On the recordFebruary 7, 2008
In 2000, there were 3.9 million students getting Pell Grants. This year, 5 rac{1}{2} million students are getting Pell Grants. In 2000, the maximum award was $3,300 per student. This year, it is about $4,800 per student, and based on the College Cost Reduction and Access Act that President Bush signed into law in September, it is going to go up to $5,400 in the next couple years. In 2000, our overall Pell Grant funding was $7.6 billion. Now it is double that amount. We have made a substantial investment in the lives of these young people to make sure that every single child in America, rich or poor, has the opportunity to get a college education. We have reason for optimism. We are working together in a bipartisan manner on these higher education issues, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Source
govinfo.gov
