119th Congress
H.R. 10455: Debt-Free College Act of 2026
To establish State-Federal partnerships to provide students the opportunity to attain higher education at in-State public institutions of higher education without debt, to provide Federal Pell Grant eligibility to DREAMer students, and for other purposes.
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed House (not reached)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
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 student aid index, 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 and who entered the United States before the age of 16) 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, and (2) completes a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or demonstrates eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant through state or institutional financial aid eligibility forms.
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.
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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 who meet certain educational criteria eligible for federal student aid.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Yvette Clarke D-NYOriginal
- Judy Chu D-CAOriginal
- Donald Davis D-NCOriginal
- Cleo Fields D-LAOriginal
- Vicente Gonzalez D-TXOriginal
- Jesús García D-ILOriginal
- Dan Goldman D-NYOriginal
- Pramila Jayapal D-WAOriginal
- Zoe Lofgren D-CAOriginal
- Ted Lieu D-CAOriginal
- Morgan McGarvey D-KYOriginal
- Eleanor Norton D-DCOriginal
- Chellie Pingree D-MEOriginal
- Ayanna Pressley D-MAOriginal
- Lateefah Simon D-CAOriginal
- Rashida Tlaib D-MIOriginal
- Bonnie Watson Coleman D-NJOriginal
- Becca Balint D-VT
Who scored on this bill
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History
- Introduced in the House by Mark Pocan.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
- Introduced in House
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.