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A petition calling on Congress to protect Pell Grants, student loans and other financial aid programs from budget cuts has gathered more than 37,000 signatures and will soon be delivered to members of the "super committee," the bipartisan panel charged with cutting $1 trillion from the nation's budget by the end of this month, as well as other Congressional representatives. The "Statement of Support" from the Student Aid Alliance, a group of 74 higher education associations that lobby to protect financial aid programs, was launched Oct. 25. Signers include students, faculty and administrators from all sectors.
"Recent budget deals have already cut $30 billion from the student aid programs, sacrificing some students’ benefits to pay for others. States across the country are cutting higher education from their own budgets," the statement reads in part. "That’s why it’s more important than ever to preserve, protect and provide adequate funding for the core federal student aid programs — such as Pell Grants and student loan benefits. Together, these programs offer students an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills our nation demands for a strong recovery."
