Murray Applauds Final Step by Department of Education to Restore Year-Round Pell Grants to Help Make College More Affordable for Students and Families

(Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance to implement year-round Pell Grants. As ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee dealing with the U.S. Department of Education, Senator Murray worked to restore year-round Pell Grants in the bipartisan FY17 appropriations bill passed in May.

“Allowing students to access Pell Grants year-round is a critical step in our efforts to help students across the country afford college, so I am glad that the Department of Education is following Congress’ lead and making this a reality,” said Senator Murray. “This guidance is a good first step, but too many students are still struggling with massive amounts of debt. So I hope the Trump Administration follows this by backing away from its harmful budget request that would hurt students and borrowers and take billions of dollars from Pell Grants, and instead work with Congress to help make college more affordable for students and families.”

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