{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Legislation","name":"College Affordability Act","description":"

College Affordability Act

This bill reauthorizes and revises the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) and addresses additional issues related to higher education, including to revise federal student financial aid programs, consolidate federal student loans and expand loan forgiveness, increase college access and success for certain students, and revise accountability measures.

Specifically, the bill revises financial aid programs, including to increase the maximum federal Pell Grant award, provide incentives for states to fund public institutions of higher education (IHEs), increase and make permanent funding for minority-serving IHEs, expand the availability of financial aid to postsecondary students, and extend eligibility for student aid to certain noncitizen students.

The bill also revises federal student loan programs, including to replace existing student loan repayment plans with one income-based repayment plan and one fixed repayment plan, allow existing borrowers to lower their payments by switching to the new plans, expand public service loan forgiveness programs (e.g., TEACH grants), and create appeal processes for denied applications for loan forgiveness.

In addition, the bill increases college access and success for certain students (e.g., students with low-income, children, or disabilities) through investments and practices, such as student support services and accelerated learning opportunities.

The bill establishes consumer information requirements for prospective students. Further, it revises accountability measures for IHEs (including for-profit IHEs), job training programs, college accrediting agencies, and lenders. In particular, the bill updates the performance goals of the Office of Federal Student Aid and requires the Department of Education (ED) to be responsible for the oversight of the office.

Finally, the bill prohibits ED from issuing or enforcing certain rules that weaken the enforcement of the prohibition of sex discrimination applicable under title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

","legislationIdentifier":"HR 4674","legislationType":"Bill","legislationLegalForce":"NotInForce","legislationJurisdiction":"USA","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Robert C. \"Bobby\" Scott","url":"https://legisdaily.com/mp/robertcbobby-scott-us"}],"about":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Education"},"keywords":"Academic performance and assessments, Administrative law and regulatory procedures, Adoption and foster care, Advisory bodies, American Samoa, Area studies and international education, Assault and harassment offenses, Business education, Business ethics, Census and government statistics, Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits, Computer security and identity theft, Congressional oversight, Consumer affairs, Department of Education, Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad, Drug, alcohol, tobacco use, Drug trafficking and controlled substances, Educational guidance, Education of the disadvantaged, Education programs funding, Employment and training programs, Executive agency funding and structure, Fraud offenses and financial crimes, Government ethics and transparency, public corruption, Government information and archives, Government lending and loan guarantees, Government trust funds, Guam, Health personnel, Health programs administration and funding, Health promotion and preventive care, Higher education, Homelessness and emergency shelter, Indian social and development programs, Inflation and prices, Marketing and advertising, Medical tests and diagnostic methods, Mental health, Military personnel and dependents, Minority education, Northern Mariana Islands, Oceania, Palau, Performance measurement, Policy sciences, Public participation and lobbying, Right of privacy, School administration, Science and engineering education, Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination, Sex offenses, State and local government operations, Student aid and college costs, Student records, Tax-exempt organizations, Teaching, teachers, curricula, U.S. territories and protectorates, Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation, Vocational and technical education, Wages and earnings","dateModified":"2025-04-23T00:00:00.000Z","url":"https://legisdaily.com/bill/USA-116-HR-4674"}

Robert C. "Bobby" Scott

Robert C. "Bobby" Scott

Education and Workforce Committee