[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 107 (Thursday, June 23, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H5871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING SENATOR CLAIBORNE PELL'S LEGACY

  (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th 
anniversary of the Pell grant, a Federal program named after my mentor, 
role model, and friend, the late Senator Claiborne Pell, who proudly 
served Rhode Island for 40 years in the United States Senate.
  Senator Pell was one of Rhode Island's finest statesmen who embodied 
the highest ideals of public service. He was also a fierce advocate of 
education and deeply believed in supporting the next generation of 
American leaders. In fact, one of the reasons I am here today is 
because of Senator Pell.
  When I interned in his office as a 19-year-old college student, 
Senator Pell placed his faith in me, and it was one of the things that 
inspired me to run for office myself.
  It is only fitting that the grant program which bears Senator Pell's 
name is now the single largest source of Federal grant aid for 
undergraduate students.
  Last year, over 6 million students received $27 billion in Pell 
grants to help them complete a college degree. Pell grants have made 
higher education accessible and affordable for tens of millions of 
Americans, which I know made Senator Pell enormously proud.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been 13 years since we lost Senator Pell, but his 
remarkable legacy lives on.

                          ____________________