[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 22, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H5745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF PELL GRANTS

  (Ms. CHU asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, today, I am so thrilled to join my colleagues 
around the country to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pell grant.
  The Pell grant is essential to fulfilling our Nation's promise of 
higher education by ensuring low-income students have the same access 
and opportunities as their wealthy peers.
  As a former college educator for over 20 years, I know firsthand how 
life-changing a college degree can be for a student. That kind of 
opportunity should not be reserved for only the richest amongst us.
  During the 2021 academic year, nearly 850,000 students in my State of 
California received a Pell grant to help them access and complete a 
college degree. Nationwide, about 40 percent of all undergraduate 
students benefit from the Pell grant.
  With most of these students coming from working families, it is 
clear: Pell grants help make college more affordable, enabling students 
to focus on their education and complete their degrees faster.
  The Pell grant has spent the last 50 years helping students across 
the country access higher education, and it is now easier than ever for 
eligible students to apply.

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