The America First Act would restrict eligibility for numerous federal benefit programs based on immigration status. It requires verification of citizenship or lawful immigration status for programs including Medicaid, Medicare, Head Start, school meals, WIC, the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and housing assistance. The bill specifically would deny benefits to individuals who are unlawfully present in the U.S. or who have certain immigration statuses including parolees, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, DACA recipients, and asylum seekers. These provisions would directly affect millions of immigrants and their families who currently qualify for these programs. The bill would also prohibit use of FEMA assistance for certain non-citizens and limit access to postsecondary financial aid based on immigration status.
The PROTECT Students Act of 2025 establishes new financial transparency requirements for higher education programs, measuring debt-to-earnings ratios and earnings premiums to help students evaluate program value and financial outcomes. It strengthens borrower defense mechanisms allowing students to seek loan forgiveness for misleading practices by institutions and prohibits schools from restricting students' legal rights through arbitration agreements. The bill requires institutions to spend at least 30% of tuition revenue on instruction and student services, with annual reporting to the Department of Education. It creates an enforcement unit within the Office of Federal Student Aid to investigate misconduct and increases transparency by requiring public disclosure of complaint data, financial information, and oversight activities.
HR 1409, the College Thriving Act, authorizes $50 million in grants to fund "skills-for-success" courses for first-year college students at eligible institutions. The bill requires participating colleges to develop non-graded, low-student-to-teacher courses covering mental wellbeing, time management, conflict resolution, and campus resource connections - available to all first-year students at the start of their enrollment. Grants are awarded competitively, with priority to schools where at least half of students qualify for Pell Grants, and must be used over a 5-year period across four phases: course development (year 1), pilot testing (year 2), and full implementation with ongoing evaluation (years 3-5). The program mandates annual reporting on course implementation and outcomes to the Department of Education.
The VALOR Act of 2025 modifies the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to better support military service members and veterans with federal student loans. It directly affects borrowers who served in covered active duty, including National Guard members and the NOAA commissioned corps, during their loan repayment period. Key provisions count deferred or forbearance payments made while serving as qualifying payments, waive the standard 10-year full-time public service requirement if the borrower completed 10 years of active duty during the loan term, and allow borrowers to receive forgiveness regardless of when they enrolled in PSLF.
HR 7232, the AID Act, creates a new student loan allowance for parents with federal student debt to reduce their reported income for financial aid calculations. It applies to single parents with debt under $200,000 adjusted gross income (AGI) or married parents with combined debt under $400,000 AGI, capping the allowance at $4,000 or 15% of their total federal student loan balance. The allowance, effective for the 2027-2028 academic year and adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index, subtracts from parents' income when calculating aid eligibility. This directly affects parents seeking federal student aid for dependent children, specifically modifying how their student debt is factored into aid calculations under the Higher Education Act.
HR 2660 exempts certain student loan bonds issued by state or local governments from two tax restrictions: the federal volume cap (which limits bond issuance) and the alternative minimum tax (AMT). This means states and localities can issue more of these bonds to fund student loans without hitting the volume cap limit or facing AMT calculations. The bill defines "qualified student loan bonds" as those meeting specific criteria under existing tax code, ensuring the exemption applies only to bonds directly supporting student lending. This change aims to make it easier for governments to finance student loan programs by reducing tax barriers for the bonds they issue.
HR 7117, the Fast Track To and Through College Act, creates two pathways to accelerate college completion: "early college fast track pathways" that allow high school students to earn college credit through advanced coursework (like AP, IB, or dual enrollment), and "early high school graduation fast track pathways" that provide scholarships for students who graduate early without needing remedial college courses. The bill requires states to develop statewide policies and credit transfer agreements to align high school and college requirements, with competitive grants to help states implement these pathways. It also allows eligible high school students in these pathways to receive Federal Pell Grants while still in high school, with a waiver of the usual 12-semester Pell Grant cap. The bill aims to reduce college costs, improve credit transfer, and increase college completion rates, particularly for first-generation college students and other historically underrepresented groups.
This bill would require colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid to provide standardized financial aid offers using a new Department of Education-developed form. The form must clearly present costs of attendance (both direct and indirect), grants and scholarships (with disclosure they don't need repayment), net price, and loan terms including interest rates and repayment options. It would require institutions to disclose key information like the impact of private loans versus federal loans, default rates, and work-study opportunities in plain language. The bill affects all institutions of higher education that receive federal financial assistance, with the form to be developed through consumer testing with students and stakeholders.
This bill, the "A Chance To Serve Act," provides expanded benefits for Peace Corps and AmeriCorps volunteers. It extends job eligibility for 3 years after service, increases readjustment allowances from $125 to $425, and provides one year of health care coverage after service. The bill also suspends student loan payments and interest during service, doubles the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, and ensures no discrimination based on immigration status. Additionally, it increases living allowances to 200% of the poverty line and expands student loan forgiveness for national service. These changes directly benefit current and former Peace Corps and AmeriCorps volunteers.
The GRAD Act (HR 5850) prevents colleges from changing or ending a student's enrollment status if federal financial aid under Title IV is delayed due to a government shutdown. It directly affects students receiving federal aid and the institutions that award it. The bill amends the Higher Education Act to require schools to maintain enrollment status during disruptions caused by lapses in government funding. This ensures students aren’t penalized for aid delays beyond their control during shutdowns.
