February 01, 2023
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.). Start-up help for our companies through the JOBS law. This bipartisan legislation would help more Americans find good-paying jobs by allowing students to afford high-quality, short-term vocational training programs for the first time using federal grants from Pell.
Senator Cortez Masto is a strong supporter of Pell Grants, need-based educational grants for low-income and working students. Currently, students can only use Pell Grants for two- and four-year colleges or universities. Extending Pell Grant eligibility will increase the JOBS law would help close the skills gap and provide workers with the job training and skills they need for careers in high-demand fields.
“Nevadans in vocational programs should have access to the same government scholarships as students attending colleges and universities,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This sensible solution would strengthen our workforce and make it easier for thousands of Nevadans to find good-paying jobs and support their families.”
The JOBS law would allow Pell Grants to be used for quality professional training programs lasting a minimum of eight weeks and leading to industry-recognized credentials or certificates. Under current law, Pell Grants can only be applied for programs longer than 600 hours in duration or 15 weeks or longer in duration, so students in short-term, high-quality professional training programs are not eligible for critical assistance.
Full text of the invoice is available Hereand a summary of the invoice is available Here.
Senator Cortez Masto has championed Nevada students throughout her time in the Senate. She has introduced legislation to reform Pell Grant and the state student loan system so more Nevadans can access higher education without burdening debt. She has passed several laws to support Nevada workers, including the recently passed one Chips and Science Law. She has also supported legislation and provided federal funding for education in in-demand industries such as healthcare, travel and tourism, and transportation.
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