United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 29 D · 1 I cosponsors

S 4859 — Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026

Last action — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced June 23, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 30 sponsors

    1 primary, 29 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (29 D · 1 I) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill aims to preserve and expand Pell Grants for students.

This legislation focuses on extending support for Pell Grants, which help low-income students afford college education. It seeks to enhance funding and accessibility to ensure more students can benefit.

What this means for you
  • Families: This means families with low-income students may have increased access to financial support for college education.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

7 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends existing law to significantly increase the Federal Pell Grant amounts, adjust grant eligibility criteria, and ensure mandatory funding for the program.

  • 20 U.S.C. § 1070a

    10 percent → 5 percent

    This change reduces the minimum Federal Pell Grant amount awarded to full-time students from 10 percent to 5 percent of the total maximum grant.

  • 20 U.S.C. § 1070a(b)(1)(B)(i)

    paragraph (5)(A) → paragraph (5)

    It modifies the reference for determining the maximum Federal Pell Grant amount from a specific provision to the entire section.

  • 20 U.S.C. § 1070a(b)(5)

    current text of paragraph (5) → ``(A) Award year 2026-2027.--For award year 2026-2027, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $10,000. ``(B) Award year 2027-2028.--For award year 2027-2028, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $11,000. ``(C) Award year 2028-2029.--For award year 2028-2029, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $12,000. ``(D) Award year 2029-2030.--For award year 2029-2030, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $13,000. ``(E) Award year 2030-2031.--For award year 2030-2031, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $14,000. ``(F) Award year 2031-2032 and subsequent years.--For award year 2031-2032, and each subsequent award year, the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall be $15,000-- ``(i) increased by the adjustment percentage for the award year for which the amount under this subparagraph is being determined; and ``(ii) rounded to the nearest $50."

    Establishes designated maximum Pell Grant amounts for the next several academic years, ensuring incremental increases.

  • 20 U.S.C. § 1070a(b)(6)

    current text of paragraph (6) → ``(6) Appropriation of funds.--There are authorized to be appropriated, and there are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026 and each subsequent fiscal year to provide the Federal Pell Grant for which a student shall be eligible under this section during an award year.''

    This change ensures mandatory funding for Pell Grants every fiscal year without needing additional approvals.

  • 20 U.S.C. § 1070a(b)(1)(A)

    A student → Except in the case of a student with a student aid index of less than zero, a student

    This change specifies that only students with a negative student aid index are exempt from a certain eligibility condition.

  • 20 U.S.C. § 1087mm

    ``(d) Special Rule for Means-Tested Benefit Recipients.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), for an applicant (or, as applicable, an applicant and spouse, or an applicant's parents) who, at any time during the previous 2-year period, received a benefit under a means-tested Federal benefit program...the Secretary shall for the purposes of this title consider the student aid index as equal to -$1,500 for the applicant.''

    Introduces a new rule that allows applicants who received means-tested benefits to have a special calculation for their student aid index.

  • 20 U.S.C. § 1091(a)(5)

    `, or be a Dreamer student, as defined in subsection (u)''

    Expands eligibility for federal aid to include Dreamer students who are not citizens or nationals of the United States.

Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 29 co-sponsors · 517 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (29)

Not signed on (517)

517 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 517 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 4859?
S 4859 is sponsored by Hirono, Mazie K. (Democratic), Murray, Patty (Democratic), Reed, Jack (Democratic), Whitehouse, Sheldon (Democratic), Kaine, Tim (Democratic), Padilla, Alex (Democratic), Shaheen, Jeanne (Democratic), Bennet, Michael F. (Democratic), Blumenthal, Richard (Democratic), Markey, Edward J. (Democratic), Duckworth, Tammy (Democratic), Heinrich, Martin (Democratic), Warnock, Raphael G. (Democratic), Warren, Elizabeth (Democratic), Gillibrand, Kirsten E. (Democratic), Smith, Tina (Democratic), Van Hollen, Chris (Democratic), Murphy, Christopher (Democratic), Booker, Cory A. (Democratic), Wyden, Ron (Democratic), Klobuchar, Amy (Democratic), Durbin, Richard J. (Democratic), King, Angus S., Jr. (Independent), Merkley, Jeff (Democratic), Fetterman, John (Democratic), Ossoff, Jon (Democratic), Baldwin, Tammy (Democratic), Schiff, Adam B. (Democratic), Luján, Ben Ray (Democratic), and Kim, Andy (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 4859?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced June 23, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 4859?
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