United States 112th Congress Status: Died 1 R cosponsors

HR 2117 — Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act

Last action — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. Died in session

This bill died with 112th 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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis.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

Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act - Repeals certain Department of Education regulations that for purposes of determining whether a school is eligible to participate in programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA): (1) require institutions of higher education and postsecondary vocational institutions (except religious schools) to be legally authorized by the state in which they are situated, (2) delineate what such legal authorization requires of states and schools, and (3) define "credit hour." Prohibits the Secretary of Education from promulgating or enforcing any regulation or rule that defines "credit hour" for any purpose under the HEA.

Bill Text

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Read HR 2117 on the official United States source →

Action History

  1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

  2. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. On passage Passed by recorded vote: 303 - 114 (Roll no. 79).

  4. On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 176 - 241 (Roll no. 78).

  5. DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Capps motion to recommit. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment which adds a provision entitled "PROTECTING STUDENTS FROM HIGHER LOAN COSTS AND A DEVALUED EDUCATIONAL DEGREE".

  6. Mrs. Capps moved to recommit with instructions to Education and the Workforce. (consideration: CR H995-996; text: CR H995)

  7. The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H988)

  8. The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2117.

  9. H.AMDT.956 On agreeing to the Polis amendment (A005) Failed by recorded vote: 199 - 217 (Roll no. 77).

  10. H.AMDT.955 On agreeing to the Bishop (NY) amendment (A004) Failed by recorded vote: 160 - 255 (Roll no. 76).

  11. H.AMDT.952 On agreeing to the Grijalva amendment (A001) Failed by recorded vote: 170 - 247 (Roll no. 75).

  12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

  13. The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

  14. Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H992-997)

  15. Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2117 as unfinished business.

  16. On motion that the committe rise Agreed to by voice vote.

  17. Ms. Foxx moved that the committee rise.

  18. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Polis amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

  19. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 563, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Polis amendment No. 5.

  20. H.AMDT.956 Amendment (A005) offered by Mr. Polis. (consideration: CR H991-992, H994-995; text: CR H991)Amendment sought to require the Secretary to present a plan to prevent waste, fraud and abuse and to ensure effective use of taxpayer dollars.

  21. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Bishop (NY) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Bishop (NY) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

  22. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 563, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Bishop (NY) amendment No. 4.

  23. H.AMDT.955 Amendment (A004) offered by Mr. Bishop (NY). (consideration: CR H990-991, H993-994; text: CR H990)Amendment sought to strike the prohibition on the Secretary of Education from ever promulgating or enforcing any regulation or rule defining the term "credit hour".

  24. H.AMDT.954 On agreeing to the Polis amendment (A003) Failed by voice vote.

  25. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 563, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Polis amendment No. 3.

  26. H.AMDT.954 Amendment (A003) offered by Mr. Polis. (consideration: CR H990; text: CR H990)Amendment sought to link state authorization regulations to student outcomes.

  27. H.AMDT.953 On agreeing to the Foxx amendment (A002) Agreed to by voice vote.

  28. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 563, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Foxx amendment No. 2.

  29. H.AMDT.953 Amendment (A002) offered by Ms. Foxx. (consideration: CR H989; text: CR H989)Amendment prevents the Federal Government from reinterpreting a State's laws or regulations to require credit-hour programs to convert back to clock-hour programs.

  30. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Grijalva amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Grijalva demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

  31. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 563, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Grijalva amendment No. 1.

  32. H.AMDT.952 Amendment (A001) offered by Mr. Grijalva. (consideration: CR H988-989, H992-993; text: CR H988)Amendment sought to ensure that each State has a process in place to receive and review student complaints and to promote good practices and address abuses.

  33. GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2117.

  34. The Speaker designated the Honorable Candice S. Miller to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.

  35. House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 563 and Rule XVIII.

  36. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2117 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and the Workforce now printed in the bill.

  37. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 563. (consideration: CR H980-992)

  38. Rule H. Res. 563 passed House.

  39. Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 563 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2117 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and the Workforce now printed in the bill.

  40. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 116.

  41. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 112-177.

  42. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  43. Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

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.

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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 2117 do?
Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act - Repeals certain Department of Education regulations that for purposes of determining whether a school is eligible to participate in programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA): (1) require institutions of higher education and postsecondary vocational institutions (except religious schools) to be legally authorized by the state in which they are situated, (2) delineate what such legal authorization requires of states and schools, and (3) define "credit hour." Prohibits the Secretary of Education from promulgating or enforcing any regulation or rule that defines "credit hour" for any purpose under the HEA.
Who sponsors HR 2117?
HR 2117 is sponsored by Virginia Foxx (R).
What is the current status of HR 2117?
This bill died with 112th 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 2117?
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