FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Trent Hager
916-319-2044
Assemblymember Anthony Portantino
Praises Congressmen Miller and McKeon on reforms to Pell Grants
Federal legislation promises more aid to California Community College
Students
Sacramento – Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D
- La Cañada), Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee,
praised the efforts of Congressman George Miller (D-CA) and Congressman
Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) in keeping thousands of California
community college students eligible for the maximum Federal Pell Grant
awards.
“Without the leadership of Congressmen Miller and
McKeon, California students would have been left shouldering a huge
financial burden,” said Assemblymember Anthony Portantino. “The
actions taken by Congress aim to ensure that our students won’t
be penalized because they choose a low-cost education. This action is
particularly timely because Congress is poised to raise the maximum
Federal Pell Grant and our students need this new assistance.”
During the budget negotiations of 2006, California Community
College fees were reduced from $26 to $20 per unit, taking effect this
spring. However, the Federal Pell Grant program includes a “tuition
sensitivity” feature that will cause California students paying
the new fee amount to receive reduced federal assistance. Without a
change in federal law, more than 260,000 California community college
students will be affected in 2007-08 by the reduction of their Federal
Pell grant award payments – resulting in a multi-million dollar
loss to the lowest income students enrolled in California Community
Colleges.
H.R. 990, authored by Congressmen Miller and McKeon, repeals
the Pell Grant “tuition sensitivity” clause. This measure,
if passed by Congress and signed by the President, will mean that California
Community College students will not be penalized because they attend
a low-cost school. H.R. 990 is currently awaiting hearing before the
House Committee on Education and Labor, of which Congressman Miller
is the Chairman and Congressman McKeon the Ranking Member.
Assemblymember Anthony Portantino was elected to serve
the 44th Assembly District in November of 2006. The district encompasses
Altadena, Duarte, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, South Pasadena and
Temple City. It also includes portions of Arcadia, Monrovia, Mayflower
Village and the Northeast Los Angeles neighborhoods of Glassell Park,
Hermon, Highland Park, Mount Washington and Eagle Rock.
# # #
