House Workforce Committee Chair Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-VA) led a bipartisan group of legislators to expand access to the Pell Grant for short-term workforce programs on December 5. Foxx was joined by committee ranking member Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Reps. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to introduce The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act that expands access to Pell Grants by allowing short-term workforce training programs with at least 150 instruction hours (but less than 600) to qualify for coverage.
Students can opt for-profit and online training programs, but state workforce board will be required to determine if a program’s curriculum meets the threshold of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industries as well as recognized post-secondary credentials. Lastly, the Education Department will make final eligibility determinations. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has also previously signaled his support for a bipartisan expansion of Pell Grants.
The House and Senate have struggled to come to agreement over Pell Grant expansion that would include for-profit colleges and online programs. Stefanik and Scott have previously introduced legislation to expand access to Pell grants through the H.R. 496 – Promoting Employment and Lifelong Learning Act and H.R. 1655 – Jobs to Compete Act.
