NEW: Senator Whitehouse Defends Pell Grants
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Today U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse introduced a resolution defending the Pell Grant program against attempted cuts proposed by House Republicans. The Pell Grant program, an important source of funding for struggling college students, is being defended by Whitehouse against any proposed cuts.
“We need to make it clear that we are going to stand up for our kids,” Whitehouse said. “I've met students across Rhode Island who rely on Pell Grants to help them achieve the dream of a college education. This resolution sends a message that we will fight for those students and protect this vital program from irresponsible cuts.”
The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Al Franken (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“We must protect and enhance efforts that help open the door to higher education for all, like Pell grants, which helped send more than 240,000 Ohioans to college in 2008-2009,” Brown said.. “The ability to pay shouldn’t prevent our best and brightest from seeking a college education.”
Earlier this year Republicans attempted cutting Pell Grants through a budget resolution that would have resulted in funding cuts for over a million students on an average of $1,775. Near the end of the ceiling debate in July, The Hill newspaper reported some Republican House Members opposed Pell Grant funding, some referring to the program as “welfare” for our children.
