BHEF urges Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to preserve Pell Grant Program

Washington, DC (October 25, 2011) — The Business-Higher Education Forum’s (BHEF) College Readiness, Access, and Success (CRI) working group co-chairs David Jones, Jr., chairman & managing director, Chrysalis Ventures, and Charles Reed, chancellor, The California State University, sent a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction urging the Committee to support investments in higher education and pathways for the neediest students through student aid programs, such as the Federal Pell Grant program.

This letter marks the latest installment of BHEF’s CRI federal advocacy agenda. In recent months, BHEF has participated in Save Pell Day, released an issue brief and position statement for support of the Federal Pell Grant program, and sent letters to key Administration and Congressional leaders. Past BHEF chairs David Skorton, president, Cornell University, and William Swanson, chairman and CEO, Raytheon Company, also published an op-ed in USA Today, titled "Cut costs—not access—to save Pell Grants."