{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/banks-leads-fight-to-ensure-taxpayer-funded-pell-grants-go-to-american-students-only/", "Banks Leads Fight to Ensure Taxpayer-Funded Pell Grants go to American Students Only", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "IN", "Jim Banks", "B001299", "www.banks.senate.gov", "banks", "https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) introduced the Pell for Americans Act, legislation to ensure taxpayer-funded Pell Grants are awarded only to U.S. citizens and nationals. Current law makes it possible for certain noncitizens, including some illegal aliens, to receive federal student aid.\n\nThe Pell for Americans Act utilizes the framework of H.R. 4262\u2013\u2013legislation introduced in 1994 by three Democrats\u2013\u2013to ensure that taxpayer-funded Pell Grants are reserved for American students only.\n\nSen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.): \u201cIn 2026, Socialist-aligned Democrats fight harder for illegal aliens than their own constituents, but back in 1994, they led a bill that would ensure taxpayer-funded Pell Grants are reserved for American students only. American taxpayers have no business subsidizing the college tuition of foreign nationals, and three decades later, I\u2019m proud to reintroduce this commonsense bill to put American students first.\u201d\n\nKey Provisions of the bill:\n\nRequires Pell Grant recipients to be citizens or nationals of the United States.\n\nPrevents other provisions of the federal law from extending Pell Grant eligibility to noncitizens.\n\nMaintains existing academic and program eligibility requirements for American students.\n\nModeled after H.R. 4262, legislation introduced in the 103rd Congress by three Democrats.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Federal Pell Grant Program provides taxpayer-funded financial assistance to undergraduate students with significant financial needs. Unlike student loans, Pell Grants generally do not need to be repaid.\n\nUnder current law, U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and certain eligible noncitizens may qualify for Pell Grants. Senator Banks\u2019 legislation would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to limit Pell Grant eligibility to U.S. citizens and nationals.\n\nFull bill text can be found here.\n\nBreitbart Exclusive here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/banks-leads-fight-to-ensure-taxpayer-funded-pell-grants-go-to-american-students-only/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.266493160277605, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}