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. 

S.1347 — Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act of 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Peters [D-MI]
Introduced: 04/08/2025
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would expand access to dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programs. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to eligible institutions, prioritizing those serving low-income, rural, or first-generation college students. Funds can be used for activities such as professional development, course design, outreach, and covering student costs like tuition, materials, and transportation.

H.R.2664 — Unnamed

Sponsor: Rep. Adams [D-NC]
Introduced: 04/07/2025
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would expand allowable activities for institutions receiving Title III support, specifically those that serve historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions. The amendment adds new provisions to support students in arts, arts education, and cultural programs by allowing institutions to provide financial aid, mentorship, career advising, and work-based learning opportunities.

H.R.1176 — Clock Hour Program Student Protection Act

Sponsor: Rep. Smucker [R-PA]
Introduced: 02/10/2025
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would clarify clock hour requirements for certain Title IV-eligible training programs by ensuring that programs exceeding state or federal minimum training requirements for a recognized profession remain eligible for federal student aid, as long as they do not exceed 150% of the required hours. 

H.R.777 — Closing the College Hunger Gap Act

Sponsor: Rep. Hayes [D-CT]
Introduced: 01/28/2025
NASFAA Summary & Analysis: This bill would require ED to notify students with a zero or negative Student Aid Index about their potential eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This notification must be sent in both written and electronic form and include contact information for the state agency administering SNAP. 

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

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