January 1, 2009
Posted: 05:00 PM ET

(CNN) — Vice President-elect Joe Biden issued a statement Thursday responding to the death of former Sen. Claiborne Pell.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Pell family as they mourn the loss of one of our country's greatest public servants. Claiborne Pell was a man of extraordinary integrity, grace and decency. Chairman Pell was a mentor to me and one of our nation's most important voices in foreign policy for over 30 years," Biden said in the statement.

"He was a leader in the effort to reduce the size of the world's nuclear arsenal and to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. Few Senators have done more to expand opportunity in America. Because of Senator Pell and the Pell Grant, the doors of college have been opened to millions of Americans — and will continue to be opened to millions more. That is a legacy that will live on for generations to come."

Filed under: Claiborne Pell • Joe Biden


james in s.c.   January 1st, 2009 10:00 pm ET

R.I.P Sen. Pell…. i couldn't have gone to college, but with the Pell grant I did. thank you Sen. Pell.

jim

alex badme, albuquerque   January 1st, 2009 9:35 pm ET

Biden your a loser and we don't really care. Pell was significant. Your jsut along for a free ride. Professional tax funded slacker.

Dan, TX   January 1st, 2009 9:31 pm ET

Please report No Hillary = No Obama to the secret service, she is threatening the PE.

Dan, TX   January 1st, 2009 9:30 pm ET

I received Pell grants and have had a lot of good come from my education. Thank you Senator Pell. Thank you VPE Biden. It is good to see articles that liberals and conservatives can agree on without spewing vitriol for no reason except for the fun of spewing hatred in the hopes of making someone as hurt as they are.

Donna Hughes   January 1st, 2009 9:21 pm ET

Thank you, Joe. Mr. Pell was a good man, and so are you.

Michelle   January 1st, 2009 9:15 pm ET

When my daughter was in her second year of college, she gave birth to her baby girl. Because of the Pell Grant, which paid 100% of her tuition and books, she was able to finish school and get her teaching degree. God bless Senator Claiborne Pell. He was a good and decent man who helped give thousands of young people a chance to make it in this world.

No Hillary = No Obama   January 1st, 2009 8:44 pm ET

Biden will eventually be President.

aware   January 1st, 2009 8:36 pm ET

Funerals will be your main job VPEB! :)

Timezone   January 1st, 2009 8:33 pm ET

God Bless. Every person who has attended higher education knows his importance!

Pell was a great man   January 1st, 2009 7:22 pm ET

too bad our former president didn't spend more time learning when he was in school, or actually showed up for his military service instead of spending it campaigning, if he had actually done his military service he might have been a better commander in chief

ttofast70@comcast.net   January 1st, 2009 7:13 pm ET

Thank you for the fine education.

Rae   January 1st, 2009 7:01 pm ET

We need to have more people like Claiborne Pell to represent we the people. God bless.

bushisuseless   January 1st, 2009 6:45 pm ET

Well the only consolation I can think of is now Senator Pell has a front row seat from heaven watching the souls of Bush, Cheney, Rove and all selfish power hungry Republican burn in hell.

MK   January 1st, 2009 6:27 pm ET

I went to college with the help of a Pell grant so I have him to thank, in part, for my degree and success.

Strictly Republican   January 1st, 2009 6:20 pm ET

Biden reacted with emotion thats a surprise

mesa   January 1st, 2009 6:10 pm ET

God Bless Chairman Pell.

Joe, sit down and shut up.

Ken in NC   January 1st, 2009 6:01 pm ET

I never had the chance to know Sen. Claiborne Pell but I owe him a debt of gratitude because his actions that gave life to the Pell Grant Program was the conduit by which my daughter was able to get her college degree. I am so thankful to this man for his work to create this program and hope his family will know that his life touched many children that they will never know.

Sherrol in Canada   January 1st, 2009 5:54 pm ET

Amen VP Elect Biden, thank you for taking the time to express your feelings and thought about Chairman Pell.

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