During his first few months in Washington, Texas Congressman Will Hurd voted to cut funding to a program designed to help low-income students afford college. Ironically, this weekend Hurd delivered two commencement addresses to recent graduates at Saint Phillips and Huston-Tillotson. Students at these two Texas colleges depend heavily on Pell Grants to mitigate the increasing costs of higher education; however, when it mattered the most, Congressman Hurd voted to cut this lifeline that supports many of Texas’ most needy students.
“This weekend, Congressman Hurd may have talked a good game on how to succeed after college, but in Washington Congressman Hurd voted to make college unattainable for many students by freezing and capping Pell Grant Awards,” said Matt Thornton of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Texas students deserve better.”
Background
St. Philips College Had 4,555 Students Receive Pell Grants From 2012-2013, 40% Of Its Student Population. From 2012-2013, St. Phillips College had 4,555 students receive Pell Grants, a little over 40 percent of the total student population of 11,723. [U.S. Department of Education, accessed 5/11/15; Alamo.edu, accessed 5/11/15]
Huston-Tillotson Had 701 Students Receive Pell Grants From 2012-2013, 76% Of Its Student Population. From 2012-2013, Huston had 701 students receive Pell Grants, around 76 percent of the total student population of 926. [U.S. Department of Education, accessed 5/11/15; htu.edu, accessed 5/11/15]
Hurd Voted For House GOP Budget That Freezes Maximum The Pell Grant Award For 10 Years. “On Tuesday, the House GOP released a budget memo that would freeze the maximum amount students receive from the government to pay for college; the grants would be held at $5,775 per school year for the next 10 years.” [H Con Res 27, Roll Call #142, 3/25/15; Washington Post, 3/18/15]
House GOP Budget Caps Pell Grants For Ten Years As Tuition & Other Costs Increase. “The booklet also makes clear that the plan contains big cuts in Pell Grants, which help children from families with modest incomes afford college. Although Pell Grants already cover a much lower share of college costs than they used to, the plan would freeze the maximum grant level for ten years even as tuition and room and board costs continued to rise, and then cut Pell Grants in other ways as well.” [CBPP, 3/17/15]