Higher Education Act Reauthorization
This Higher Education Act (HEA) Reauthorization page offers in-depth analyses from NASFAA staff on key proposals set forth by the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives and a compilation of all NASFAA Today's News coverage of the HEA Reauthorization.
Though a new session of Congress started in January 2015, proposals from the previous session are still relevant to the higher education debate, and many proposals have served as a foundation for new legislation. Below you will find HEA-related legislation from the 114th Congress (2015-2017) and the 113th Congress (2013-2015).
Reauthorization Bills from the 114th Congress (2015-2017):
Senate Reauthorization Bills:
House Reauthorization Bills:
- Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act
- Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act
- Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act
- Flexible Pell Grant for 21st Century Students Act
Reauthorization Bills from the 113th Congress (2013-2015):
See NASFAA's comparison chart that illustrates the similarities and differences between the various proposals from the 113th Congress.
Senate Reauthorization Bills:
House Reauthorization Bills:
- Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act (H.R. 4982)
- Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act (H.R. 4984)
- Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act (H.R. 4983)
NASFAA's HEA-Focused Efforts:
NASFAA and its members have also been hard at work analyzing the HEA and potential new policies. In 2013, NASFAA released the NASFAA Reauthorization Task Force Report, and in July 2016, NASFAA updated the report to include subsequent work from NASFAA policy task forces.
If you have suggestions for additional areas where legislative change is needed, please send your ideas to policy@nasfaa.org.
Furthermore, subsequent work of NASFAA policy task forces provide detailed analysis of certain reauthorization-related student aid issues
- FAFSA Simplification - FAFSA Working Group Report
- Expanding Educational Opportunities for Students: Innovative Learning Models Task Force Report
- Consumer Information Task Force Report
- Campus-Based Allocation Formula Task Force Report
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness Task Force Report
In addition, see the following background resources for more information:
- Press Release: NASFAA Task Force to Present Congress with Higher Education Act Policy Recommendations
- Announcement: NASFAA Reauthorization Task Force To Focus Recommendations on Access and Accountability
- Video: NASFAA’s Megan McClean and former NASFAA staffer Jesse O’Connell discuss reauthorization
- Video: Jesse O’Connell discusses Congressional elections and how Republican takeover of Congress could impact HEA reauthorization
- Today's News articles: View all NASFAA News Coverage of the Higher Education Act Reauthorization
- One-Pager: NASFAA Reauthorization Recommendations