Proposed Bill Would Increase Pell Grants

Illinois' junior U.S. Senator, Barack Obama announced on Tuesday his first legislation as senator - a bill that woud increase the amount students can receive in Pell Grants. The Higher Education Opportunity Pell Grant Expansion (HOPE) Act, if passed, would increase the amount available to students by 26 percent, up to a maximum of $5,100 per year. President Bush has also proposed raising the Pell Grant, but by a smaller amount. Both proposals would pay for the increase by reducing or eliminating the subsidies paid to lending institutions and agencies which insure student loans.

The article can be found in its entirety on the Web site of the Belleville News-Democrat.