Higher Education Opportunity Through Pell Grant Expansion Act

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11909)

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 5, 2005

Higher Education Opportunity Through Pell Grant Expansion Act - Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) eligible undergraduate students should receive the maximum Federal Pell Grant amount established by this Act's amendment to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA); and (2) sufficient funds should be appropriated to allow the awarding of such amount.

Authorizes and makes additional appropriations in a specified amount for FY 2006 to carry out HEA provisions for Federal Pell Grants.

Amends HEA to revise the maximum amount of a Federal Pell Grant to $5,100 for academic year 2005-2006.

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Directs the Secretary of Education to adjust such maximum amount cumulatively every two academic years to account for any percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.

Prohibits the application of the annual updates (published in the Federal Register on December 23, 2004) to the allowance for State and other taxes in the tables used in the Federal Needs Analysis Methodology to determine a student's expected family contribution for the award year 2005-2006, to the extent such updates will reduce the amount of Federal student assistance for which the student is eligible.

Terminates special allowance payments for lenders or holders of student loans: (1) made or purchased after enactment of this Act; (2) not qualified for such payments before such enactment; or (3) made or purchased before such enactment, but having retired or defeased obligations after such enactment, or having a maturity or retirement date extended after such enactment.

Requires windfall profit offset payments from eligible lenders of student loans.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Obama, Barack [D-IL] · D–IL

Committees

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Oct 26, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11909)
Apr 5, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3205-3206)
Apr 5, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3205)
Apr 5, 2005
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Apr 5, 2005 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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Source last updated: Aug 15, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.697 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.697, 109th Congress: Higher Education Opportunity Through Pell Grant Expansion Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/697

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-04-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s697/BILLS-109s697is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-15T18:02:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.697 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.697 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.697, 109th Congress: Higher Education Opportunity Through Pell Grant Expansion Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/697

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-04-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s697/BILLS-109s697is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-15T18:02:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.697 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.697 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.697, 109th Congress: Higher Education Opportunity Through Pell Grant Expansion Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/697

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-04-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s697/BILLS-109s697is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-15T18:02:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.697 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Examine S.697 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.697, 109th Congress: Higher Education Opportunity Through Pell Grant Expansion Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/697

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-04-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/s697/BILLS-109s697is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-15T18:02:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.697 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.