Senator Reverend Warnock used Pell Grants and low-interest student loans to become the first in his family to graduate from college

The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act permanently indexes Pell Grants to inflation, increasing their purchasing power

Senator Reverend Warnock: “This legislation will bolster Pell Grants for generations of students to come, unlocking opportunity for countless Americans”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), a former Pell Grant recipient, and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced the bicameral Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024. The legislation would nearly double the Pell Grant maximum award, automatically adjust Pell Grants for inflation, and make other changes to expand the award for working, low-income students and families. The Pell Grant program is a pillar of federal financial aid for postsecondary education, serving over 6 million undergraduate students. As a college student, Senator Warnock used Pell Grants and low-interest student loans to become the first in his family to graduate from a four-year university.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Pell Grants and low-interest student loans, and by strengthening these federal investments, we can help break down barriers for low-income students across the country who may otherwise be prevented from pursuing higher education because of the daunting financial burden,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “This legislation will bolster Pell Grants for generations of students to come, unlocking opportunity for countless Americans. I am proud to work with Senator Hirono on this and look forward to getting it done.”

In addition to doubling the Pell Grant maximum award and indexing the maximum award for inflation, the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act also makes Pell Grant funding fully mandatory to protect it from funding shortfalls, expands the program to include DREAMers, and restores lifetime eligibility for the program to 18 semesters, among other changes that will benefit students.

“Pell Grants help to make postsecondary education more affordable for thousands of students in Hawaii and millions across the country,” said Senator Hirono. “However, as the cost of attending college has continued to rise over the years, the purchasing power of the Pell Grant has steadily declined. I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation to restore the value of Pell Grants and enable more students to access higher education.”

A longtime champion for college affordability since coming to Washington, Senator Warnock has pushed in the Senate to strengthen funding for Pell Grants through the annual government funding process, and has fought to boost student scholarship availability through the Chips and Science Act law.

In addition to Senators Warnock and Hirono, the bill is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). 26 members of the U.S. House of Representatives also cosponsor the bill.

The full text of the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act is available HERE.

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