Keep college affordable by opposing the Pell Grant funding freeze
The Issue
In the 2013-2014 school year, Pell Grants provided nine million students with funding to attend college, making their dream of obtaining an affordable education possible.
Federal Pell Grants are direct grants awarded through participating institutions to students with financial need. Pell Grant amounts are dependent upon the student’s enrollment status, overall cost of attendance and expected familial contributions. Pell Grants do not have to be repaid after graduation.
Currently, Pell Grants cover roughly 36% of the cost of college for recipients. With the cost of college rising each year, a freeze would put college out of reach for thousands of current and future students.
A recent Gallup poll showed the number one financial concern for Americans with children younger than 18 was paying for college (73%), having enough money for retirement (68%) ranked second (Gallup.com 4/20/15).
Congress recently voted—the first step in an on-going budget process--to cut $303 million in Pell Grant funding by freezing the per year student maximum of $5,775 for 10 years.
In Suffolk County, tens of thousands of low to modest-income students, many of whom work part- and full-time jobs, receive Pell Grant funding to pay for school. More than 8,000 Pell Grant recipients attended Suffolk County Community College in the 2013-2014 school year; The Pell Grant program makes an affordable education more obtainable for thousands of Long Islanders, and helps to create employment opportunities for thousands of people at Long Island’s numerous colleges and universities.
In June, as part of the budget process, Congress will vote to adopt the final version of the federal budget. This program is essential to delivering an affordable education to millions of Americans. It is critical that we take a united and aggressive stance against these funding cuts, the Pell Grant program is an investment in American youths and America’s future!
Join our petition to help raise public support for the Federal Pell Grant Program, and to help secure an affordable education for our nation’s future! This petition will be submitted to the Long Island Federal Delegation, in order to serve as proxy of public opinion. The petition’s impact grows with every signature, making public support and awareness essential to the security of the Federal Pell Grant program.
The Issue
In the 2013-2014 school year, Pell Grants provided nine million students with funding to attend college, making their dream of obtaining an affordable education possible.
Federal Pell Grants are direct grants awarded through participating institutions to students with financial need. Pell Grant amounts are dependent upon the student’s enrollment status, overall cost of attendance and expected familial contributions. Pell Grants do not have to be repaid after graduation.
Currently, Pell Grants cover roughly 36% of the cost of college for recipients. With the cost of college rising each year, a freeze would put college out of reach for thousands of current and future students.
A recent Gallup poll showed the number one financial concern for Americans with children younger than 18 was paying for college (73%), having enough money for retirement (68%) ranked second (Gallup.com 4/20/15).
Congress recently voted—the first step in an on-going budget process--to cut $303 million in Pell Grant funding by freezing the per year student maximum of $5,775 for 10 years.
In Suffolk County, tens of thousands of low to modest-income students, many of whom work part- and full-time jobs, receive Pell Grant funding to pay for school. More than 8,000 Pell Grant recipients attended Suffolk County Community College in the 2013-2014 school year; The Pell Grant program makes an affordable education more obtainable for thousands of Long Islanders, and helps to create employment opportunities for thousands of people at Long Island’s numerous colleges and universities.
In June, as part of the budget process, Congress will vote to adopt the final version of the federal budget. This program is essential to delivering an affordable education to millions of Americans. It is critical that we take a united and aggressive stance against these funding cuts, the Pell Grant program is an investment in American youths and America’s future!
Join our petition to help raise public support for the Federal Pell Grant Program, and to help secure an affordable education for our nation’s future! This petition will be submitted to the Long Island Federal Delegation, in order to serve as proxy of public opinion. The petition’s impact grows with every signature, making public support and awareness essential to the security of the Federal Pell Grant program.
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Petition created on April 29, 2015