College Affordability and Accessibility Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8618 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8618 To increase the total maximum Federal Pell Grant and extend flexibility for eligibility. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 30, 2026 Mr. Menefee introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To increase the total maximum Federal Pell Grant and extend flexibility for eligibility. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``College Affordability and Accessibility Act''. SEC. 2. INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF A FEDERAL PELL GRANT. (a) Award Year 2026-2027 and Subsequent Award Years.-- (1) Amendment to award amount.--Section 401(b)(5)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a(b)(5)(A)), is amended to read as follows: ``(A)(i) Award years 2026-2027 and 2027- 2028.--For award years 2026-2027 and 2027- 2028, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award per student shall be equal to $14,800, reduced by the amount specified as the maximum Federal Pell Grant in the last enacted appropriation Act applicable to that award year. ``(ii) Subsequent award years.--For award year 2028-2029, and each subsequent award year, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award per student shall be equal to the amount that is equal to $14,800, increased by a percentage equal to the annual adjustment percentage for the award year for which the amount under this subparagraph is being determined, then reduced by the amount specified as the maximum Federal Pell Grant in the last enacted appropriation Act applicable to that award year.''. (2) Definition.--Section 401(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (