S 3433 — PELL Act

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html December 11, 2025

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

The bill eliminates funding to certain minority-serving institutions and amends existing law to prevent discrimination based on race in admissions for federal grant eligibility.

• 20 U.S.C. 1033(1)(A)

  (ii) a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in section 1101a of this title); (iv) an Alaska Native-serving institution (as defined in section 1059d(b) of this title); (v) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as defined in section 1059d(b) of this title); (vi) a Predominantly Black Institution (as defined in section 1059e of this title); (vii) an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (as defined in section 1059g(b) of this title); (viii) a Native American-serving, nontribal institution (as defined in section 1059f of this title);

  This change removes various categories of minority-serving institutions from the definition of 'eligible institution.'

• 20 U.S.C. 1057 et seq.

  20 U.S.C. 1059d; 20 U.S.C. 1059e; 20 U.S.C. 1059f; 20 U.S.C. 1059g;

  This change completely repeals the sections concerning grants for Alaska Native-serving institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and other specified minority-serving institutions.

• 20 U.S.C. 1067

  minority institutions as such programs lag behind in program offerings and in student enrollment compared to such programs at other institutions of higher education → opportunities for individuals who receive a Federal Pell Grant, who may not otherwise get a chance to cultivate and hone their skills

  This change refocuses the emphasis of science improvement programs from minority institutions to students receiving Federal Pell Grants.

• 20 U.S.C. 1067a

  Minority Institutions Science Improvement Program → Science Opportunity Improvement Program

  This change renames the program to remove the reference to minority institutions.

• 20 U.S.C. 1067e-1

  underrepresented minority youth and; underrepresented minority youth or;

  This change removes the references to underrepresented minority youth.

• 20 U.S.C. 1067e-2

  underrepresented minority student enrollment → the enrollment of students who receive a Federal Pell Grant, or would be eligible to receive such a grant,

  This change replaces the focus on underrepresented minority student enrollment with a focus on Pell Grant recipients.

• 20 U.S.C. 1067g

  (1) public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees; (2) public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education that award associate degrees; (3) nonprofit science-oriented organizations or professional scientific societies; (4) consortia of organizations, that ensure that neither the consortium nor any of its members discriminate based on race in admissions or hiring, including through the use of racial quotas or preferences;

  This change sets new criteria under which institutions can qualify for grants, explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on race in admissions.

Action History

1. December 11, 2025

   Introduced in Senate

2. December 11, 2025

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

Sponsors

• Jim Banks · Primary

Subjects