Political Quotes

“I rise in support of H. Res. 50, a resolution honoring the life of Claiborne Pell, the distinguished former Senator from Rhode Island. While I never had the privilege and pleasure of working with Senator Pell, I know the Senator was a force to be reckoned with and have seen the impact of his 37 years in the Senate in a number of areas I have worked on with the Education and Labor Committee. Senator Pell was a dedicated public servant who served our country during a time of war in the United States Coast Guard and had a career in the Foreign Service prior to being elected to serve the people of Rhode Island in the United States Senate in 1960. Senator Pell was instrumental in creating the Basic Education Opportunity Grant program, later renamed the Pell Grant Program, in his honor. This program was inspired by the GI Bill, which had helped World War II veterans pay for educational expenses after the war. The Federal Pell Grant has become the cornerstone of every financial aid package for America's neediest students. Since the creation of the Pell Grant, the Federal Government has distributed approximately 108 million grants to help lower income students achieve their goals of a college education. During the past 8 years, Pell Grant funding has increased by 86 percent, supporting a 28 percent increase in the number of students who have benefited from this program.”