Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026

This bill would raise the maximum federal Pell Grant from $10,000 in the 2026-2027 award year to $15,000 by 2031-2032, then adjust it each year for inflation, and would fund all Pell Grants through automatic (mandatory) federal spending. Students who received certain federal means-tested benefits in the past two years would be treated as having a student aid index of -$1,500, and students with a negative index could receive more than the maximum grant. The bill would make certain undocumented students, known as Dreamer students, eligible for federal student aid. It would raise the lifetime Pell Grant limit from 12 to 18 semesters, restore eligibility for students whose non-federal scholarships cover their full cost of attendance, and change academic progress rules so students get a warning period and can have their aid eligibility reset after two years out of school.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Mazie K. Hirono Democrat sponsor
• 30 cosponsors