Tag Archives: Pell Grant

Tell Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: FIGHT to stop Republicans from doubling the interest rate<br />
on student loans

Clicking here will automatically add your name to this petition to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid:

“Do not let the interest rate double on federal student loans. Extend the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, keeping college education affordable for the 99%.”

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CREDO Action | more than a network, a movement.

Stop Republicans from doubling the interest rate on student loans.

Dear Friend,

This is unbelievable. The interest rates on federal student loans will double this summer if Congress doesn’t take action.¹

Urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: FIGHT to stop Republicans from doubling the interest rate on student loans. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

Millions of American students from working class families are able to obtain a college education thanks to low-interest federal student loans. But now Congress is putting those loans in serious jeopardy at a time when students and their families can least afford to pay higher interest rates.

Back in 2007, when the Democrats were in charge of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Congress passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. It reduced the interest rates on subsidized Stafford loans incrementally over four academic years, from 6.8 percent at the time to the current 3.4 percent.² The current Republican leadership in the House is planning to let this legislation expire on July 1, effectively doubling the interest rates on these loans. This will result in an average of $5,000 in additional payments for students who are scheduled to pay their loans backs in 5 years, and $11,000 for those who are paying back in 10.³

With Republicans in the House poised to double the interest on federal student loans, we need leadership from the Senate.Specifically, we need Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to stand up and fight on behalf of millions of American students:

Urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: FIGHT to stop Republicans from doubling the interest rate on student loans.

If Leader Reid leads the Democratic-controlled Senate to move first and take steps to pass legislation that ensures the interest rates remain fixed at 3.4 percent, it will force the hand of Congressional Republicans to either pass the measure or go on the record as the party fighting against the interest of millions of America’s working class students and their families.But we need both the House and the Senate to pass it before July 1, so we need to convey our sense of urgency to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today.

Federal student loans with low interest rates, such as the subsidized Stafford loan, are designed to benefit students whose families make under $40,000 a year — folks who can least afford to see their interest rates jump.⁴ These loans help the neediest students, who are often not eligible to receive Pell Grants. Adding further financial stress on these students and their families by letting the interest rates double this July would be devastating, especially given the extremely fragile state of our economy.

Urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: FIGHT to stop Republicans from doubling the interest rate on student loans. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

As Sarah Jaffe observed in her excellent piece in AlterNet:

“It’s worth noting, as well, that many of the big banks that make a killing on private student loans and still have billions of government-subsidized student debt on their books, are able to borrow money from the government through the Federal Reserve’s discount window at nearly no interest at all. Why, then, are young people, who aren’t guilty of trashing the economy but remain the victims of a rate of unemployment nearly twice that of the rest of the population, expected to pay more?”⁵

Now is the time for all of us to speak up on behalf of our students. Click here to automatically sign the petition and consider inviting students from your personal network to join the fight.

Click below to automatically sign our petition urging Senator Reid to fight to keep college education affordable and not let the interest rate double on federal student loans.

http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5541975&id=36922-5440681-yT2lVHx&t=12

Thank you for speaking out to make sure that all students can afford a higher education — including those from working class families.

Murshed Zaheed, Deputy Political Director CREDO Action from Working Assets

PS: This issue is deeply personal for me. Coming from a working class family, I have been able to pursue my own aspirations by working hard and getting a great education from amazing academic institutions. This opportunity would not have been possible for someone like me if I hadn’t had access to affordable federal student loans with low interest rates. I hope you willjoin this cause on behalf of the students andconsider inviting any students you know in your personal network to join this fight by forwarding them this link:

http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5541974&id=36922-5440681-yT2lVHx&t=15

1. Sarah Jaffe, “Is Congress Going to Double the Interest on Your Student Loan?,” AlterNet.org February 22, 2012. 2. Ann Carrns, “Rising Concerns Over Student Loans, Public and Private,” the New York Times Blog, March 14, 2012. 3. Sarah Jaffe, “Is Congress Going to Double the Interest on Your Student Loan?,” AlterNet.org February 22, 2012. 4. Moe Bedard, “Vermont Senators Leahy And Sanders Join Bill To Prevent July Interest Rate Increase On Stafford Student Loans,” LoanSafe.org, February 2, 2012. 5. Sarah Jaffe, “Is Congress Going to Double the Interest on Your Student Loan?,” AlterNet.org February 22, 2012.

Black History

Congress: the Republican led House – the Senate

02/03/2012 Nativegrl77

the Senate Convenes at 2:00pmet February 6, 2012

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 3:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
Following morning business, the Senate will begin consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R.658, the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act. There will be 2 hours and 30 minutes of debate on the conference report equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on adoption of the conference report to accompany H.R.658 with a 60 affirmative vote threshold.

—————————————————————————————————

. -SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.12:29:42 P.M. -The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notice stating that the national emergency declared with respect to the situation in or in relation to Cote d’Ivoire is to continue in effect beyond February 7, 2012. – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-84).12:25:11 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.12:24:27 P.M. -Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That when the House adjourns on Friday, February 3, 2012, it adjourn to meet at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.11:49:11 A.M. -COLLOQUY ON HOUSE SCHEDULE – The Chair recognized Mr. Hoyer for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with Mr. Cantor on the expectations regarding the legislative schedule for the House during the upcoming week.11:42:22 A.M. -Mr. Webster filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 537.11:41:35 A.M. -H.R. 658Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.11:41:35 A.M. -H.R. 658On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 248 – 169 (Roll no. 33).11:35:01 A.M. -H.R. 658The House proceeded to consider the conference report H. Rept. 112-381 as unfinished business.11:34:50 A.M. -UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of the conference report to accompany H.R. 658, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.11:34:35 A.M. -H.R. 3578Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.11:34:32 A.M. -H.R. 3578On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 235 – 177 (Roll no. 32).11:28:25 A.M. -H.R. 3578On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 177 – 238 (Roll no. 31).11:04:49 A.M. -H.R. 3578The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.10:56:21 A.M. -H.R. 3578DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tierney motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add a new provision entitled “Maintaining Current Funding Levels in Real (Inflation-Adjusted) Terms for: Pell Grants and Education Programs for Students; Health and All Discretionary Spending that Provide Benefits for Seniors; Job, Health, and all Discretionary Spending that Provide Benefits for Veterans; and Health Research, Including NIH and Research to Cure Cancer.”10:54:18 A.M. -H.R. 3578Mr. Tierney moved to recommit with instructions to The Budget.10:53:41 A.M. -H.R. 3578Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3578 — “To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to reform the budget baseline.”10:53:29 A.M. -H.R. 658POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the conference report to H.R. 658, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the conference report and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Petri demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the conference report until later in the legislative day.10:53:07 A.M. -H.R. 658The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.9:45:02 A.M. -H.R. 658DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report to accompany H.R. 658.9:44:15 A.M. -H.R. 658Mr. Mica brought up conference report H. Rept. 112-381 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 533.9:39:55 A.M. -H. Res. 533Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.9:39:49 A.M. -H. Res. 533On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.9:39:41 A.M. -H. Res. 533The previous question was ordered without objection.9:19:45 A.M. -H. Res. 533DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 533.9:18:47 A.M. -H. Res. 533Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 533 — “Providing for consideration of the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 658) to amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2011 through 2014, to streamline programs, create efficiencies, reduce waste, and improve aviation safety and capacity, to provide stable funding for the national aviation system, and for other purposes.”9:05:07 A.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.9:04:43 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Lankford to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.9:04:40 A.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.9:01:00 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Cal LeMon, First and Calvary Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Missouri.9:00:00 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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Pell Grants help millions of Black students access higher education … by Matt Nelson, ColorOfChange.org

12/12/2011 Nativegrl77

Tell Congress to stand up for educational opportunity:

Black families across the U.S. are finding it harder to pay the rapidly-increasing costs of higher education, and now some members of Congress are trying to dramatically cut the Pell Grant program — a lifeline that makes college possible for more than 9 million low-income students each year.1

The Republican-led proposal would put educational access and advancement out of reach for millions of prospective Black students. $900 million in cuts would mean dumping 1 million students from the program within the next five years — half of whom could be kicked out before the end of this school year. The plan would also shrink the size of the award for many current recipients.2

The entire 2012 budget is under negotiation and Congress must vote by next Friday to avoid a potential government shut down. This debate is about funding priorities, and important programs like Pell will be cut unless enough members of Congress stand up to support education. Our elected officials should be working to expand opportunities for economic growth, not decimating higher education programs that help put low-income students and students of color in good jobs. Please call on members of the House of Representatives, where Republicans pose the biggest threat to Pell Grants, to vote down any attempts to cut or restrict the program:

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/PellFunding

Tuition and fees at colleges and universities continue to skyrocket, increasing more than 400% since 1982 — more than 4 times the rate of inflation.3 Access to a good education dramatically increases a person’s chances for solid employment and pay. Young adults with a college degree are nearly 3 times more likely to be employed, and earn almost twice as much as those with just a high school diploma.

Defunding Pell Grants will hit Black and low-income students the hardest. Nearly half of Black undergraduates rely on Pell Grants to attend school, and families with incomes below $40,000 constitute 90% of awardees.4 Republicans have used racially-charged language as part of their attack on Pell. One Congressman called Pell “the welfare of the 21st century.”5

Of course, Pell isn’t welfare. In fact, the average grant size is much less likely to cover a sizable amount of college tuition costs than when the program began 40 years ago. Back then, Pell covered 100% of the average cost of tuition while today’s maximum Pell award generally covers one-third.6

Pell Grants are a cornerstone of our nation’s student aid program and greatly influence the makeup of our nation’s colleges and universities, providing much-needed racial and economic diversity within the overall student population. Tell Congress to fund higher education, and when you do, ask your friends and family to do the same.

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/PellFunding

Thanks and Peace,

— Rashad, James, Gabriel, Dani, Matt, Natasha and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
December 10th, 2011

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:

http://www.colorofchange.org/donate

References

1. “House Budget Committee Is Searching for Excuses to Cut Pell Grants,” Center for American Progress, 11-15-2011
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1070?akid=2320.1174326.5nh0Fe&t=7

2. “Fight for Social Programs Looms Anew in the House,” New York Times, 10-03-2011
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1071?akid=2320.1174326.5nh0Fe&t=9

3. “Is college still worth the price?” CNN Money, 04-13-2009
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1073?akid=2320.1174326.5nh0Fe&t=11

4. “Pell Grants: The Cornerstone of African-American Higher Education,” Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1072?akid=2320.1174326.5nh0Fe&t=13

5. “Rep. Denny Rehberg: Pell Grants Are Becoming ‘The Welfare Of The 21st Century’,” Huffington Post, 04-01-2011
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1074?akid=2320.1174326.5nh0Fe&t=15

6. “Infographic: A History of the Shrinking Pell Grant,” Campus Progress, 05-23-2011
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1075?akid=2320.1174326.5nh0Fe&t=17

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Don’t kill the Dream

08/12/2011 Nativegrl77

We all want to live the American Dream of getting a good education, making a better life for our kids, and having a secure retirement. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Pell Grants — these are basic programs that built the middle class and make it possible for us live that dream. But Republicans want to destroy the middle class and kill the American Dream for millions of families.

We need to create a clean energy economy, not give away billion-dollar subsidies to big oil companies. We need to ensure access to healthcare for everyone, not eliminate the most successful health programs in our country’s history. We need to invest in America’s future, not extend tax cuts for the super rich.

We can stop Republicans from dismantling the middle class and killing the dream. Please join Van Jones on DFA Live next Thursday, August 18, at 9 p.m. Eastern Time to learn how.

Thank you for all that you do.

-Levana

Levana Layendecker, Communications Director
Democracy for America

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Take Action Today: It’s All On the Line …Joan Entmacher and Judy Waxman, National Women’s Law Center

07/13/2011 Nativegrl77

National Women's Law Center - Don't Discount Women: Demand Fair Change Not Spare Change


	Budgetary Threats Loom Closer: Call the Senate



	Dial 1-888-907-1485 and demand a fair and responsible deficit-reduction agreement that works for women and their families!

	Call 1-888-907-1485 today!

The way deficit-reduction talks are going on Capitol Hill, it’s all on the line for women and struggling families. Programs that help those who need it the most are under threat: Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, child care, Head Start, Food Stamps, Pell Grants and more are at risk of devastating cutbacks. Republican leaders are demanding deep cuts in vital programs, rejecting any revenue increases, and threatening to let the U.S. default on its obligations — causing another economic crisis — if they don’t get their way.

Don’t let these important programs be held hostage in the deficit-reduction debates! Call your Senators toll-free at 1-888-907-1485 today! Ask them to insist on a budget plan that reduces the deficit responsibly and works for all Americans — not just millionaires and big business.

Dial 1-888-907-1485 to be connected to your own Senators’ offices.Tell them:

Your name and that you are a constituent;
You’re depending on them to prevent harmful cuts or caps to programs for low- and moderate-income people in the negotiations to reduce the deficit;
That they must insist on fair increases in revenues from those with the greatest ability to pay to prevent reckless cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and other essential domestic services.

Though reducing the long-term deficit is an important step toward stabilizing and growing our nation’s economy, we must do it responsibly. And, one of the best ways to reduce the long-term deficit is to create jobs now — not to make spending cuts that will eliminate more public sector jobs and weaken the economy.

With negotiations proceeding to craft a deal that may last a decade, we have to act now. So we’re helping mobilize Americans to call the Senate this week to make our position known.

Join our National Budget Call-In Days through the end of the week. We need your voice: Call your Senators toll-free at 1-888-907-1485.

Remember: it’s all on the line. We are determined to Demand Fair Change, Not Spare Change™, and we need your help now, more than ever.

Thank you for your continued commitment. We couldn’t do this without you!

Sincerely,