Senate Panel Approves Funding Bill With No Increase in Maximum Pell Grant

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a fiscal-2007 spending bill that offers no increase in the maximum Pell-Grant award. The committee approved a funding measure for labor, health and human services and education programs, including the major federal student-aid programs. The bill retains the maximum Pell Grant at $4,050 and recommends a total of $12.6 billion in funding for Pell Grants.

Previously U.S. House appropriators had recommended a $100 increase in the maximum Pell-Grant award.

The Senate panel recommended no increase for next year in funding levels for Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work-Study, Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership, GEAR UP and Federal TRIO programs.

While providing no additional federal capital contributions for Perkins loans, the measure would maintain current funding levels for Perkins-loan cancellation.

The appropriations bill to fund federal programs for the year beginning Oct. 1 now moves to the full Senate.