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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 8618

College Affordability and Accessibility Act

Rep. Menefee Introduces Bill to Increase Maximum Pell Grant to $14,800 and Expand Eligibility

To increase the total maximum Federal Pell Grant and extend flexibility for eligibility.

This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being sent to the House Committee on Education and Workforce for review. It is actively moving through the system, but no future hearings or votes have been scheduled yet. There is no companion bill listed at this time.

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law
Unlikely to pass

While the bill offers popular benefits for students, the high cost of doubling the grant amount will likely face strong opposition during budget negotiations.

Key Points

Education

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Life & Work

Low- and moderate-income college students would see their maximum Pell Grant nearly double to $14,800, dramatically reducing the gap between financial aid and the actual cost of attending college. The extended eligibility period of 16 semesters and the option to use remaining semesters for graduate school give students more flexibility to complete their education without running out of federal grant support.

the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award per student shall be equal to $14,800, reduced by the amount specified as the maximum Federal Pell Grant in the last enacted appropriation Act applicable to that award year.
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ImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Programs

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Apr 30, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Apr 30, 2026

Introduced in House

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.

News

No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

To increase the total maximum Federal Pell Grant and extend flexibility for eligibility.

Bill NumberHR 8618
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.