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Dems, Students Fight to Save Pell Grants Amid Debt Ceiling Talks
Alongside the debt ceiling battles raging on Capitol Hill, urgent negotiations are happening that could affect low-income students and students of color this fall. Pell Grants and other student aid programs have been put on the chopping block as House Republicans demand cuts before they agree to raise the debt ceiling.
On Tuesday, congressional leaders sent a letter to President Obama pressing him to protect the programs that the country's neediest students depend on to get through college as he continues his debt ceiling negotiations. Their letter coincided with a rally and press conference in Washington, D.C. led by the United States Student Association to protect federal student aid.
"We need you to lend your voices, your Blackberries, your iPhones to reach out and lead your own revolution to make sure we preserve the future for you," said Maryland Democrat, Sen. Barbara Mikulski at the morning press conference. Mikulski opposed the proposed cuts to Pell Grants and other student loan programs.
"The other party thinks the last election was about cutting the budget. I thought the last election was about the next generation and what we need to do to make public investments so that yes, America can continue to lead the...
