Legislation You Need To Know

Negative HEA Reauthorization Bills Introduced in the 116^th Congress

90/10

H.R. 3512 – Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of Students Act of 2019 (PROTECT Students Act)

Introduced by Representative Susie Lee (D-NV)

A bill to protect students of institutions of higher education and the taxpayer investment in institutions of higher education by improving oversight and accountability of institutions of higher education, particularly for-profit colleges, improving protections for students and borrowers, and ensuring the integrity of postsecondary education programs.

H.R. 3487 – Protections and Regulation for Our Students Act (PRO Students Act)

Introduced by Representative Mark Takano (D-CA)

A bill to improve the Higher Education Act of 1965 by, among other revisions proposed in the bill returning the 90/10 Rule to 85/15 and including all forms of federal student assistance funds.

H.R. 3369 – Defending All Veterans In Education Act

Introduced by Representative Donna Shalala (D-FL)

A bill to close the GI Bill loophole and update the 80/20 rule for proprietary institutions of higher education.

H.R. 3179 & S. 1775 – Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers Act of 2019 (POST Act)

House Bill Introduced by Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN)

Senate Bill Introduced by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding proprietary institutions of higher education in order to protect students and taxpayers.

H.R. 3112 – For-Profit Fraud Act

Introduced by Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA)

A bill to revise the 90-10 rule under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Arbitration

H.R. 1430 & S. 608 – Court Legal Access and Student Support Act of 2019 (CLASS Act)

House Bill Introduced by Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA)

Senate Bill Introduced by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL)

A bill to provide that chapter 1 of title 9 of the United States Code, relating to the enforcement of arbitration agreements, shall not apply to enrollment agreements made between students and certain institutions of higher education; and to prohibit limitations on the ability of students to pursue claims against certain institutions of higher education.

H.R. 2749 & S. 1491 – Restoring Justice for Workers Act

House Bill Introduced by Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

Senate Bill Introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)

A bill to prohibit forced arbitration in work disputes.

Federal Pell Grants

H.R. 3497 & S. 839 – Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act of 2019 (JOBS Act)

House Bill Introduced by Representative Cedric Richmond (D-LA)

Senate Bill Introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)

A bill to extend Federal Pell Grant eligibility of certain short-term programs (excluding proprietary institutions of higher education) .

 For-Profit Reforms

H.R. 3512 & S. 867 – Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of Students Act of 2019 (PROTECT Students Act)

Introduced by Representative Susie Lee (D-NV)

A bill to protect students of institutions of higher education and the taxpayer investment in institutions of higher education by improving oversight and accountability of institutions of higher education, particularly for-profit colleges, improving protections for students and borrowers, and ensuring the integrity of postsecondary education programs.

H.R. 3487 – Protections and Regulation for Our Students Act (PRO Students Act)

Introduced by Representative Mark Takano (D-CA)

A bill to improve the Higher Education Act of 1965 by, among other revisions proposed in the bill returning the 90/10 Rule to 85/15 and including all forms of federal student assistance funds.

H.R. 3179 & S. 1775 – Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers Act of 2019 (POST Act)

House Bill Introduced by Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN)

Senate Bill Introduced by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding proprietary institutions of higher education in order to protect students and taxpayers.

Institutional Risk-sharing

S. 968 – Protect Student Borrowers Act of 2019

Introduced by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)

To provide for institutional risk-sharing in the Federal student loan programs.

A Dozen Favorable Democratic HEA Reauthorization Bills

H.R. 3268 – Go to High School, Go to College Act of 2019

Introduced by Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow the Secretary of Education to create a pilot program to award College in High School Pell Grants.

H.R. 3101 & S. 1074 – Achieving Independence through Degrees Act (AID Act)

Introduced by Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the maximum Federal Pell Grant amount.

H.R. 2168 – Restoring Education And Learning Act of 2019 (REAL Act)

Introduced by Representative Danny Davis (D-IL)

A bill to reinstate Federal Pell Grant eligibility for individuals incarcerated in Federal and State penal institutions.

H.R. 2161 & S. 1072 – Pell Flexibility Act of 2019

Introduced by Representative Jim Banks (R-IN)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a Job Training Federal Pell Grants demonstration program.

H.R. 1893 – Next Step Act of 2019

Introduced by Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)

A bill to reform sentencing, prisons, re-entry of prisoners, and law enforcement practices

H.R. 625 – Professional Pell Education Learning Act

Introduced by Robert Wittman (R-VA)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand eligibility for participation in the Federal Pell Grant program to certain trade schools.

S. 1364 – Early Pell Promise Act

Introduced by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

A bill to establish an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Program.

Veterans Assistance

H.R. 1652 – Veteran Education Empowerment Act

Introduced by Representative Louis Frankel (D-FL)

A bill to reauthorize and improve a grant program to assist institutions of higher education in establishing, maintaining, improving, and operating Veteran Student Centers.

H.R. 4012 – Safeguarding Student Veterans Act

Introduced by Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 and title 38, United States Code, to conduct risk analyses regarding certain educational institutions receiving payments under the Department of Education heightened cash monitoring payment method.

H.R. 3598 – Federally Requiring Earned Education-debt Discharges for Vets Act (FREED Vets Act)

Introduced by Representative Conor Lamb (D-PA)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to automatically discharge the loans of certain veteran borrowers with disabilities.