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July
15, 2002
The
Honorable Robert C. Byrd, Chairman
Senate Appropriations Committee
311 Senate Hart Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510 |
The
Honorable Ted Stevens, Ranking Member
Senate Appropriations Committee
522 Senate Hart Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510 |
Dear
Mr. Chairman and Senator Stevens,
The United
States Student Association and the State PIRGs' Higher Education
Project are writing to thank you for your continued support
of student aid. Your support of recent student aid increases
and funding to cover the Pell Grant shortfall is key to ensuring
that students from across the country have access to a college
education.
Due to
state budget cuts, rising costs, and the failure of federal
grant aid to keep pace with these costs, many students and
families struggle to pay for college. In 1999-2000, 64% of
students graduated with federal education loan debt, and the
average student loan debt has nearly doubled over the past
eight years to $16,928. In addition, nearly half of all full-time
students who work are working 25 or more hours per week to
help cover college costs. Students from low-income families
struggle even more-the typical Pell Grant recipient who borrows
now graduates with almost $19,000 in federal education loan
debt.
We urge
you to increase funding for the maximum Pell Grant to $4,500
in FY03 and to support increases in other key student aid
programs such as LEAP, SEOG, campus-based aid, TRIO and teacher
loan forgiveness.
As you
meet to write the appropriations bill, please remember the
millions of students who are able to realize their dream of
a college education because of federal student aid programs.
Thank you for your continued leadership and support on student
aid issues.
Sincerely,
Mary
Cunningham
U.S. Student Association Legislative Director |
Ellynne
Bannon
State PIRGs' Higher Education Advocate |
cc: Members
of the Senate Appropriations Committee
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