H.R.4298: Pell Grant Restoration Act

The Pell Grant Restoration Act (H.R. 4298) would improve the purchasing power of Pell Grants by immediately increasing the maximum Pell Grant amount by $500 and then permanently indexing it to inflation. The bill would also make Pell Grant funding fully mandatory, instead of subject to the annual discretionary appropriations process. Other provisions in this bill include:

• Reinstating Pell Grant eligibility for students who were defrauded by colleges or universities;
• Making DREAMers eligible for Pell Grant assistance;
• Restoring Pell Grant eligibility for formerly incarcerated individuals and students with nonviolent drug-related offenses;
• Extending Pell Grant eligibility for job training programs;
• Increasing Pell Grant lifetime eligibility from 12 to 14 semesters; and
• Streamlining and boarding access to the financial aid process for low-income students.

S. 2498 is the Senate companion bill.