Education (Higher Education)

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 12, 2025

S 994: PROTECT Students Act of 2025

The PROTECT Students Act of 2025 requires institutions of higher education to disclose debt-to-earnings rates and earnings premium data to help students evaluate program value. It strengthens borrower defense protections for students misled by institutions, prohibits institutions from limiting students' legal rights to pursue claims, and mandates that institutions spend at least 30% of tuition revenue on instruction. The bill also requires transparency about institutional finances, program outcomes, and third-party relationships to help students make informed decisions. These provisions directly affect students, higher education institutions, and third-party servicers. The act aims to improve accountability and transparency in higher education, particularly for for-profit institutions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires transparency on debt/earnings, strengthens borrower protections, prohibits limiting legal claims, and mandates 30% tuition spend on instruction - directly advancing student protection and program value in higher education.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 25, 2025

S 2166: Head Start for Our Future Act

This bill amends the Higher Education Act to allow Head Start and Early Head Start programs to hire college students through federal work-study programs. It directly affects Head Start/EHS agencies and college students participating in work-study. Key provisions require agencies to ensure student employees comply with program standards, prohibit students from being left alone with children (requiring regular staff supervision), and clarify that student workers do not count toward staff-to-child ratios. The changes integrate student employment into existing early childhood programs without altering funding or eligibility.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands work-study access for college students in Head Start programs, enhancing early childhood education workforce participation and educational access per Higher Education Act amendment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Higher Education

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in committee · United States · House Mar 31, 2025

HRES 269: Reaffirming the commitment of the Federal Government to historically Black colleges and universities and honoring their enduring legacy and contributions.

This resolution (HRES 269) is a symbolic statement honoring historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and reaffirming the federal government's existing commitment to them. It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes HBCUs' role in educating nearly 300,000 students annually, producing 50% of Black teachers and 80% of Black judges, and contributing $16.5 billion to the economy. The resolution requests that federal agencies receive copies to align with ongoing support for HBCUs, though it does not alter any existing policies or resources. It directly affects HBCUs by affirming their national significance and the government’s longstanding partnership with them.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationHonors HBCUs' educational contributions, affirming federal support for higher education institutions serving Black students and educators, aligning with education access and diversity goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · United States · House Apr 4, 2025

HR 1952: Future FARMER Act

The Future FARMER Act reauthorizes annual funding for agricultural education programs under the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977. It specifically allocates $40 million each year from fiscal years 2025 through 2029 for grants and fellowships supporting students and educators in food and agricultural sciences. This funding directly affects institutions like land-grant universities and their students participating in these programs. The bill makes no new requirements but ensures continued financial support for existing educational initiatives in agriculture.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $40M annually for agricultural education grants/fellowships, directly funding essential programs under budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $40M annually for agricultural education grants/fellowships at land-grant universities, directly funding higher education programs and supporting students/educators in food/agricultural sciences.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House Jun 25, 2026

HR 5505: Equal Campus Access Act of 2025

This bill prevents public colleges receiving federal funding from denying religious student groups access to campus facilities and official recognition - same as other student organizations. It requires equal treatment for religious groups regarding meeting spaces, events, and institutional support, prohibiting discrimination based on religious beliefs or practices. The law directly affects all public universities participating in federal student aid programs (over 400 institutions). It mandates policy changes to ensure religious groups receive the same access and benefits as secular clubs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill ensures equal access to campus facilities for religious student groups at public colleges, protecting their educational access and expanding inclusive participation in higher education activities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · United States · House Apr 3, 2025

HR 2634: Free Speech On Campus Act

HR 2634, the Free Speech On Campus Act, requires public colleges and universities to implement specific free speech education for students. It mandates that institutions provide new and transfer students with a written statement explaining First Amendment rights and their commitment to free expression, along with educational programming about campus speech policies and respectful discourse. Institutions must also post this statement on their public websites. The bill directly affects public higher education institutions by requiring these specific orientation and website disclosures as a condition of federal funding under the Higher Education Act.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates free speech education and First Amendment awareness at public colleges, supporting academic freedom and campus discourse within higher education policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 12, 2025

S 975: Expanding Medical Education Act

The Expanding Medical Education Act provides federal grants to establish or expand medical and osteopathic medicine schools in underserved areas, directly benefiting institutions in medically underserved communities or health professional shortage areas. It prioritizes new schools in regions without existing medical schools, especially minority-serving institutions, and requires grantees to recruit students from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, rural/underserved areas, low-income backgrounds, and first-generation college students. Funds can also support curriculum development for underserved care, infrastructure improvements, faculty hiring, and accreditation efforts. The bill mandates annual reports from grantees and detailed five-year evaluations to Congress on student demographics, workforce impacts, and healthcare access outcomes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds medical schools in underserved areas, prioritizing minority-serving institutions and underrepresented students, directly supporting higher education access and funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides federal grants to expand medical schools in underserved areas, targeting health professional shortages and recruiting underrepresented groups to improve healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · United States · House Sep 16, 2025

HR 5374: Promoting Health Careers in Community and Technical Colleges Act

This bill requires community colleges and technical colleges receiving federal grants under the Health Professions Opportunity Demonstration Project to train participants to earn industry-recognized certifications, such as nursing assistant or medical coding credentials. It directly affects students in health career training programs at eligible community colleges and technical schools, as well as the institutions administering these grants. The bill expands eligibility for these grants by modifying federal law to include more types of colleges under the specified educational frameworks. The changes will take effect on October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands federal grant eligibility for health career training at community colleges, increasing access to certified workforce programs and funding educational pathways.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands federal grants for health career training at community colleges, directly supporting workforce development in healthcare through certification programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds certification training for health careers, enhancing workforce readiness and employment opportunities in high-demand fields, directly advancing employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Student Financial Aid Healthcare Workforce Workforce Development

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in committee · United States · Senate May 8, 2025

S 1684: A bill to require audits of institutions with respect to disclosures of foreign gifts, and for other purposes.

S 1684 requires the U.S. Department of Education to audit colleges and universities every two years to verify compliance with foreign gift and contract reporting rules, prioritizing institutions with large endowments, prior noncompliance, or significant foreign ties. It also imposes a 300% tax on income from foreign countries of concern for qualifying institutions (those with over 500 U.S. students and more than 50% of tuition-paying students in the U.S.) and an 110% tax on unreported foreign funding identified through audits. These provisions directly affect large colleges and universities receiving foreign contributions, particularly those meeting the prioritization criteria for audits. The bill aims to increase transparency in foreign financial relationships with higher education through mandatory audits and financial penalties for noncompliance.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationImposes 300% tax on foreign income of institutions with foreign ties, restricting financial operations of higher education institutions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · United States · Senate May 1, 2025

S 1557: Net Price Calculator Improvement Act

This bill requires colleges and universities to improve their net price calculators - tools that help prospective students estimate actual college costs after aid. It mandates clearer website placement, detailed cost breakdowns (including tuition, room/board, books, and available aid), and data updated within two academic years. Calculators must also prominently display privacy protections, stating no personal information is sold or stored. These changes directly affect all institutions of higher education that operate such calculators, aiming to make cost estimates more transparent and user-friendly for students and families.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates clearer college cost transparency for students, enhancing financial accessibility and informed decision-making in higher education.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates privacy protections for student data in college cost calculators, requiring no personal information sold/stored, directly advancing data privacy standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Data Privacy

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