[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 26 (Monday, February 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PELL GRANT EQUITY ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 12, 2007

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today along 
with my colleagues Rep. Buck McKeon, Rep. Ruben Hinojosa and Rep. Ric 
Keller to introduce the Pell Grant Equity Act of 2007.
  As we all know, Pell Grants are the cornerstone of our federal 
student aid system providing approximately $13 billion for more than 5 
million undergraduate students, mostly from low-income households.
  Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of low-income students, who 
would otherwise qualify for a full Pell Grant, have been unable to do 
so because of the current ``tuition sensitivity'' rule.
  ``Tuition sensitivity'' is intended to reduce the Pell Grant for 
students attending higher education institutions that charge very low 
tuition.
  Current law punishes very low cost schools and the students who 
attend those schools by reducing the Pell Grant aid they can receive.
  The Pell Grant Equity Act addresses this imbalance by eliminating the 
discriminating ``tuition sensitivity'' provision in the law and 
ensuring students continued eligibility for the full amount of aid they 
would have otherwise received.
  According to the Congressional Research Service, the students most 
negatively affected by this policy are ``the poorest students attending 
institutions with very low tuition charges.''
  Since 2001, tuition and fees at public colleges and universities have 
exploded, increasing by 41 percent after inflation.
  The exception to the rule of rising tuition and fees, are 
California's community colleges. This year, instead of seeing an 
increase in tuition and fees, California community college students' 
enrollment fees witnessed a decrease from $26 to $20 per unit.
  The California community college system, and any other college system 
that experience cost reductions, is unfairly penalized by the ``tuition 
sensitivity'' provision.
  Based on estimates from the Chancellor's office of the California 
community college system, more than 260,000 California community 
college students are expected to receive reduced Pell Grants because of 
the tuition sensitivity provision.
  Rather than limit the Pell Grant--our goal is to expand it, which is 
what we accomplish through the Pell Grant Equity Act.
  We must ensure that every student in this country has the opportunity 
to pursue their educational dreams, particularly those from low- and 
middle-income families.
  There is no goal more important for our nation's students and 
families, for our economy and our future.

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