FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 22, 2014 Contact: Colin Seeberger, colin.seeberger@younginvincibles.org, 214.223.2913 Contact: Sarah Lovenheim, sarah.lovenheim@younginvincibles.org, 202.734.6529
Young Invincibles Hails New CHANCE Act on College Access
Bill Would Bolster the Pell Grant
[WASHINGTON]—Yesterday, Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) unveiled new legislation, the CHANCE (Creating Higher education Affordability Necessary to Compete Economically) Act, which would increase access to college by dramatically boosting the Pell Grant’s maximum award from $5730 to $8900, mirroring the average state resident undergraduate tuition. Pell grants help more than nine million students attend and complete college. Jen Mishory, Executive Director of Young Invincibles, released the following statement on the proposal: “Skyrocketing tuition has created a barrier for hardworking students across the country striving to reach the middle class. By boosting Pell, the proposal from Senators Landrieu and Hirono tackles rising college costs and expands access to the economic opportunity that higher education can provide. Her bill provides the kind of bold solution we have been waiting for. With the average graduate leaving school with 63 percent more debt than a decade ago, Congress should act swiftly to pass this important piece of legislation.” Young Invincibles recently detailed its other higher education policy priorities in a recent letter to House Education & the Workforce Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Ranking Member George Miller (D-CA). These proposals include:
- Simplifying the Federal financial aid system
- Reforming the Federal Work Study program
- Providing students with additional data to ensure they’re making well-informed decisions
- Providing relief to private loan borrowers
- Promoting innovation in higher education
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Young Invincibles is a national organization committed to amplifying the voices of young adults, ages 18 to 34, and expanding economic opportunity for our generation. Young Invincibles ensures that young adults are represented in today’s most pressing societal debates through cutting-edge policy research and analysis, and innovative campaigns designed to educate, inform and mobilize our generation to change the status quo. Follow us on Twitter at @YoungInvincible.