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S 996 115th Congress Senate Education Education programs funding Higher education Student aid and college costs

Middle Class CHANCE Act

Introduced: May 1, 2017 Introduced by: Heinrich, Martin Democratic · New Mexico See on congress.gov
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 1, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
May 1, 2017
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Creating Higher Education Affordability Necessary to Compete Economically Act or the Middle Class CHANCE Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify provisions related to the Federal Pell Grant program.

Specifically, it increases the maximum Federal Pell Grant award for academic year 2018-2019 and adjusts it in subsequent award years to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index.

The bill also increases from one to two the number of Pell Grants an eligible student may receive in a single award year (i.e., it restores year-round Pell Grants). A student's total amount of Pell Grants must not exceed 150% of the maximum Pell Grant for that award year. Also, any period during which a student receives an additional Pell Grant counts toward that student's lifetime Pell Grant eligibility period.

Finally, the bill increases from 12 to 15 semesters a student's lifetime Pell Grant eligibility period.

What's happening now May 1, 2017

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

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 996: Middle Class CHANCE Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-996/
MLA
"S. 996: Middle Class CHANCE Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-996/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 996, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-996/.
Markdown link
[S. 996: Middle Class CHANCE Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-996/)
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