Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, the motion I am offering today asks conferees to provide the highest possible funding level for the Pell grant program. It is important to remember that the vast majority, 84 percent of the 5 million Pell grant recipients have incomes less than $30,000. Unfortunately, since President Bush took office, this program and its recipients have suffered. During President Clinton's term the Pell grant maximum rose from $2,300 to $3,750. In contrast during President Bush's current term the Pell grant has only risen $350 in the past 2 years. All this comes at a time when the cost of college is rising significantly. In the House and Senate fiscal year 2004 appropriations bill, these troubling trends have continued. These bills freeze the maximum Pell grant at $4,050, the first such freeze in a decade. As a result, the maximum Pell grant would finance only 36 percent of the average individual's college cost in the 2004 academic year under the Republican bill. This is compared to 84 percent when the program was first established. To make matters worse, the House and Senate bill were actually under the administration's admittedly paltry request, under the administration's request. This chronic underfunding, coupled with the sour economy, has led to a growing deficit in the Pell grant program. If we continue to underfund this program, this deficit is likely to grow into the billions of dollars.”