To Offer Refugees College Help (TORCH) Act

Bill: 115-hr-2944
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
Introduced: 2017-06-20
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Higher education

Immigrant health and welfare

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

State and local government operations

Student aid and college costs
Latest action: action_date: 2017-06-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-06-20
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>To Offer Refugees College Help (TORCH) Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require states to charge in-state tuition rates to refugees, asylees, and special immigrant visa holders if they are lawfully in the United States. This requirement only applies to the first state where the individual lives after being admitted into the United States.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2944 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 20, 2017 Mr. Huffman (for himself, Ms. Barragán , Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania , Mr. Blumenauer , Ms. Brownley of California , Mr. Carson of Indiana , Ms. Judy Chu of California , Mr. Cohen , Mrs. Davis of California , Mr. DeSaulnier , Mr. Ellison , Ms. Eshoo , Mr. Evans , Ms. Gabbard , Mr. Gallego , Mr. Al Green of Texas , Mr. Gutiérrez , Mr. Hastings , Ms. Jayapal , Mr. Jeffries , Mr. Johnson of Georgia , Mr. Langevin , Mr. Larson of Connecticut , Ms. Lee , Mr. Ted Lieu of California , Ms. Lofgren , Ms. Matsui , Mr. McGovern , Mr. Meeks , Mr. Moulton , Mrs. Napolitano , Ms. Norton , Mr. Pallone , Mr. Pascrell , Mr. Pocan , Mr. Raskin , Mr. Rush , Ms. Schakowsky , Mr. Schiff , Mr. Sires , Mr. Smith of Washington , Ms. Speier , Mr. Takano , Mr. Thompson of California , Mr. Vargas , Mr. Welch , Mr. Vela , Ms. Wasserman Schultz , Mrs. Dingell , Mrs. Torres , Mr. Khanna , Mr. Yarmuth , Mr. Panetta , Ms. McCollum , and Mr. McNerney ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for in-State tuition rates for refugees and asylees.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the To Offer Refugees College Help (TORCH) Act . 2. In-State tuition rates for refugees, asylees, and certain special immigrants (a) In general The Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after section 135 ( 20 U.S.C. 1015d ) the following: 135A. In-State tuition rates for refugees, asylees, and certain special immigrants (a) Requirement In the case of an alien described in subsection (b) whose domicile is in a State that receives assistance under this Act, such State shall not charge such alien tuition for attendance at a public institution of higher education in the State at a rate that is greater than the rate charged for residents of the State. (b) Aliens described An alien is described in this subsection if the alien was granted— (1) refugee status and admitted to the United States under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1157 ); (2) asylum under section 208 of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158 ); or (3) special immigrant status under section 101(a)(27) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27) ) pursuant to— (A) section 1244 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1157 note); (B) section 1059 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 note); or (C) section 602 of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 note). (c) Limitations The requirement under subsection (a) shall apply with respect to an alien only until the alien has established residency in the State, and only with respect to the first State in which the alien was first domiciled after being admitted into the United States as a refugee or special immigrant or being granted asylum. (d) Effective date This section shall take effect at each public institution of higher education in a State that receives assistance under this Act for the first period of enrollment at such institution that begins after July 1, 2017. . (b) Conforming amendment The table of contents for the Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 135 the following: Sec. 135A. In-State tuition rates for refugees, asylees, and certain special immigrants. .