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Dear Colleagues,
This morning, the House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a markup on major budget reconciliation legislation that could significantly impact our students and institutions. A floor vote is expected by mid-May.
Key proposals under consideration include:
- Risk Sharing: Colleges would be required to pay back a portion of unpaid student loans. We strongly oppose any form of risk sharing, as it penalizes open-access institutions that serve all students, particularly those most in need.
- Pell Grant Changes:
- Students would be required to complete 30 credits per academic year (up from the current 24) to receive their full Pell award.
- Pell Grant eligibility would be eliminated for students enrolled below half-time (fewer than 6 credits).
These changes amount to a significant cut in Pell support for community college students and working adults — especially for students attending colleges that charge by the credit.
We strongly encourage you to call and email your representatives to voice your concerns immediately.
When calling their offices, please share your name, address (including zip code), and the name of the community college in their district. The League has crafted the following script you may find helpful to deliver your message:
“Thank you for addressing the Pell Grant shortfall and including Workforce Pell in the proposed reconciliation legislation introduced by the House Education and Workforce Committee. However, please oppose risk-sharing language in the bill and reject changes that would cut student aid for Pell students who are unable to take more than 12 credits per semester due to life responsibilities.”
If you have direct email contacts for staffers who handle higher education issues, please also send them a message. The League has created an email template for your convenience.
Please note: Representatives DeSaulnier, Kiley, and Takano sit on the House Education and Workforce Committee. If your college is located in their districts, it is especially important to reach out to them immediately.
To assist your outreach, we have attached a list of all community colleges, their congressional representatives, and office phone numbers.
Thank you for your urgent attention to this issue and for your continued advocacy on behalf of our students.
In Service, |
