Hey blog readers!!! Are you or have you ever been a college student? Do you use federally funded financial aid? (Whoa, say that three times fast!) As students, we rely on the Pell Grant to make college a feasible reality. If left to our own devices, most of today’s college students would not be enrolled. So how do you feel about our political representatives voting to cut that funding that our college attendees rely on?
Personally, it makes me very mad to think that my state representatives believe I would be pro funding cuts to my education money. I worked out in the big bad world for several years, and paid my share of this money to the government. I would hope that the funds would be available to ensure my educational future is secure. For me; if I don’t have my Pell grant and school loans, then I am forced to drop out and go back to work 40+ hours a week. I know that if I go back into the workforce, I will not be able to go to class. Not only will I not have time to focus on classes, but I would not be able to afford them. Financial Aid allows me to pay my bills and keep food in my fridge while going to school to learn.
In the article “Potential Cuts to Pell Grant Could Affect Students in 2011” on the USNEWs.com website about the proposed cuts to Pell grant funding, writer Katy Hopkins says:
The Pell Grant Program, widely considered to be the backbone of financial aid to the country's most needy students, was subject to a decrease in funding as part of a Continuing Resolution (H.R. 1), which cleared the House last month and cut about $60 billion from the federal budget. The changes would take effect for the 2011-12 school year, decreasing the maximum amount of aid for the neediest students from $5,550 to $4,705, a difference of $845. Plus, about 1.7 million students who receive smaller Pell Grants would become ineligible for the program.
The average community college has our future nurses, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and interpreters just a few college credits away from filling the gaps in the various industries they will work in. There are palpable needs in our communities that can only be filled by degreed employees and cutting funding will setback the needs of these industries for years.
If you want more information, google search Pell Grant cuts or you can go to the link: http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2011/mar/30/federal-finaid-grants-question/
~The Lady Bat,
Ms. Bat
Source:
You as a voter can do something about this travesty! Contact your State Representatives and Senators. Send them letters, emails, faxes, and make phone calls! Go to your local community college and sign the petitions! If you are a more active person, arrange a protest! Make your voices heard!
I’m including the contacts for our Tulsa Senate and Representatives in the blog with the hope that people will take action to stop the cutting of our Pell grant funding.
The Honorable Jim Inhofe
United States Senate
453 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
DC Phone: 202-224-4721
DC Fax: 202-228-0380
Email: ryan_jackson@inhofe.senate.gov
The Honorable Tom Coburn
United States Senate
172 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
DC Phone: 202-224-5754
DC Fax: 202-224-6008
Email: Katie_bailey@coburn.senate.gov
The Honorable John Sullivan
United States House of Representatives
434 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
DC Phone: 202-225-2211
DC Fax: 202-225-9187
Email: john.rainbolt@mail.house.gov
The Honorable Dan Boren
United States House of Representatives
215 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
DC Phone: 202-225-2701
DC Fax: 202-225-3038
Email: Jason.buckner@mail.house.gov