Bill to give full Pell Grants to children of fallen firefighters, EMS and law enforcement officers advanced by Senate

A bill that gives the children of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS workers the maximum Pell grant authorized by federal law was recently advanced by the U.S. Senate.

The legislation, titled the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act, was introduced by U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA).

The bill would automatically provide qualifying students with the maximum Pell Grant authorized by law. Under normal circumstances, Pell Grants are distributed based on students’ financial needs using a formula that determines how much each family is able to pay towards a student’s education through their expected family contribution.

In order to qualify for Pell grants, students must demonstrate significant financial need. Approximately 75 percent of grant recipients have a yearly family income of less than $30,000.

Should the legislation be enacted, qualifying students would be treated as if their expected family contribution were zero, making the student eligible for a full Pell Grant valued at $5,730 per year for full-time students.

Similarly, full Pell Grants are currently available to children of fallen Armed Forces personnel who were killed in the line of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001.

“First responders put their lives on the line every day without hesitation,” Casey said. “Our Nation must do all it can to help their families when tragedy strikes. This is a commonsense step that Congress can take to help ease the burden that these children confront as they enter college. The Senate has taken a step forward in honoring these heroes by passing this legislation and it is now time for the House to do the same.”