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Rep. Taylor Supports Pell Grant Increase


Washington, Mar 30 -

Western North Carolina Representative Charles Taylor voted today in support of legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act of 1998, a bill which passed the House by a vote of 221-199. This legislation – HR 609, the College Access and Opportunity Act – expands access to college for students in WNC and throughout the nation by: increasing the maximum amount awarded in a Pell Grant; providing students with more competitive options to consolidate student loans; and, endorsing an “academic bill of rights” to provide academic freedom to students on college campuses.

The current maximum Pell Grant award per individual is $4050; the bill supported by Rep. Taylor today increases the maximum Pell Grant award to $6000. Additionally, this legislation reauthorizes the Pell Grant program through the year 2012. Students who are attending school year-round would now also be eligible to receive two Pell Grants during one award year.

In addition to increasing the maximum Pell Grant, this bill also eliminates the “single-holder” rule for student loan consolidation that requires borrowers to refinance their loans with the lender that originally made the loan – even when they can obtain lower interest rates with other lenders.

“The legislation passed by the House today will put a college education within the reach of more students,” said Rep. Taylor. “By increasing the maximum Pell Grant award by almost $2000, and by giving students more freedom to refinance student loans with alternate lenders, students and their families can get more assistance toward their education costs. We want to make the burden of higher interest rates on student loans, long after graduates are in the workforce, a thing of the past.”

This legislation will now be sent to United States Senate for its consideration.

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