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Washington, D.C- Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) called on President Bush today to reverse the Administration’s decision to deny Pell Grants to tens of thousands of needy students seeking to attend college. Over 2,000 individuals in Michigan would be directly affected by the Administration’s changes to the Pell Grant system. Congressman Kildee and other Democratic Members have introduced H.R. 2485, which would prevent any of these changes from providing less grant aid for each eligible student.
“This change will be disastrous for Michigan families trying to send their children to college, said Kildee. “I urge the Bush Administration to immediately repeal these harmful changes on behalf of tens of thousands of disadvantaged students who rely on the Pell Grant system to fund part of their higher education.”
In late June 2003, the Bush Administration issued new regulations that would deny Federal grant aid (Pell Grants) for 84,000 disadvantaged students to attend college. The Federal Pell Grant program provides grant aid to disadvantaged students to attend the college or University of their choice.
Each year, the Secretary of Education is required to update the methods used to determine which students are eligible for Pell grants and the amount of the Pell grant. These methods are called “needs analysis.” The updates issued by the Administration, which are for next school year (2004-2005), decreased the amount of a student’s income that is considered for the payment of State and local taxes. This change will allow less of a student’s income to be sheltered in the needs analysis process. As a result, needy Michigan families will have to pay more of the college costs out of their own pockets and subsequently reduce their grant aid. |
