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Congress on Tuesday passed legislation that, in funding the federal government's operations through March 4, ensures that the maximum Pell Grant will remain at $5,550 at least through then. Democratic leaders had hoped to pass legislation that would have set federal spending for the entire 2011 fiscal year, so that Republicans -- who've promised significant cutbacks in federal outlays -- could not initiate that approach until 2012. But with Republicans in the Senate blocking a vote on the Democrats' omnibus spending bill, a compromise was reached that sets spending only through March, at which time the newly configured Congress could begin slashing. The top priority for higher education leaders -- which they got -- was an amendment calling for fully funding the Pell Grant Program, which faces a $5.7 billion shortfall for 2011, and a gap that is expected to reach $8 billion in 2012.
