United States 117th Congress Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

HR 2804 — Debt-Free College Act of 2021

Last action — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 117th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Debt-Free College Act of 2021 This bill establishes measures to cover the unmet financial need of students who are enrolled at certain institutions of higher education (IHEs). Unmet financial need refers to the difference between a student's cost of attendance and the student's expected family contribution, plus any federal, state, and local sources of grant aid. In addition, the bill makes certain Dreamer students (i.e., students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status) eligible for federal financial aid. First, the bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to award grants for state-federal partnerships with a goal of providing debt-free college for all eligible students at in-state public IHEs. Eligible student refers to an individual who (1) is enrolled or is eligible to enroll in an in-state public IHE, (2) demonstrates eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant through institutional financial-aid eligibility forms, and (3) demonstrates satisfactory academic progress. Next, the bill requires ED to award grants to historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions to cover the unmet financial need of enrolled students. ED must establish an office to administer grants and provide oversight. In addition, the bill makes Dreamer students who entered the United States before the age of 16 and who meet certain educational criteria eligible for federal student aid.

Bill Text

Sections of law this bill changes

3 sections in 1 law

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-121).

Higher education resources and student assistance · 20 U.S.C. ch. 28 1 section Amends the act as a whole
  • § 1091 Student eligibility Amends

    20 U.S.C. § 1091

    The law today

    (a) In general In order to receive any grant, loan, or work assistance under this subchapter, a student must— (1) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree, certificate, or other program (including a program of study abroad approved for credit by the eligible institution at which such student is enrolled) leading to a recognized educational credential at an institution of higher education that is an eligible institution in accordance with the provisions of section 1094 of this title, except as provided in subsections (b)(3) and (b)(4), and not be enrolled in an elementary or secondary school; (2) if the student is presently enrolled at an institution, be maintaining satisfactory progress in the course of study the student is pursuing in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c);(q) (3) not owe a refund on grants previously received at any institution under this subchapter, or be in default on any loan from a student loan fund at any institution provided for in part E, or a loan made, insured, or guaranteed by the Secretary under this subchapter for attendance at any institution; (4) file with the Secretary, as part of the original financial aid application process, a certification, which need not be notarized, but which shall include— (A) a statement of educational purpose stating that the money attributable to such grant, loan, or loan guarantee will be used solely for expenses related to attendance or continued attendance at such institution; and (B) such student’s social security number; (5) be a citizen or national of the United States, a permanent resident of the United States, or able to provide evidence from the Immigration and Naturalization Service that he or she is in the United States for other than a temporary purpose with the intention of becoming a citizen or permanent resident; and (6) if the student has been convicted of, or has pled nolo contendere or guilty to, a crime involving fraud in obtaining funds under this subchapter, have completed the repayment of such funds to the Secretary, or to the holder in the case of a loan under this subchapter obtained by fraud. (b) Eligibility for student loans (1) In order to be eligible to receive any loan under this subchapter (other than a loan under section 1078–2 or 1078–3 of this title, or under section 1078–8 of this title pursuant to an exercise of discretion under section 1087tt of this title) for any period of enrollment, a student who is not a graduate or professional student (as defined in regulations of the Secretary), and who is enrolled in a program at an institution which has a participation agreement with the Secretary to make awards under subpart 1 of part A of this subchapter, shall— (A) (i) have received a determination of eligibility or ineligibility for a Pell Grant under such subpart 1 for such period of enrollment; and (ii) if determined to be eligible, have filed an application for a Pell Grant for such enrollment period; or (B) have (i) filed an application with the Pell Grant processor for such institution for such enrollment period, and (ii) received from the financial aid administrator of the institution a preliminary determination of the student’s eligibility or ineligibility for a grant under such subpart 1. (2) In order to be eligible to receive any loan under section 1078–1 1 of this title for any period of enrollment, a student shall— (A) have received a determination of need for a loan under section 1078(a)(2)(B) of this title; (B) if determined to have need for a loan under section 1078 of this title, have applied for such a loan; and (C) has applied for a loan under section 1078–8 of this title, if such student is eligible to apply for such a loan. (3) A student who— (A) is carrying at least one-half the normal full-time work load for the course of study that the student is pursuing, as determined by an eligible institution, and (B) is enrolled in a course of study necessary for enrollment in a program leading to a d...

    77 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

Also cites: 10 U.S.C. § 101, 37 U.S.C. § 403

How this bill changes current law

4 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a new section in the Higher Education Act to create State-Federal partnerships for debt-free college programs.

  • 20 U.S.C. 1070

    PART J--DEBT-FREE COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP SEC. 499A-1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this part is to establish State-Federal partnerships that will-- (1) increase investment in public higher education; and (2) provide students the opportunity to attain higher education at in-State public institutions of higher education without debt ('debt-free college').

    Adds provisions for State-Federal partnerships aimed at making higher education debt-free.

  • 20 U.S.C. 1070

    SEC. 499A-2. DEFINITIONS. In this part: (1) College completion program.--The term 'college completion program' means a program or service at an institution of higher education that is dedicated to addressing barriers to degree attainment, particularly for low-income students, for the purpose of increasing the percentage of students completing programs of study in their entirety and attaining related degrees. (2) Cost of attendance.--The term 'cost of attendance' means-- (A) tuition and fees normally assessed a student carrying the same academic workload as determined by the institution, and including costs for rental or purchase of any equipment, materials, or supplies required of all students in the same course of study; (B) an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses, including a reasonable allowance for the documented rental or purchase of a personal computer, for a student attending the institution on at least a half-time basis, as determined by the institution; (C) an allowance (determined by the institution) for room and board costs incurred by the student which-- (i) shall be an allowance determined by the institution for a student without dependents residing at home with parents; (ii) for students without dependents residing in institutionally owned or operated housing, shall be a standard allowance determined by the institution based on the amount normally assessed most of its residents for room and board; (iii) for students who live in housing located on a military base or for which a basic allowance is provided under section 403(b) of title 37, United States Code, shall be an allowance based on the expenses reasonably incurred by such students for board but not for room; and (iv) for all other students shall be an allowance based on the expenses reasonably incurred by such students for room and board. (3) Debt-free college commitment.--The term 'debt-free college commitment' means a commitment by a State participating in the State-Federal partnership under this part to cover the unmet financial need for all eligible students.

    Defines terms related to the new debt-free college partnership program.

  • 20 U.S.C. 1070

    SEC. 499A-3. ESTABLISHMENT OF A STATE-FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants to States to establish State-Federal partnerships with a goal of providing debt-free college for all eligible students at in-State public institutions of higher education. (b) Application.--A State that desires to participate in the State-Federal partnership under this part shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.

    Creates a grant program for states to participate in debt-free college initiatives.

  • 20 U.S.C. 1070

    SEC. 499A-4. STATE-FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES. (a) Federal.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary shall create an office in the Department of Education to administer the State-Federal partnerships established under this part. Such Partnership Office shall be responsible for-- (A) administering grant awards; (B) monitoring compliance with partnership requirements; (C) providing technical assistance to States in applying for participation in, and implementing, a partnership; and (D) providing information to students in participating States.

    Establishes responsibilities for a new office to manage the State-Federal partnership for debt-free college.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 2804 do?
Debt-Free College Act of 2021 This bill establishes measures to cover the unmet financial need of students who are enrolled at certain institutions of higher education (IHEs). Unmet financial need refers to the difference between a student's cost of attendance and the student's expected family contribution, plus any federal, state, and local sources of grant aid. In addition, the bill makes certain Dreamer students (i.e., students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status) eligible for federal financial aid. First, the bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to award grants for state-federal partnerships with a goal of providing debt-free college for all eligible students at in-state public IHEs. Eligible student refers to an individual who (1) is enrolled or is eligible to enroll in an in-state public IHE, (2) demonstrates eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant through institutional financial-aid eligibility forms, and (3) demonstrates satisfactory academic progress. Next, the bill requires ED to award grants to historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions to cover the unmet financial need of enrolled students. ED must establish an office to administer grants and provide oversight. In addition, the bill makes Dreamer students who entered the United States before the age of 16 and who meet certain educational criteria eligible for federal student aid.
Who sponsors HR 2804?
HR 2804 is sponsored by Pocan, Mark (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 2804?
This bill died with 117th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 2804?
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