Draft House Funding Bill Includes Critical Funding for Student Aid Programs and $50 Pell Increase

The House Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations is scheduled to markup its FY 2027 funding bill today. According to the legislative text released in preparation for the markup, the draft bill would increase the Pell Grant maximum to $7,445 for award year 2027-28 and pay for the Pell Grant shortfall by eliminating subsidized loans for undergraduate students.

Legislative language also indicates funding is provided for the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants program at $546 million and for Federal Work-Study at $908 million. Titles III and V Strengthening Institutions programs are funded at a total of $508 million, and $529.5 million is provided for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. More details, including an accompanying report and funding tables, will be available after the full committee approves the bill next week.

The House subcommittee markup is the first step in the congressional appropriations process. The Senate is expected to write its bill later this summer. Final negotiations on FY 2027 student aid funding will take place this fall, possibly even post-election.

For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Giesecke