III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 676 

Expressing support for the designation of June 23, 2022, as ‘‘National 

Pell Grant Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 15, 2022 

Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Mr. BLUNT) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 

Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of June 23, 2022, 

as ‘‘National Pell Grant Day’’. 

Whereas June 23 is the 50th anniversary of the signing of 

the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Public Law 92– 

318, 86 Stat. 235) by President Richard Nixon; 

Whereas that Act established within the Higher Education 

Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant, later named the Federal Pell 

Grant (commonly known as the ‘‘Pell Grant’’) in honor 

of its sponsor Senator Claiborne Pell; 

Whereas, 50 years ago, Senator Pell stated that ‘‘for it’s 

through this Act that the dream of access, and opportunity for college education becomes a reality. It’s in this 

Act that we say a lack of financial wealth should not, and 


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•SRES 676 IS 

will not, stand in the way of a person who has the talent, 

the desire and the drive to reach out for a college education.’’; 

Whereas, today, the Pell Grant program, which helps low-income students pursue higher education goals, maintains 

bipartisan support in Congress and with the public; 

Whereas, each year, Pell Grants help nearly 7,000,000 students, approximately 40 percent of undergraduate students, pursue and succeed in higher education; 

Whereas Pell Grants help students from all 50 States, the 

District of Columbia, and the territories of the United 

States and from rural areas to cities to everywhere in between; 

Whereas the Pell Grant program is well-targeted to meet the 

needs of students with demonstrated financial need, with 

the vast majority of Pell Grant recipients having family 

incomes of $40,000 or less; 

Whereas extensive research shows that the Pell Grant program increases college enrollment and completion among 

low- and moderate-income students; 

Whereas Pell Grants are critical for students from historically 

underrepresented backgrounds, including 58 percent of 

Black students, 47 percent of Hispanic students, 51 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native students, 48 

percent of first-generation students, 52 percent of students who are parents, and 39 percent of students who 

are veterans of the Armed Forces; 

Whereas each eligible student may use a Pell Grant at the 

institution of their choice, which includes public, private, 

2-year, and 4-year institutions; 


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•SRES 676 IS 

Whereas the Pell Grant program is a proven investment to 

boost future economic mobility, with college graduates 

paying more in taxes and earning more in after-tax income than high school graduates; and 

Whereas, over the past 50 years, the Pell Grant program has 

helped more than 80,000,000 students in the United 

States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Fed3 eral Pell Grant program on June 23, 2022; 

4 (2) expresses support for the designation of 

5 June 23 as ‘‘National Pell Grant Day’’; and 

6 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

7 to celebrate National Pell Grant Day by— 

8 (A) recognizing the more than 80,000,000 

9 individual low- and middle-income students who 

10 have benefitted from the Federal Pell Grant 

11 program since its establishment; and 

12 (B) celebrating the success stories of such 

13 students, and ensuring the same access for fu14 ture students. 

Æ 


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