[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 102 (Wednesday, June 15, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 676--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF JUNE 
                23, 2022, AS ``NATIONAL PELL GRANT DAY''

  Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Mr. Blunt) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 676

       Whereas June 23 is the 50th anniversary of the signing of 
     the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-318, 86 
     Stat. 235) by President Richard Nixon;
       Whereas that Act established within the Higher Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) the Basic Educational 
     Opportunity Grant, later named the Federal Pell Grant 
     (commonly known as the ``Pell Grant'') in honor of its 
     sponsor Senator Claiborne Pell;
       Whereas, 50 years ago, Senator Pell stated that ``for it's 
     through this Act that the dream of access, and opportunity 
     for college education becomes a reality. It's in this Act 
     that we say a lack of financial wealth should not, and will 
     not, stand in the way of a person who has the talent, the 
     desire and the drive to reach out for a college education.'';
       Whereas, today, the Pell Grant program, which helps low-
     income students pursue higher education goals, maintains 
     bipartisan support in Congress and with the public;
       Whereas, each year, Pell Grants help nearly 7,000,000 
     students, approximately 40 percent of undergraduate students, 
     pursue and succeed in higher education;
       Whereas Pell Grants help students from all 50 States, the 
     District of Columbia, and the territories of the United 
     States and from rural areas to cities to everywhere in 
     between;
       Whereas the Pell Grant program is well-targeted to meet the 
     needs of students with demonstrated financial need, with the 
     vast majority of Pell Grant recipients having family incomes 
     of $40,000 or less;
       Whereas extensive research shows that the Pell Grant 
     program increases college enrollment and completion among 
     low- and moderate-income students;
       Whereas Pell Grants are critical for students from 
     historically underrepresented backgrounds, including 58 
     percent of Black students, 47 percent of Hispanic students, 
     51 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native students, 48 
     percent of first-generation students, 52 percent of students 
     who are parents, and 39 percent of students who are veterans 
     of the Armed Forces;
       Whereas each eligible student may use a Pell Grant at the 
     institution of their choice, which includes public, private, 
     2-year, and 4-year institutions;
       Whereas the Pell Grant program is a proven investment to 
     boost future economic mobility, with college graduates paying 
     more in taxes and earning more in after-tax income than high 
     school graduates; and
       Whereas, over the past 50 years, the Pell Grant program has 
     helped more than 80,000,000 students in the United States: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Federal Pell 
     Grant program on June 23, 2022;
       (2) expresses support for the designation of June 23 as 
     ``National Pell Grant Day''; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to celebrate 
     National Pell Grant Day by--
       (A) recognizing the more than 80,000,000 individual low- 
     and middle-income students who have benefitted from the 
     Federal Pell Grant program since its establishment; and
       (B) celebrating the success stories of such students, and 
     ensuring the same access for future students.

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