PROSPER Act

Bill: 115-hr-4508
Sponsor: Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]
Introduced: 2017-12-01 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Area studies and international education
Assault and harassment offenses
Business education
Child care and development
Child health
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Education
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Disability and paralysis
Domestic violence and child abuse
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Employment and training programs
Evidence and witnesses
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Indian social and development programs
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Law enforcement administration and funding
Licensing and registrations
Mental health
Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
Minority education
Minority employment
Policy sciences
Public contracts and procurement
School administration
Science and engineering education
Sex offenses
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-01
text: 

Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform Act or the PROSPER Act

 
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise the governance of federal financial aid provided to students pursuing a postsecondary education and institutions of higher education (IHEs), including by:
 
 
removing restrictions on providing aid to for-profit institutions, correspondence courses, and certificate programs;
 
modifying the eligibility requirements for IHEs and students to participate in federal student aid programs;
 
revising accountability measures for IHEs, such as adding new measures for minority-serving institutions;
 
requiring IHEs to implement programs to prevent the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees;
 
prohibiting aid to IHEs that deny religious student organizations the rights, benefits, or privileges that are afforded to other organizations;
 
limiting the Department of Education's authority to issue regulations;
 
revising requirements concerning sexual assault on campuses;
 
authorizing an industry-led apprenticeship grant program;
 
reauthorizing through FY2024 and revising specified programs, including the Federal Pell Grant program, the Federal Work-Study programs, and an aid program for students whose families are seasonal farm workers;
 
revising requirements governing the Federal TRIO programs for students from disadvantaged backgrounds;
 
repealing specified grant programs (e.g., the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program) and loan forgiveness programs (e.g., Public Service Loan Forgiveness) for new borrowers;
 
replacing the existing student loan programs (i.e., the Federal Direct Loan program and the Federal Family Education Loan program) with a single loan program (i.e., ONE loan program);
 
revising student loan limits for undergraduate students and establishing loan limits for graduate students; and
 
replacing existing student loan repayment plans with an income-based repayment plan.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-02-08
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 413.
action_date: 2018-02-08
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 115-550.
action_date: 2018-02-08
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 115-550.
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 17.
action_date: 2017-12-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2017-12-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-12-01
text: Introduced in House