Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9414
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-23: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T08:06:14Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to strengthen the Federal Pell Grant program under the Higher Education Act of 1965 by expanding eligibility, increasing grant amounts, stabilizing funding through mandatory appropriations, and reversing prior restrictions to better support students pursuing postsecondary education.
Key Provisions
- Grant Amounts and Funding: Gradually raises the total maximum Pell Grant from $10,000 in award year 2026-2027 to $15,000 by 2031-2032, with annual inflation adjustments thereafter. Converts all Pell Grants to mandatory funding, eliminating discretionary appropriations and related scoring requirements.
- Increased Awards for Low-Income Students: Provides supplemental grants exceeding the maximum for students with a negative student aid index. Sets the student aid index at -$1,500 for applicants (or their families) who received means-tested federal benefits in the prior two years.
- Eligibility Expansion: Extends federal student aid eligibility to "Dreamer students," defined as certain non-citizens who meet education, military service, or DACA-related criteria, with a hardship waiver option for age requirements.
- Semester Limits: Increases the maximum semesters of Pell Grant eligibility from 12 to 18.
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Reforms: Establishes a more flexible SAP policy with financial aid warnings, probation periods, appeals processes, and resets of eligibility after two years out of school (limited to two resets per student). Requires institutions to notify students of progress issues and provide support information.
- Scholarship Protections: Restores Pell Grant eligibility for students whose non-federal scholarships equal or exceed their cost of attendance.
- Other Adjustments: Modifies minimum grant calculations, student support services funding, and conforming amendments across related programs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Shifts Pell Grants from a mix of discretionary and mandatory funding to fully mandatory status with built-in growth.
- Reverses restrictions from Public Law 119-21 regarding short-term programs and scholarship offsets.
- Broadens access beyond U.S. citizens and permanent residents to qualifying Dreamer students.
- Eases SAP rules that previously led to quicker loss of eligibility, including new reset mechanisms.
- Increases overall program generosity through higher maximums and supplemental awards for the neediest students.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases mandatory federal spending through the Department of Education; requires updates to aid processing systems, student notifications, and annual reporting on reset outcomes.
- Citizens and Students: Expands financial support for low-income, minority, and certain non-citizen students, potentially improving college access and completion rates.
- Institutions: Affects financial aid administration, SAP policies, and enrollment at colleges and universities; may influence institutional aid packaging.
- International Relations: Indirectly engages immigration-related eligibility by including Dreamer students, though focused on domestic education access.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Low-income and first-generation college students, including those receiving means-tested benefits.
- Students of color and Latino undergraduates who disproportionately rely on Pell Grants.
- Dreamer students and eligible non-citizens seeking higher education or training.
- Institutions of higher education and their financial aid offices.
- The Department of Education, responsible for implementation and oversight.
- Families and taxpayers, due to expanded mandatory federal expenditures.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Establishes permanent mandatory funding, reducing annual congressional discretion over appropriations.
- Extends federal benefits to certain non-citizens, which could intersect with immigration statutes.
- Introduces detailed regulatory requirements for SAP policies and consumer testing of notifications, potentially increasing administrative oversight.
- No direct constitutional challenges are addressed in the bill; changes operate within existing Higher Education Act authority.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (48)
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-23: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-06-23: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-06-23: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-23 — PDF (31 pages)