# Plain Language Summary: Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2021

This bill is about protecting and expanding Pell Grants, which are federal financial aid programs that help low-income students pay for college. The main goal is to make sure these grants don't get cut and to actually increase the amount of money available to students who need help affording higher education.

Right now, Pell Grants have a maximum award amount that hasn't kept up with rising college costs. This bill would work to increase those maximum grants so students can cover more of their tuition, fees, and living expenses while in school. It also aims to prevent Congress from reducing Pell Grant funding in the future, which has been a concern for students and education advocates who worry that budget cuts could shrink the program.

The bill would primarily help low-income and middle-income students who are trying to attend college but can't afford it on their own. By expanding Pell Grants, more students could potentially qualify for aid, and those already receiving grants could get larger amounts. This means less student debt for borrowers and better access to higher education for families struggling with college costs. The bill essentially treats Pell Grants as a priority that shouldn't be sacrificed during budget negotiations, protecting a lifeline for millions of Americans trying to get a college degree.

Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2021

Hirono, Mazie K.

Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2021 This bill makes various changes to the Federal Pell Grant program, including by expanding student eligibility for Pell Grants. The bill also revises student eligibility for federal student-aid programs. Specifically, the bill provides funding to increase the maximum Pell Grant award for each eligible student. Further, the bill requires the award amount to be adjusted for inflation. Next, the bill allows students who receive means-tested federal benefits (e.g., Medicaid) to automatically qualify for the maximum Pell Grant award plus an additional award amount. In addition, the bill moves the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant program into the Pell Grant program. Next, the bill raises from 12 to 18 the total number of semesters during which a student may receive a Pell Grant. The bill makes Dreamer students (i.e., students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status) who entered the United States before the age of 18 and who meet certain educational criteria eligible for federal financial aid. The bill also revises satisfactory academic progress requirements for federal student-aid programs, including by allowing a student who has not been enrolled in an institution of higher education for two years to regain eligibility for federal student aid.