Are you aware that Congress must approve the Pell Grant every year? The Pell Grant is a federal financial aid award granted to low income students. Why Pell? Because Senator Claiborne D. Pell of Rhode Island proposed it to Congress in the 1970s. President Obama is requesting that the Pell become an entitlement for the second time. It would stay 1% above inflation, basically. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of current and former college students have benefitted from this grant. Why doesn’t Congress make it an entitlement?
Jacques Steinberg of the NY Times Choice Blog has been moderating commentary about the proposal. To his surprise, he was contacted by Clay Pell, the Senator’s grandson. His opinion? “My grandfather… was always frustrated it was not an entitlement, it was always his hope that in the next progressive period it would be set up as an entitlement. Hopefully it can be done now.”
Mr. Pell, I hope so too!
