Published: May 2020

Protect the Pell Grant during and after the COVID-19 crisis

As lawmakers work on providing economic relief to American families amid the COVID-19 crisis and move forward with the FY21 appropriations process, it is critical that they invest in and protect the Pell Grant program - the nation's cornerstone investment in higher education - to ensure students have the funds to pursue postsecondary education during this emergency and in its aftermath.

Consumer Action joined over 70 organizations representing the voices of students and families, consumers, institutions and civil rights groups to urge Congress to significantly increase the purchasing power of the Pell Grant by doubling the maximum award. Additionally, as the FY21 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations process moves forward, the groups asked policymakers to commit to ensuring that the grant increases at least at the rate of inflation and to commit to keeping the Pell Grant surplus funds within the Pell Grant program to help secure the program's long-term viability.

Lead Organization

The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS)

Other Organizations

10,000 Degrees | Advancing Academics | Alabama Possible | American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers | American Association of University Women (AAUW) | American Federation of Teachers (AFT) | Arizona College Access Network | Bottom Line | The Campaign for College Opportunity | Center for Law & Social Policy (CLASP) | Center for Responsible Lending | College Advising Corps | College Beyond | College Crusade of Rhode Island | College Forward | College Now Greater Cleveland | College Possible | College Success Arizona | College Success Foundation | Consumer Action | CORE Scholars Foundation | Council on Social Work Education | Degrees of Change | Education is Freedom | The Education Trust | Evolve502 | Fulfillment Fund | Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce | Georgia Budget and Policy Institute | The Graduate! Network, Inc. | Higher Education Loan Coalition | Illinois College Access Network | The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS) | Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) | Institute for Women’s Policy Research | John Burton Advocates for Youth | KIPP | LeadMN—College Students Connecting for Change | The League of Student Advocates | National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) National Association of State Student Grant & Aid Programs (NASSGAP) | National College Attainment Network (NCAN) | National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients) | National Education Association | National Urban League | NY PIRG | On Point for College | Operation Jump Start | Operation Jump Start Long Beach, CA | Young Invincibles | Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation

More Information

Click here to read the letter in full.

For more information, please visit TICAS.

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