Members of Congress are being urged to double the size of the grants the federal government provides to college students from low- and middle-income families through the Pell Grant program. Unfortunately, the size of the grants hasn’t kept up with the cost of college.

College students across the state and country are working together on this effort, including the Minnesota Association of Private College Students, which wrote a letter to members of Congress that was co-signed by student government groups from the U of M and Minnesota State. And the Minnesota Private College Council is working with member institutions to support this change and has written a letter of support with leaders from the U of M and Minnesota State.

Research has shown that need-based grants have a huge impact, increasing students’ ability to enroll and earn their college degrees. Read more on the #doublepell campaign at DoublePell.org.

Consider writing your own note to your members of Congress to ask them to double the Pell. You can get started at DoublePell.org/take-action/, with a sample note and a tool that is easy to use.

Minnesota’s elected leaders in Congress need to hear from you now about doubling the Pell Grant. Write to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Tina Smith and your U.S. representative and ask them to invest in college students by doubling the Pell Grant. Please take this step today.