Education (Student Financial Aid)

in committee · United States · House Feb 25, 2026

HR 7689: Earl N. Williams, Sr., First Chance Act

This bill amends the Higher Education Act to create "basic and emergency supplemental living assistance grants" for first-year undergraduate students participating in their institution's student support services program. Basic grants cover anticipated expenses (like tuition or housing) for completing their first academic year, while emergency grants address unexpected costs (such as childcare, transportation, or personal needs) that could disrupt their studies. Grants are capped at $500 for the 2027-2028 academic year, with future limits adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index. Institutions must allocate these funds without reducing existing non-Federal support and may use up to 2% of allocated program funds for these grants.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grants to cover student living expenses, preventing disruptions and supporting higher education access and retention.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly includes housing as a covered expense for student grants, providing financial support for housing costs under student aid program.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · United States · House Sep 10, 2025

HR 5181: SOAR Act Improvements Act

The SOAR Act Improvements Act (HR 5181) amends Washington, D.C.'s scholarship program to extend grant durations from 5 to 10 years without competitive renewal, expand eligibility to schools across the Washington metropolitan region (including parts of Maryland and Virginia), and update funding rules. It allows scholarship funds to cover pre-kindergarten, increases annual academic assistance funding from $2 million to $2.2 million, and requires participating schools to maintain accreditation. The bill also modifies evaluation requirements to include annual reporting on student outcomes like graduation rates and school safety comparisons, with evaluations mandated every seven years starting in 2027. These changes directly affect D.C. scholarship recipients, participating schools, and eligible entities administering the program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases scholarship funding ($2M to $2.2M), expands regional access beyond D.C., covers pre-K, and requires school accreditation - directly advancing educational access and funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · United States · House Dec 3, 2025

HR 6375: 21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act

This bill creates federal grants to support STEM education programs for girls and underrepresented minorities in K-12 schools. It directs $250,000 annually per grant to school districts serving high-poverty communities (with at least 40% students eligible for free/reduced lunch) to fund specific activities like after-school STEM programs, teacher training on reducing bias, mentorship, parental engagement, and summer camps. The grants require schools to track student participation and academic progress in STEM through annual evaluations. The program aims to increase opportunities for these students to develop skills and pursue STEM careers, while ensuring funds supplement - rather than replace - existing resources.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $250k/year grants for STEM programs targeting girls/minorities in high-poverty K-12 schools, directly funding educational access and teacher training.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds STEM education programs for underrepresented groups, promoting digital equity and technology access in schools through targeted grants and bias-reduction training.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · United States · Senate Sep 11, 2025

S 2782: Service Starts At Home Act

The Service Starts At Home Act (S 2782) creates two main programs: (1) grants to states and local governments for paid internships for high school students and college undergraduates in local government roles, and (2) scholarships for students based on volunteer service hours. It directly affects secondary and postsecondary students, local governments, and states by funding internships with educational value and awarding scholarships (ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 annually) to students who complete 100+ volunteer hours. Key mechanisms include competitive grant applications for internship programs, state-level scholarship administration with priority for renewal applicants, and requirements for volunteer work to be unpaid and non-religious. The bill authorizes $50 million annually for internships and $100 million annually for scholarships from fiscal years 2026-2030.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds student internships and scholarships via state/local grants, directly increasing public spending on education programs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds paid internships for high school/college students and provides service-based scholarships ($1k-$3k), directly expanding educational access and opportunity for K-12/postsecondary students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · United States · Senate Dec 11, 2025

S 3433: PELL Act

The PELL Act (S 3433) would eliminate federal funding for institutions that receive grants based on the racial or ethnic composition of their student bodies, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The bill amends the Higher Education Act to require institutions receiving federal funds to serve a substantial number of students receiving Federal Pell Grants and to prohibit racial discrimination in admissions or hiring, including through racial quotas. It redirects funds from Minority-Serving Institution programs toward increasing the Federal Pell Grant program, which provides need-based financial aid for college students regardless of race. The legislation would require federal agencies to identify and eliminate all provisions that allocate funds based on racial or ethnic criteria for institutions. This bill directly affects federal grant programs and institutions currently receiving funding based on racial or ethnic composition of their student bodies.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationDefunds HBCUs/HSIs by eliminating federal grants tied to racial composition, restricting access for minority students who rely on these institutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 12, 2025

S 994: PROTECT Students Act of 2025

The PROTECT Students Act of 2025 requires institutions of higher education to disclose debt-to-earnings rates and earnings premium data to help students evaluate program value. It strengthens borrower defense protections for students misled by institutions, prohibits institutions from limiting students' legal rights to pursue claims, and mandates that institutions spend at least 30% of tuition revenue on instruction. The bill also requires transparency about institutional finances, program outcomes, and third-party relationships to help students make informed decisions. These provisions directly affect students, higher education institutions, and third-party servicers. The act aims to improve accountability and transparency in higher education, particularly for for-profit institutions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires transparency on debt/earnings, strengthens borrower protections, prohibits limiting legal claims, and mandates 30% tuition spend on instruction - directly advancing student protection and program value in higher education.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · United States · House Sep 16, 2025

HR 5374: Promoting Health Careers in Community and Technical Colleges Act

This bill requires community colleges and technical colleges receiving federal grants under the Health Professions Opportunity Demonstration Project to train participants to earn industry-recognized certifications, such as nursing assistant or medical coding credentials. It directly affects students in health career training programs at eligible community colleges and technical schools, as well as the institutions administering these grants. The bill expands eligibility for these grants by modifying federal law to include more types of colleges under the specified educational frameworks. The changes will take effect on October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands federal grant eligibility for health career training at community colleges, increasing access to certified workforce programs and funding educational pathways.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands federal grants for health career training at community colleges, directly supporting workforce development in healthcare through certification programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds certification training for health careers, enhancing workforce readiness and employment opportunities in high-demand fields, directly advancing employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Student Financial Aid Healthcare Workforce Workforce Development

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in committee · United States · Senate Dec 16, 2025

S 3487: PSLF Payment Completion Fairness Act

The PSLF Payment Completion Fairness Act (S 3487) corrects a technical error in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program's eligibility rules under the Higher Education Act. It amends Section 455(m)(1)(B) to replace confusing language about employment and payment requirements with a clear statement that borrowers must have "been" employed in qualifying public service roles while completing 120 qualifying payments. This change ensures borrowers who meet both criteria - consistent public service employment and full payment history - receive automatic eligibility for loan forgiveness. The bill directly affects federal student loan borrowers working in public service jobs (e.g., teachers, nurses, government employees) who are seeking PSLF relief. The amendment is a straightforward clarification to prevent administrative barriers, not a policy change to the program's core requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies PSLF eligibility for public service workers, including teachers, easing student debt burden and supporting educators under Higher Education Act.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · United States · Senate May 1, 2025

S 1557: Net Price Calculator Improvement Act

This bill requires colleges and universities to improve their net price calculators - tools that help prospective students estimate actual college costs after aid. It mandates clearer website placement, detailed cost breakdowns (including tuition, room/board, books, and available aid), and data updated within two academic years. Calculators must also prominently display privacy protections, stating no personal information is sold or stored. These changes directly affect all institutions of higher education that operate such calculators, aiming to make cost estimates more transparent and user-friendly for students and families.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates clearer college cost transparency for students, enhancing financial accessibility and informed decision-making in higher education.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates privacy protections for student data in college cost calculators, requiring no personal information sold/stored, directly advancing data privacy standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Data Privacy

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in committee · United States · House Sep 16, 2025

HR 5399: Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act

HR 5399, the Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act, provides competitive federal grants to Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) to expand access to arts education for Black, Indigenous, and people of color students. The bill directs grant funds toward specific activities, including financial aid for arts students, mentorship programs, career counseling, and preserving BIPOC art collections. MSIs must prioritize initiatives directly benefiting minority students, such as outreach programs, paid internships with arts organizations, and training for future arts educators. This legislation aims to address systemic underfunding and lack of diversity in arts education by supporting institutions uniquely positioned to serve diverse artists and students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides federal grants to expand arts education access for BIPOC students at MSIs through funding, mentorship, and curriculum enhancements, directly advancing educational equity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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