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Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act

Introduced: May 16, 2017 Introduced by: Hirono, Mazie K. Democratic · Hawaii See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 16, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
May 16, 2017
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act

This bill amends the title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise the Federal Pell Grant Program. Specifically, it:

  • converts the Pell Grant program into a mandatory spending program;
  • increases the maximum Pell Grant award for academic year 2019-2020 and adjusts it in subsequent award years to account for inflation;
  • allows federal financial aid for higher education to be given to dreamer students (students who entered the country when they were under the age of 16 and who meet certain educational criteria) and students convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drug;
  • requires the Department of Education (ED) to carry out a program that awards Federal Pell Grants to students in job training programs;
  • requires ED to award Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants under the Pell Grant program to assist veterans' dependents with the costs of attending institutions of higher education;
  • increases, in academic year 2018-2019, the income protection allowance levels for students who are dependent, independent without non-spouse dependents (e.g., children), and independent with non-spouse dependents to reduce such students' income available (and increase need for financial assistance) to cover postsecondary educational expenses;
  • increases the income threshold for an automatic zero expected family contribution from $23,000 to $34,000; and
  • increases from 12 to 15 the total number of semesters a student may receive a Federal Pell Grant.
What's happening now May 16, 2017

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Related & companion bills 7
  • S 1135 Related bill Pell Grant Restoration Act of 2017
  • S 1155 Related bill Working Students Act
  • HR 4074 Related bill Pathways Out of Poverty Act of 2017
  • HR 2490 Related bill Working Students Act
  • HR 1432 Related bill SUCCESS Act
  • S 1125 Related bill Protect Our Gold Star Families' Education Act of 2017
  • HR 2451 Identical bill Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 9
All 9 Democratic 9
D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Oct 25, 2017
 D
Cantwell, Maria
Washington · Jun 29, 2017
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Jun 12, 2017
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · May 23, 2017
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · May 16, 2017
 D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · May 16, 2017
 D
Schatz, Brian
Hawaii · May 16, 2017
 D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · May 16, 2017
 D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · May 16, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1136: Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1136/
MLA
"S. 1136: Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1136/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1136, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1136/.
Markdown link
[S. 1136: Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-1136/)
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