College students who receive federal, need-based Pell grants could see their awards decrease by as much as $845 next school year.
A spending resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last month would cut $176 million in Pell funding in Pennsylvania, a decrease from $923 million to $747 million, according to Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group, which conducted a conference call on the issue Thursday.
Education advocates are encouraging legislators to find other places to reduce the federal deficit.
At the University of Scranton, 904 students currently receive Pell grants. With a decrease in funding, William Burke, director of financial aid, estimates those students could lose almost $500,000 in combined funding. About 100 students could lose their entire Pell grant, Burke said. The maximum Pell award is $5,550 per year, and could be dropped to $4,705. The average Pell award could drop $785.
University President Rev. Scott R. Pilarz has sent letters to U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey, urging them to vote against the funding cuts, Burke said.
The grants help the "neediest of the needy," and although the university has programs to help students with great financial aid, not all colleges have those types of funds, he said.
U.S. Reps. Lou Barletta, R-11, Hazleton, and Tom Marino, R-10, Lycoming Twp., voted for the spending resolution, which would cut more than $5.7 billion of the Pell program nationwide, according to PennPIRG.
In a statement, Barletta said that the previous Congress spent money it did not have.
"In order to ensure that students can take advantage of Pell grants in the future, it's time to enact sensible reforms that will make this important program sustainable," he said.
Marino issued a statement noting that the funding level for Pell grants included in the government's continuing resolution - which authorizes federal spending - is maintained at last year's level.
"What the (continuing resolution) does is try to begin to close a $5.7 billion funding gap that exists in the program despite having received a $33 billion cash infusion in 2009 due to the Stimulus," Marino said.
"Unfortunately, our country is broke, and for too long our government has spent well outside of its means," Marino added. "This Congress is beginning the process of looking at every federal agency and program to determine how we can eliminate the deficit, pay down our debt, and get our finances back on track."
A spokeswoman for Casey said the senator supports the grants and the Senate will consider its own legislation and not consider the bill passed by the House.
About 9.4 million students now receive Pell grants.
"Many of these students are already at the tipping point," said Rich Williams, higher education associate for PennPIRG. "Many would be forced to drop out of school."