Washington Update

Sec. Cardona Makes the Case for FY 2023 Budget; Calls for Doubling Pell

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education to make the case for the administration’s budget request for FY 2023. During this testimony, Cardona called on Congress to build on the $400 Pell Grant increase provided in the FY 2022 appropriations bill, and to double the maximum award by 2029, starting with a $1,775 increase for FY 2023.

Echoing the Secretary’s support for doubling the Pell Grant was Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), himself a Pell recipient.

The hearing was led by Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Ranking Member Tom Cole (R-OK), who share a bipartisan rapport in supporting the programs covered in the subcommittee. Both acknowledged their support for the federal student aid programs, especially Pell Grants, and the need to support student mental health. 

In his opening remarks, Cardona noted that college enrollment has dropped by one million students since the pandemic, and to address this as a nation we need to pivot to college completion. He also testified that access, affordability, and completion will help students recover from the pandemic academically and financially. 

During the hearing, Rep. Cole, who was a firm supporter of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), asked Cardona for an update on how much of the $76 billion in pandemic relief provided to colleges and universities remains unspent.  Cardona answered that he will provide the subcommittee with specific amounts, but stated that during his visits to colleges he found they are meeting students’ needs by using funds not just for tuition support, but also for food, housing, and other necessities.  Cardona said that if not for the HEERF funds “we would have seen schools close, and college enrollment drop much deeper.” 

Many other issues increasingly prevalent at all types of institutions in all geographic areas, including food, housing, child care, and transportation insecurity, were raised by subcommittee members during the hearing. 

Several aspects of the debt issue were also discussed.  Committee members on both sides of the aisle brought up issues related to student loan debt, forgiving debt for public service, and ensuring that students do not over borrow.  Finally, the committee sought to find a balance between fighting fraud and ensuring quality technical training at for-profit colleges.  

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