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  • Washington Highlights

    Congress Passes Higher Education Bill

    Brett Roude, Legislative Analyst
    Matthew Shick, Sr. Director, Gov't Relations & Regulatory Affairs

    The House of Representatives Dec. 10 passed the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education Act (FUTURE, H.R. 2486) by a vote of 319-96.

    The FUTURE Act would provide $255 million in permanent, annual mandatory funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSI). To pay for HBCU and MSI funding, the bill includes language to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to 22 questions and allows for direct data sharing between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Education. The FUTURE Act passed the Senate last week [see Washington Highlights, Dec. 6].

    The FUTURE Act reflects provisions that were included in Student Aid Improvement Act (S. 2557), which Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) introduced earlier this year [see Washington Highlights, Oct. 4].  While Congress celebrated the passage of this legislation, leaders continue to work on comprehensive Higher Education Act reauthorization [see Washington Highlights, Nov. 1].

    President Trump is expected to sign the FUTURE Act.