On this page, you'll find proposals that aim to improve affordability in innovative ways for students outside of grant or campus-based aid funding proposals. Use these links to jump to a specific session of Congress. 

• 119th Session of Congress (2025-current)
• 118th Session of Congress (2023-2025)
• 117th Session of Congress (2021-2023)
• 116th Session of Congress (2019-2021)

118th Session of Congress

S.4379 — Higher Education Grant Flexibility Act

Sponsor: Sen. Casey[D-PA]
Introduced: 05/21/2024
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would expand Pell Grant, FSEOG, and Teach Grant access to students with physical or mental disabilities defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 that limit one or more major life activities. Individuals with a reduced credit enrollment will be classified as full-time students for the purpose of calculating cost of attendance elements determining their eligibility for specified grant programs. 

H.R.8273/S.4270 — Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2024

Sponsor: Rep. Kamlager-Dove [D-CA-37]/Sen. Murray [D-WA]
Introduced: 05/07/2024
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would establish institutional programming targeting homeless and foster youth seeking higher education. Participating institutions must designate a staff liaison to conduct outreach and connect students to applicable student support services related to housing, healthcare, academic advising, among other services. This bill would establish priority for homeless and foster youth for federal work study opportunities and a guarantee of in-state tuition rates. 

S. 4138 — Higher Education Innovation Act

Sponsor: Sen. Bennet [D-CO]
Introduced: 04/17/2024
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill amends the HEA and creates a new process for approving "innovation authorizers" who can then authorize "eligible entities" like institutions of higher education or other educational entities. This bill would allow students to use federal financial aid at eligible entities that demonstrate a focus on student success and cost-effectiveness, offer programs leading to degrees or certificates, and meet specific outcome-based oversight and reporting requirements. The bill outlines performance metrics, renewal processes, and consequences for failing to meet standards, along with eligibility for Federal Pell Grant funding based on performance. This pilot-program is set to expire five years after enactment.

H.R. 7810 — Clock Hour Program Student Protection Act

Sponsor: Rep. Smucker [R-PA]
Introduced: 03/22/2024
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would amend the HEA and allow federal student financial aid to cover up to 150% of training hours for eligible training programs above a state’s minimum requirement. This would go into effect on July 1, 2024 for the 2024-2025 award year and every following award year thereafter.

S. 3807 — Student Loan Deduction Act of 2024

Sponsor: Sen. Welch [D-VT]
Introduced: 2/27/2024
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 allowing SNAP applicants with either federal or private student loans to have their monthly student loan payments deducted from their income for purposes of determining their household’s eligibility for SNAP benefits. 

S. 3086/H.R. 5998 — America’s College Promise Act of 2023

Sponsor: Baldwin [Sen.-D-WI] & Leger Fernandez [Rep.-D-NM]
Introduced: 10/19/2023 
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would establish federal-state partnerships to provide two years of tuition-free access to community or technical college programs. It would also waive two years of tuition and fees at tribal colleges and universities for eligible students, as well as establish a new program that would cover a portion of tuition and fees for the first two years at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority-serving institutions (MSIs) for low income students. The bill would also establish a student success fund that would provide grants to eligible entities aimed at helping improve things such as enrollment, retention, and transfer and completion rates, particularly for underserved students. 

S.2920 — Tax-Free Pell Grant Act

Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse [D-RI]
Introduced: 09/26/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill aims to better coordinate Pell Grants with the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). It would repeal the taxation of federal Pell Grants and fully exclude Pell Grants from being counted as taxable income. 

H.R.5489 — Pell Plus Act of 2023

Sponsor: Rep. Joyce [R-OH]
Introduced: 09/14/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would amend the HEA and establish the Pell Plus program through which an eligible student would be awarded an additional Federal Pell Grant (i.e. Federal Pell Plus Grant) that was equal to their original Pell Grant amount. If a student’s combined Pell Grant and  Pell Plus Grant exceed the institution’s cost of attendance (COA), ED may reduce the Federal Pell Plus grant so that the student’s aid is not exceeding the COA. The bill outlines the requirements a student must meet to be considered eligible for the Federal Pell Plus Grant, as well as requirements for institutions to be considered a Pell Plus institution. A student is eligible to receive the Pell Plus Grant if they are enrolled in their first undergraduate course of study at a Pell Plus institution, while maintaining progress towards completion in no more than four academic years and has completed at least four semesters of study. 

H.R.3923/S.1848 — Debt Free College Act of 2023

Sponsor: Pocan [Rep.-D-WI] & Schatz [Sen.-D-HI]
Introduced: 06/07/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would guarantee students a debt-free education at in-state public institutions by establishing a federal-state partnership that gives states 1 to 1 matching grants to supplement state higher education appropriations. Grants will be made in the amount of a State's net State operating support. States will be required to use 95% of grant funds to meet unmet student financial need for in-state students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree, with funds disbursed according to need. The remaining 5% of grant funds may be used for hiring faculty, increasing physical capacity through renovations, student support services, and other activities that increase enrollment and support of low-income underserved students. In order to remain eligible, states must maintain net State operating support for a fiscal year at a level no less than the average of net State operating support over the 3 consecutive years prior to the current fiscal year. The bill also expands Pell eligibility to DREAMER students. 

S.1963/H.R.4117 — College for All Act of 2023

Sponsor: Sanders [Sen. I-VT] & Jayapal [Rep. D-WA]
Introduced: 06/14/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would eliminate tuition and fees at public four-year institutions for students in single households earning $125,000 a year or less, and married households earning $250,000 a year or less. It would also eliminate tuition and fees at community colleges for all students. The bill would double the maximum Pell Grant to $14,790, expand eligibility to DREAMER students, and allow Pell to cover non-tuition expenses. In addition, the bill would double the federal investment in Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI’s) and GEAR UP, and triple TRIO funding. For states that agree to eliminate tuition and fees at public institutions, federal-state partnership grants will cover a share of the costs. The bill also establishes grant funds for MSI’s to eliminate tuition and fees, as well as additional grant funds for state’s to scale their evidence-based practices and strategies for improving student outcomes and addressing equity gaps. 

S.1581 — Diversify Act

Sponsor: Sen. Booker [D-NJ] 
Introduced: 05/11/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would increase the maximum TEACH Grant award to $8,000 per year and amend the program to cover the full cost of attendance, not just tuition, fees, and institutionally-owned housing. The bill would also end annual cuts to the program and also require that ED send TEACH Grant recipients an electronic certification once they have completed their service.  

H.R.3183 — EATS Act of 2023

Sponsor: Rep. Gomez [D-CA] 
Introduced: 05/10/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and expand eligibility to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to students enrolled in higher education institutions. This bill would eliminate work-for-food barriers and would extend regulations to the SNAP program that were implemented as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

H.R.3028 — Community and Technical College Investment Act

Sponsor: Smith [D-WA]
Introduced: 04/28/2023
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would create tuition-free community and technical colleges in states that submit an application to ED, and would provide funding and support services. The support services would help students enroll in and successfully complete their programs by expanding funding for things such as temporary assistance for needy families, supplemental nutrition assistance, and housing assistance. States would need to have a plan for interagency data collection between various stakeholders to measure the outcomes and success of the programs. No later than 1 year after grants have been provided to the states, states would need to submit a report to ED describing how funds were used, graduation rates, and other information requested by ED. 

H.R.1731 — The Loan Act

Sponsor: Wilson [Rep.-D-FL] 
Introduced: 03/22/2023 
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would amend the HEA and outlines various comprehensive reforms to the student loan system. The bill would double the Pell Grant award amount over a five year period. The bill puts into place a measure that would provide pell grants through mandatory funding and also outlines federal aid eligibility for DREAMER students. Additionally, it would reform the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program by reducing the time to forgiveness. The bill also calls for the reduction of interest rates, and while it would still tie interest rates for all new federal student loans 10-year Treasury note, it would also create a cap ensuring that no new loan will be subject to an interest rate greater than 5 percent.
Topics: Pell, PSLF, Loan Reform

117th Session of Congress

H.R.7040/S.3818 — Affordable College Textbook Act

Sponsor: Rep. Neguse [D-CO]
Cosponsors: 0
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin [D-IL]
Cosponsors: 3 (2D; 1I; 0R)
Introduced: 03/10/2022
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would bolster the use of open textbooks and other open education resources across college campuses to help reduce the cost of textbooks for students. The bill would create a grant program that would be awarded to institutions to pay for professional development for faculty and staff members to search for and review open textbooks, create or adapt open textbooks, and develop supplemental materials that support the use of open textbooks.

H.R.6108 — Community College to Career Fund in Higher Education Act

Sponsor: Rep. Kelly [D-IL]
Cosponsors: 0
Introduced: 12/01/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would create a grant program that would aim to support partnerships between two-year colleges and local businesses. Priority for the grants would be given to institutions that are focused on serving individuals with barriers to employment such as veterans or incumbent workers who are low-skilled and are located in areas with high unemployment rates. The partnerships created would be those that focus on job training-related efforts, such as apprenticeships and paid internships for low-income students that allow them simultaneously to earn credit for work-based learning in a high-skill field.

S.3359 — CREATE Graduates Act

Sponsor: Sen. Casey [D-PA]
Cosponsors: 3 (3D; 0R)
Introduced: 12/09/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would allow students who completed credits at a two-year college and then transferred to a four-year college but never finished a degree to transfer their credits back to the two-year college to receive an associates degree, if eligible. 

H.R.5691 — TEACH for Tomorrow Act of 2021

Sponsor: Rep. Gallagher [R-WI]
Cosponsors: 0
Introduced: 10/22/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would update some of the reporting requirements for institutions who participate in the TEACH grant program. Institutions would be required to also report the percentage of students who passed teacher certification or licensure by the State assessments on the first attempt as well as a comparison of the program's first attempt pass rates with the average first attempt pass rate for programs in the institutions state. The bill also allows the Secretary of Education to impose a fine of up to $150,000 on institutions who fail to report this required information in a timely or accurate manner, the current fine limit is $27,500. Additionally, to be eligible to participate in the TEACH grant program, institutions must not have a first attempt pass rate of lower than 75% in addition to the previous eligibility requirements. If a school becomes ineligible to participate in the program, the Secretary would still be required to pay the institution for the student's who were enrolled in the program while the institution was eligible. 

H.R.5595 — College Student Hunger Act of 2021

Sponsor: Rep. Lawson [D-FL]
Cosponsors: 27
Introduced: 10/15/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would expand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility to students who have a $0 Expected Family Contribution, meet the financial eligibility criteria for a maximum Pell Grant, or are an independent student whose household is otherwise eligible. The bill would require that ED notify students that they may be eligible for benefits when they file a FAFSA. In addition, the bill would create a SNAP student hunger demonstration program that would allow students to use their SNAP benefits at on-campus dining facilities at up to ten institutions.

S.2755 — College Completion Fund Act of 2021

Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich [D-NM]
Cosponsors: 0
Introduced: 09/15/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would require ED to make grants to States to distribute funds to participating public institutions to provide student support services to increase participation, retention, and completion rates of students from low-income backgrounds, historically underrepresented students, first-generation college enrollees, parenting students, students with disabilities, and student veterans.

H.R.5222 — Closing the College Hunger Gap Act of 2021

Sponsor: Rep. Hayes [D-CT]
Cosponsors: 0
Introduced: 09/10/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would require the Secretary of Education to notify college students of their eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) using Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information. ED would also need to provide to potentially eligible students the contact information for the state agency that administers SNAP in their state. Additionally, this bill would require questions to be added to the NPSAS that measure rates of food and housing insecurity on college campuses.

S.2620 — Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act of 2021

Sponsor: Sen. Peters [D-MI]
Cosponsors: 3 (1D; 2R)
Introduced: 08/05/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would expand opportunities for high school students to obtain college credit in an effort to make higher education more accessible and affordable. The bill would rely on FIPSE funding to carry out it's initiatives including, curriculum design and development, assisting students in the program in covering education-related costs such as tuition and fees, and providing professional development opportunities to educators.

H.R.4399 — Accessing Higher Education Opportunities Act

Sponsor: Rep. Ruiz [D-CA]
Cosponsors: 0 
Introduced: 07/09/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would increase additional grant funding for Hispanic-serving institutions with a primary focus on the development of student support programs aimed at advancing students from four-year institutions to doctoral programs in the healthcare field. These funds will also be used to assist with expanding access to dual enrollment and early college high school programs. 

H.R.4090 — Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act

Sponsor: Rep. Harder [D-CA]
Cosponsors: 1 (1R)
Introduced: 06/23/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would expand access for high school students to participate in credit-based academic transition programs that enable students to earn postsecondary credentials while in high school. If enacted, this bill would provide grants to institution in order to carry out these programs to support the following activities: offering school staff with quality professional development, designing curriculum and course sequences, establishing course articulation agreements, creating outreach programs to promote such programs, and coordinating secondary and postsecondary services and calendars.

H.R.3393 — Diversify Act

Sponsor: Rep. Garcia [D-IL]
Cosponsors: 42
Introduced: 05/20/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill aims to diversify the teacher workforce by eliminating financial barriers to the teacher preparation programs. This bill primarily increases the maximum TEACH Grant award from $4,000 to $8,000 per year. Additionally this bill would protect the TEACH grant award from being cut by the Budget Control Act; eliminate the loan conversion penalty; and allow the TEACH grant to cover the full cost of attendance, rather than solely tuition, fees, and on-campus housing. 

H.R.1319 — American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Sponsor: Rep. Yarmuth [D-KY]
Cosponsors: 0
Introduced: 02/24/2021
Signed into Law: 3/11/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This act set aside $40 billion for higher education to create a new tranche of higher education emergency relief funding. The act stipulates that at least half of the funds must go directly to students in the form of emergency financial aid grants. The act also includes a provision that would close the so-called 90/10 loophole, though this new rule would not go into effect until July 1, 2023 at the earliest.

116th Session of Congress

S.3095 - Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act

Sponsor: Rep. Warren [D-MA]
Cosponsors: 4 (2D; 2R)
Introduced: 12/18/2019
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would develop accessibility guidelines for instructional materials used in postsecondary education, as well as provides incentives for institutions of higher education to follow the guidelines while still offering flexibility for schools while reiterating that pre-existing obligations still apply.

H.R.5350 - Diversifying by Investing in Educators and Students to Improve Outcomes For Youth Act

Sponsor: Rep. Garcia [D-IL]
Cosponsors: 28 (28D; 0R)
Introduced: 12/06/2019
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would increase the TEACH Grant annual amount from $4,000 to $8,000 as well as would increase the total aggregate amount to $32,000. 

S.2899 - Student Apprenticeship Act of 2019

Sponsor: Sen. Bennet [D-CO}
Cosponsors: 0
Introduced: 11/19/2019
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would create a grant program that would encourage the establishment of apprenticeships between institutions of higher education, employers, and workforce intermediaries. Students would be able to earn college credit, industry credentials, and compensation for their work. Employers would pay at least 25 percent of the student’s college tuition and fees. This bill would also expand the FWS program to include apprenticeship programs.

H.R.4747 - Making College More Affordable Act

Sponsor: Rep. Cicilline [D-RI]
Cosponsors: 3 (3D; 0R)
Introduced: 10/18/2019
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would create a new loan type, a Federal Interest Free Education Loan, eliminating all other direct loan programs. The loan would carry a 3.76% interest rate for the lifetime of the loan with an aggregate borrowing limit of $90,000.

H.R.4674 - College Affordability Act

Sponsor: Rep. Scott [D-VA]
Cosponsors: 83 (83D; 0R)
Introduced: 10/15/2019
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: The College Affordability Act, a comprehensive HEA reauthorization bill would expand student eligibility for the Pell grant, expending the Pell LEU from 12 to 14 semesters. It would also remove the requirement that eligible male students register with Selective Service before applying for financial aid. The bill creates a FAFSA simplification plan, that sends students down 3-pathways on the FAFSA depending on their income and family circumstances. It also adds some standardization to financial aid offers. Repayment plans would be limited to only two options under the CAA, an income-based plan, or a fixed plan. Origination fees would be eliminated with the bill, and borrowers would now be eligible for a one-time student loan refinancing. 

• 10/15/2019 - House Democrats Introduce Comprehensive Higher Education Act Reauthorization Bill

H.R.4638 - Degrees Not Debt Act of 2019

Sponsor: Rep. Carbajal [D-CA]
Cosponsors: 0
Introduced: 10/11/2019
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would increase the maximum amount of the Federal Pell Grant, increase the income threshold for auto-zero EFC calculations as well as creates a simplified FAFSA application for low-income families.

H.R. 4414 - Electronic Books Opening Opportunity for Knowledge Act of 2019

Sponsor: Rep. DelBene [D-WA]
Cosponsors: 2 (1D; 1R)
Introduced: 9/19/2019
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would seek to reduce the cost of textbooks for undergraduate college students by encouraging institutions, through a grant program, to make digital course materials available in at least two different academic departments. 

H.R.4253 - Empower Parents in College Act of 2019

Sponsor: Rep. Johnson [R-SD]
Cosponsors: 0
Introduced: 9/09/2019
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: Empower Parents in College Act would allow institutions to allocate a portion of funds under the Strengthening Institutions Program to establish, improve, or expand partnerships with child care providers. 

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