On this page, you'll find previous proposals that modify the existing campus-based aid programs, which include the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work Study (FWS), and the Federal Perkins Loan program. Use these links to jump to a specific session of Congress.
Sponsor: Rep. Bonamici [D-OR]
Cosponsors: 3 (3D; 0R)
Introduced: 07/13/2022
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would reform the FWS formula by revising the distribution formula to allocate FWS funds based on the total Pell Grant funding an institution receives relative to other participating institutions as well as their share of total undergraduate and graduate student need across all institutions.
Sponsor: Rep. Kilmer [D-WA]
Cosponsors: 3 (3D; 0R)
Introduced: 07/13/2022
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill establishes a new pilot grant program alongside and with similar goals to the Federal Work-Study Program. Institutions who receive these funds would have to use them to support students with exceptional need to perform jobs in in-demand industry sectors.
Sponsor: Rep. Keller [R-PA]
Cosponsors: 1 (0D; 1R)
Introduced: 06/16/2022
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would amend the Higher Education Act to equally consider the federal share of Federal Work-Study funding at all institutions of higher education. Currently, funding is allocated by fiscal information submitted by institutions as well as historical institutional funding and number of eligible students.
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth [D-IL]
Cosponsors: 6 (6D; 0R)
Introduced: 09/22/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would support partnerships between technical colleges, community colleges and businesses that train students for careers in high-demand fields by creating a competitive grant program to support partnerships between two-year colleges and businesses. These partnerships will focus on job training-related efforts, such as registered apprenticeships, on-the-job training opportunities and paid internships for low-income students that allow them simultaneously to earn credit for work-based learning in a high-skill field.
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth [D-IL]
Cosponsors: 13 (13D; 0R)
Introduced: 08/05/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would reauthorize the Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) program and increase its funding to $500 million. The CCAMPIS program offers federal support for student parents in higher education and helps to put child care within reach for low and middle-income student parents.
Sponsor: Rep. Sherrill [D-NJ]
Cosponsors: 4 (3D; 1R)
Introduced: 07/01/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would provide grant funding to expand evidence-based workforce development and postsecondary education programs as well as to aid in the evaluation of these programs. If enacted, this bill would create a fund of about $700 million over the course of nine years to be administered by the Department of the Treasury. The grant values would be based on a number of factors associated with the program’s impact, with a key focus on people who have been historically underserved by these workforce programs.
Sponsor: Tim Kaine [D-VA]
Cosponsors: 1
Introduced: 05/26/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would create a competitive grant program for community colleges and states to focus on boosting work-based learning opportunities. In an effort to provide students with more opportunities to further their education and the support they need to be successful; this proposal would provide community colleges with grants of up to $1.5 million while community college systems would be eligible for up to $5 million. Individual states would also be eligible to receive grants to develop statewide policies that relate to work-based learning.
Sponsor: Rep. Castro [D-TX]
Cosponsors: 3
Introduced: 02/18/2021
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would add child development and early learning (including Head Start programs and Early Head Start programs) as eligible community service positions for Federal work-study programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Craig [D-MN]
Cosponsors: 3 (2D; 1R)
Introduced: 7/09/2020
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill authorizes funding to expand and support enrollment at institutions that sponsor construction and manufacturing oriented registered apprenticeship programs. Grant amounts cannot exceed 500,000 and will be appropriate 5 million for each fiscal year 2021 through 2025.
Sponsor: Rep. Stefanik [R-NY]
Cosponsors: 6 (4D; 2R)
Introduced: 7/06/2020
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill ensures the increased enrollment and graduation rates of secondary school graduates and nontraditional students from rural areas at 2-year and 4-year institutions. This bill establishes a grant program to promote economic growth and development in rural areas through partnerships grants to consortia of rural serving institutions.
Sponsor: Rep. Courtney [D-CT]
Cosponsors: 369 (200D; 169R)
Introduced: 1/24/2020 - Became Law: 3/27/2020
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, represents a compromise between Senate Republicans and Democrats for COVID-19 relief. The bill allocates nearly $14 billion to higher education in the Emergency Stabilization Fund. 90% of that will be allocated to institutions based 75% on the enrollment of full-time equivalent (FTE) Pell Grant recipients and 25% on enrollment of FTE non-Pell Grant recipients. Students who were enrolled exclusively in online, distance education courses prior to the COVID-19 emergency will be excluded from this calculation. Under the CARES Act, the non-federal share requirements of the Federal Work-Study (FWS) and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) programs would be waived for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 award years in cases where the non-federal share is paid by the institution. The bill would also allow institutions to transfer up to 100% of FWS funds into FSEOG during a period of a qualifying emergency. The bill grants ED the authority to exclude from subsidized loan usage calculations any portions of the Direct Loan period that the student is unable to complete due to the COVID-19 outbreak as well as allows ED to exclude from a student's Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) any Pell Grant amounts received during a period that the student is unable to complete due to this qualifying emergency. The bill allows ED to waive the return of Title IV funds (R2T4) requirements for schools or students to return unearned grant or loan assistance for students who withdrew because of COVID-19 and allows for the cancelation for the portion of a Direct Loan associated with a payment period which the student did not complete due to COVID-19. The bipartisan proposal suspends payments and interest accrual on federal Direct Loans and Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) held by ED until Sept. 30, 2020. The bill also counts each month of suspended loan payments as if the borrower had made a payment for the purpose of income-driven repayment plan loan forgiveness or Public Service Loan Forgiveness, as well as for loan rehabilitation purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Khanna [D-CA]
Cosponsors: 1 (0D; 1R)
Introduced: 2/25/2020
NASFAA Summary: This bill would create a new grant program that would help to establish apprenticeships between institutions of higher education and employers. Students participating in the apprenticeships would be eligible to earn college credits as well as get paid for their work. Employers involved in the partnership should pay at least 25 percent of the student's tuition and fees. The bill would also revise the FWS program to include apprenticeship programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Neguse [D-CO]
Cosponsors: 0
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan [D-NH]
Cosponsors: 0
Introduced: 10/16/2019
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This will would create a competency-based education (CBE) demonstration project that would allow institutions, selected by the Department of Education (ED), to request a waiver of, or flexibility on, certain statutory and regulatory requirements in order for them to award Title IV aid under a CBE model. ED would be required to conduct outreach to institutions eligible to take part in the program. The bill would also create a CBE council which would be charged with conducting a study on ongoing innovation and development of CBE programs, as well as make recommendations to Congress that would update standard definitions and/or address the metrics of a CBE program.
Sponsor: Rep. Morelle [D-NY]
Cosponsors: 6 (5D; 1R)
Introduced: 9/12/2019
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: The Campus Act would create a matching Emergency Financial Aid Grant program, with the Federal share being a maximum of 50% of the program. The grant would be available to students facing financial challenges during their course of study due to situations such as, loss of employment, child care, or housing, food insecurity, death of a parent or guardian, or a medical condition.
Sponsor: Rep. Castro [D-TX]
Cosponsors: 2 (1D; 1R)
Introduced: 8/20/2019
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would amend the federal work study program to include child development and early learning as community service eligible opportunities.
Sponsor: Rep. Davidson [R-OH]
Cosponsors: 6 (4D; 2R)
Introduced: 7/17/2019
NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: The bipartisan Educational Opportunity and Success Act of 2019 would adjust TRIO eligibility criteria to align with FAFSA requirements so that students' FAFSA information can be used to determine TRIO eligibility. For example, Pell eligibility would be used as a marker for to determine TRIO income eligibility.
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY)
Co-Sponsors: 3 (3 R; 0 D)
Introduced: 3/14/2019
NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would allow students to work full-time hours in a work-study position and would impose restrictions on the nature of all work performed under the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program. The bill would add a new requirement, applicable to all FWS employment, that all work performed under FWS must comply with the requirements of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which took effect in 2016.
3/20/2019 - "Classrooms to Careers Act" Proposes Full-Time FWS-Funded Positions, New Job Eligibility Requirements
Aim Higher Act | |||
HR 6543 | Sponsor: Rep. Scott (D-VA) |
Co-Sponsors: 57 (0 R; 57 D) |
Introduced: 7/26/2018 |
NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: The Aim Higher Act is a comprehensive Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization bill with notable changes to the federal student aid programs. | |||
Students Helping Young Students Act | |||
HR 6036 | Sponsor: Rep. Carson (D-IN) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 6/7/2018 |
NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would add a work-study program for off-campus community service at selected after-school locations. The federal share for work-study awards under this program would be allowed to exceed 75 percent. | |||
Opportunities for Success Act | |||
HR 5312 | Sponsor: Rep. Bonamici (D-OR) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (0 R; 1 D) |
Introduced: 3/15/2018 |
NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would make a number of changes to the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program. The bill would increase funding authorization levels and would revise the program's allocation formula by phasing out the "base guarantee" component in the current formula over five years. The bill would also set aside funds for "improved institutions" based on success of Pell Grant recipients. The bill would eliminate the community service requirement and emphasize Job Location and Development (JLD) programs.
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PROSPER Act | |||
HR 4508 | Sponsor: Rep. Foxx (R-NC) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (1 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 12/1/2017 |
NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: The Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act is a comprehensive Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization bill with notable changes to the federal student aid programs.
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Status: 12/13/2017: Passed House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce
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Federal Perkins Loan Program Extension Act | |||
HR 2482 | Sponsor: Rep. Stefanik (R-NY) |
Co-Sponsors: 237 (46 R; 191 D) |
Introduced: 5/17/2017 |
S. 1808 | Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin (D-WI) |
Co-Sponsors: 19 (4 R; 15 D) |
Introduced: 9/14/2017 |
NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would extend the Federal Perkins Loan Program for two additional years, thereby moving its authorization expiration from September 30, 2017, to September 30, 2019. Supported by NASFAA, the bill is a simple two-year extension of the previous extension of the program in 2015, meaning graduate and professional students will regain eligibility for a year before becoming ineligible again the following year. | |||
College for All Act | |||
S. 806 | Sponsor: Sen. Sanders (I-VT) |
Co-Sponsors: 7 (0 R; 7 D) |
Introduced: 4/3/2017 |
HR 1880 | Sponsor: Rep. Pramila (D-WA) |
Co-Sponsors: 35 (0 R; 35 D) |
Introduced: 4/4/2017 |
NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This comprehensive piece of legislation would create a grant program to states to eliminate tuition at public 4-year colleges and universities and tribal colleges for students from any family making $125,000 or less. The bill would cut interest rates and impose an interest rate cap of 5% for undergraduate borrowers and 8.25% for graduate and parent borrowers, while also allowing borrowers to refinance loans at the current interest rates. Any excess revenue in the Direct Loan Program would be redirected into the Pell Grant Program. The bill would also increase Federal Work Study (FWS) authorized funding levels and revise the FWS allocation formula by eliminating the "base guarantee" component in the current formula. In addition, TRIO and GEAR UP would see increases to authorized funding levels. |
Students Helping Young Students Act | ||||
HR 1574 | Sponsor: Rep. Carson (D-IN, 7) |
Co-Sponsors: 4 (0 R; 4 D) |
Introduced: 3/24/2015 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would add after-school programs to the list of eligible uses of Federal Work Study (FWS) dollars. | ||||
College for All Act | ||||
S. 1373 | Sponsor: Sen. Sanders (I-VT) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 5/19/2015 |
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HR 4385 | Sponsor: Rep. Grayson (D-FL, 9) |
Co-Sponsors: 2 (0 R; 2 D) |
Introduced: 1/13/2016 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: The comprehensive legislation would create a grant program to states to eliminate tuition at public 4-year colleges and universities. The bill would cut interest rates and impose a cap of 8.25% and allow borrowers to refinance loans at the current interest rates. The bill would also expand Federal Work Study (FWS) and create a pilot program to assess the need to complete the FAFSA annually. The budgetary offset comes from imposing certain taxes and fees on stocks, bonds, and derivatives. | ||||
Expressing support for the continuation of the Perkins Loan Program. | ||||
H. Res. 294 | Sponsor: Rep. Messer (R-IN, 6) |
Co-Sponsors: 60 (15 R; 45 D) |
Introduced: 6/3/2015 |
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S. Res. 267 | Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin (D-WI) |
Co-Sponsors: 28 (6 R; 22 D) |
Introduced: 9/25/2015 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: Both the House Resolution and the Senate Resolution encourage Congress to work to reauthorize the Perkins Loan Program. | ||||
Higher Education Extension Act of 2015 | ||||
HR 3594 | Sponsor: Rep. Bishop (R-MI, 8) |
Co-Sponsors: 17 (9 R; 8 D) |
Introduced: 9/25/2015 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This legislation extends the Perkins Loan Program for an additional year. Furthermore, the bill extends the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance and the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality Integrity. The measure cleared the House of Representatives on September 28. Sen. Alexander (R-TN) blocked its consideration in the Senate. Status: 9/28/2015: Passed House of Representatives |
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Federal Perkins Loan Program Extension Act of 2015 | ||||
HR 3594 | Sponsor: Sen. Alexander (R-TN) |
Co-Sponsors: 6 (4 R; 2 D) |
Introduced: 12/16/2015 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill, which comes nearly three months after the September 30 expiration of the program, would (1.) eliminate Perkins loan eligibility for new graduate students beginning in the 2016-17 year; (2.) require schools to award all subsidized and unsubsidized Direct loans prior to awarding Perkins for new undergraduate Perkins borrowers; and (3.) end all Perkins loan authority effective September 30, 2017, thereby discontinuing any grandfathering beyond that date. Status: 12/18/2015: Signed into law by President Obama |
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Perkins Loan Program Inflation Adjustment Act | ||||
HR 6444 | Sponsor: Rep. Meng (D-NY, 6) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 12/6/2016 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would require the Secretary of Education to annually adjust annual and aggregate Perkins Loan limits for inflation. |
Publication Date: 2/14/2023