[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1217-S1218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4471. Ms. HIRONO submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the bill S. 1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee 
on Equal Access, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

        Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. DOUBLING FEDERAL PELL GRANTS AND PROVIDING ALL 
                   FEDERAL PELL GRANTS THROUGH MANDATORY FUNDING.

       (a) Amount of Minimum Federal Pell Grants.--Section 401 (20 
     U.S.C. 1070a) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(2)(F), by striking ``10 percent'' and 
     inserting ``5 percent'';
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)(B)(i), by striking ``paragraph 
     (5)(A)'' and inserting ``paragraph (5)'';
       (B) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:
       ``(5) Total maximum federal pell grant.--
       ``(A) Award year 2026-2027.--For award year 2026-2027, the 
     total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $10,000.
       ``(B) Award year 2027-2028.--For award year 2027-2028, the 
     total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $11,000.
       ``(C) Award year 2028-2029.--For award year 2028-2029, the 
     total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $12,000.
       ``(D) Award year 2029-2030.--For award year 2029-2030, the 
     total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $13,000.
       ``(E) Award year 2030-2031.--For award year 2030-2031, the 
     total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $14,000.
       ``(F) Award year 2031-2032 and subsequent years.--For award 
     year 2031-2032, and each subsequent award year, the total 
     maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $14,000--
       ``(i) increased by the adjustment percentage for the award 
     year for which the amount under this subparagraph is being 
     determined; and
       ``(ii) rounded to the nearest $50.
       ``(G) Definition of adjustment percentage.--In this 
     paragraph, the term `adjustment percentage,' as applied to an 
     award year, is equal to the percentage increase in the 
     Consumer Price Index, as defined in section 478(f), for the 
     most recent calendar year ending prior to the beginning of 
     the award year.'';
       (C) by striking paragraphs (6) and (7) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(6) Appropriation of funds.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated, and there are appropriated, out of any money in 
     the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be 
     necessary for fiscal year 2026 and each subsequent fiscal 
     year to provide the Federal Pell Grant for which a student 
     shall be eligible under this section during an award year.''; 
     and
       (D) by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs 
     (7) and (8), respectively;
       (3) in subsection (d)(5)(B)--
       (A) in clause (i), by striking ``subclause (I) or (II)'' 
     and inserting ``subclause (I), (II), or (III)''; and
       (B) in clause (ii)--
       (i) in subclause (I)(bb), by striking ``or'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (ii) in subclause (II)(bb)(CC), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; or''; and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following:

       ``(III) during a period for which the student did not 
     receive a loan under this title but for

[[Page S1218]]

     which, if the student had received such a loan, such loan 
     would have been discharged under the circumstances described 
     in subclause (II)(bb)(CC).'';

       (4) by striking subsections (g) and (h); and
       (5) by redesignating subsections (i) and (j) as subsections 
     (g) and (h), respectively.
       (b) Repeal of Scoring Requirement.--Section 406 of H. Con. 
     Res. 95 (109th Congress) is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (b); and
       (2) by striking ``(a) In General.--Upon'' and inserting the 
     following: ``Upon''.
       (c) Student Support Services.--Section 402D(d)(1) (20 
     U.S.C. 1070a-14(d)(1)) is amended by striking ``the minimum'' 
     and inserting ``10 percent of the total maximum''.
       (d) Scholarship Component.--Section 404E(d) (20 U.S.C. 
     1070a-25(d)) is amended by striking ``less than the minimum'' 
     and inserting ``less than 10 percent of the total maximum''.
                                 ______