program that gives access to the pursuit of knowledge for those not born into privilege, and a program that allows students to change the world regardless of how much change is in their pockets.
It is an honor and privilege to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Pell Grant Program. There was no Pell Grant when l went to college. The only way I could attend college was by the grace of receiving an academic scholarship that another student turned down. In 1972, Congress recognized the challenges faced by students like me, and it amended the Higher Education Act to provide direct financial aid to low-income students to afford them the same access to higher education and opportunity for success as their higher-income peers. Originally called the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant, this program was later named the Pell Grant in honor of its original sponsor, Senator Claiborne Pell, a Democrat from Rhode Island. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon, the program has maintained bipartisan support for five decades.
Since its creation, the Pell Grant has helped more than 80 million students attend college. Currently, 40 percent of undergraduate students--nearly 7 million students--receive Pell Grants. In Illinois's 7th Congressional District, nearly 33,000 students use over 142 million dollars in Pell Grants to pursue their higher education goals. The Pell Grant is undoubtedly the bedrock of federal financial aid for students. It is especially critical for students of color, with nearly 60 percent of Black students, half of American Indian or Alaska Native students, and nearly half of Latinx students receiving a Pell Grant each year. Without this pivotal program, many students--especially Black students--would be excluded from higher education altogether or have to dig themselves deeper into debt or struggle so much harder by working multiple jobs while attending college.
I am especially proud that, as we mark the 50th anniversary, Congress has restored the Pell Grant to the incarcerated, a policy for which I fought for decades via the REAL Act. Just this week, the Department of Education issued its proposed rule to restore Pell so that incarcerated individuals can complete higher education coursework that improves their reentry, strengthens their economic well-being and that of their families, increases labor force participation, and grows our economy.
The Pell grant has undeniable positive impacts on students across the United States, that much is certain. As policymakers, it is our responsibility to ensure that the future of tomorrow--our youth--are not hindered by the monetary challenges of today. I urge my colleagues to join me in fighting to substantially increase funding of this life-
changing program so that it can make college affordable in the face of rising higher-education costs as it was intended.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 125(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 125(2)
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up