[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6257794,"mediaKeyId","3152141-4dc6fb8f4fc327518c8427ee128f9a88","parentId",3152141,"title","House Education and Labor committee advances Republican student‑aid reconciliation package after day‑long markup","audioSeconds",17482,"startMs",803000,"endMs",18285000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3152141-4dc6fb8f4fc327518c8427ee128f9a88&start=803&end=18285","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3152141-4dc6fb8f4fc327518c8427ee128f9a88/thumbnail_803000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6257794/House-Education-and-Labor-committee-advances-Republican-studentaid-reconciliation-package-after-daylong-markup","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257794-5b9b7a2aa2fbe36ecf5932d84b368285/orig.mp4?Expires=1770659487&Signature=ZG0OieEEhVfuGZj42MFFW1~QF-GPTyYWNfAexHbk6VrPhxIFz5cN7NKqQGEem~AFG9H21YgUKbJhhjIp2ZGAMnrUej3U1gg-Mj3caSrxmqrobu~vxEI9dE0tt4mJQx5pV7Sw3sZvs3aLQbyogNFwbKt903Fh0AjMXp6~syyWXMx1x5Kn8mBY54D2o-pt~OXz76gpl5-QfPi8f0X~ra0NbjSXVoFaqS37Vv2quxsgfS3DBQ81lOsumpn1IgqUrEUO03ofcerJnaLwykHjHZZN5K2n5M9cl05YMOtbW1bYYJ9PJ6GQkTRabaCkBmo9zEwvUA-VpVqU-FpYI0yfOhnxvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Education & the Workforce","date","2025-04-29T00:00:00Z","article","The House Education and Labor Committee met for a day‑long markup of a Republican reconciliation package titled the Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan, a bill that GOP members say would reduce federal higher‑education spending and “hold colleges accountable.” Representative Tim Walberg (R‑Mich.) offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute that the committee ultimately adopted; the full package was then voted to be transmitted to the House Budget Committee.

Why it matters: The package proposes sweeping changes to student aid and repayment rules that, if enacted, would reshape who can access federal grants and loans and how long borrowers remain in repayment. Members on both sides framed the markup as a test of priorities: whether to reduce federal outlays and impose stricter accountability on institutions or to protect existing federal aid and borrower protections.

Republican framing and actions: Committee Republicans repeatedly said the bill targets waste and unsustainable costs in higher education. In explaining the amendment in the nature of a substitute, Representative Walberg said, “The Biden‑Harris administration took a federal loan system already in need of reform and completely shattered it,” and argued the package would “replenish the Pell program” temporarily and create new accountability metrics for institutions. The committee agreed to the amendment in the nature of a substitute and, after several recorded votes on individual amendments, voted to transmit the committee print and accompanying materials to the Budget Committee.

Democratic objections and amendments: Ranking Member Representative Bobby Scott (D‑Va.) and other Democrats framed the bill as cuts to student aid that would harm low‑income, part‑time, and nontraditional students. Scott opened with: “If you want to see someone’s values, show me their budget,” and said the reconciliation plan “reveals a betrayal of the promise that Lyndon B. Johnson made when he signed the Higher Education Act.” Democrats offered multiple amendments to preserve or expand Pell eligibility, block changes to borrower defenses and closed‑school discharges, protect SNAP/WIC access for students, and exempt certain populations from proposed penalties; most of those amendments failed during the markup.

What the committee voted on and next steps: The committee considered dozens of amendments (many were offered by Democrats and were defeated by recorded or voice votes). The amendment in the nature of a substitute to the committee print was agreed to by the committee, and the committee then voted to transmit the recommendations to the House Budget Committee. A recorded vote on the motion to transmit was completed (committee tally recorded in the transcript). The Budget Committee will receive the committee print and any supplemental views for further action in the reconciliation process.

Context and data cited in the markup: Members cited multiple fiscal figures and program details during debate. Committee Republicans repeatedly cited an estimated $350 billion in savings from their package and called out a projected Pell shortfall (committee discussion referenced CBO estimates of a multibillion‑dollar shortfall). Democrats pointed to proposals they said would reduce Pell coverage for part‑time students and eliminate protections such as borrower defense and the 90/10 rule that limits for‑profit colleges’ reliance on federal student aid.

Ending: The committee concluded after dozens of roll calls and recorded votes. Members on both sides asked that their views be placed in the record and signaled that the debate would continue on the floor and in subsequent appropriations and reconciliation steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Markup of Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan","oneSentenceSummary","The House Education and Labor Committee met for a day‑long markup of the Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan, a Republican reconciliation package that would alter federal student aid, repayment rules and institutional accountability; Committee Republicans adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute and voted to transmit the measure to the Budget Committee.","taxTitle","Education and Labor: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1979,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6257785,"HBCUs and borrower protections at center of fight over risk‑sharing, 90/10, borrower defense and closed‑school rules",65,3600000,3665000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3152141-4dc6fb8f4fc327518c8427ee128f9a88&start=3600&end=3665","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3152141-4dc6fb8f4fc327518c8427ee128f9a88/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6257785/HBCUs-and-borrower-protections-at-center-of-fight-over-risksharing-9010-borrower-defense-and-closedschool-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257785-68a5d866fb052c1c7e7ef66c3c0e5d52/orig.mp4?Expires=1770659487&Signature=EWmfxRKJAoiEwgmor610k673Bx29bedq4~xkF~TIM~wpSBCIAq3M69McAyA9LEYRKKeadntUjRyF23k-nuGV-G0aKGLx-bPiCdmZrOfsYZ-wCF-powPvL6ghrxAaMnHjA6IMBUenhdQz2fzxn7RTes-3j1tRqPDf4~2ZkGIiTQJrpGS~7yukAE7dVz7QRpicvc3yAbFng6uvdobMr9g7vdY2-OF87Jo6AUPjpSSV~P2~ZwlS-FUW6Xo1RzIL02DGE1OgzvhO0bGFfTWQV229H0ZdKrNS7UjeYQG~ZAC28FsTZECN-Wiv7ErUZF7qrTSmclgVXj9YZND-0~S0waNLAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lede: Several Democratic members argued the reconciliation package’s risk‑sharing provisions and the repeal of key consumer protections would disproportionately harm historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and low‑income students, while Republicans said the bill’s sector‑neutral accountability would force institutions to improve outcomes and lower costs.

Nut graf: Debate covered three interlocking areas: (1) risk‑sharing penalties that would require colleges to reimburse the federal government for unpaid loans; (2) rollback or repeal of regulations such as borrower defense to repayment and the 90/10 rule; and (3) changes to closed‑school discharge and protections for students defrauded by institutions. Democrats raised empirical and civil‑rights concerns; Republicans framed the changes as fiscal discipline and policy‑neutral accountability.

Body: Representative Alma Adams (D‑N.C.) and others offered amendments to require Education Department certifications that risk‑sharing would not disproportionately harm HBCUs; Adams noted committee data that “77% of HBCUs would be hit with risk sharing penalties” and projected multi‑million dollar impacts at specific HBCUs. Representative Suzanna Bonamici and others emphasized that eliminating the 90/10 rule would reopen a pathway for predatory for‑profit recruitment of veterans and low‑income students. Representative Don Young? Not present. Democrats also defended borrower defense and closed‑school discharge protections; Representative Lucy McBath and Representative Bobby Scott argued that rolling back those protections would leave defrauded students to pay back loans taken at institutions that closed or misled them.

Republicans argued that borrower defense and aggressive administrative rulemaking in past Democratic administrations created budgetary exposure and regulatory inconsistency; they urged sector‑neutral accountability tied to student outcomes rather than sector‑based rules.

Ending: Key Democratic amendments to protect HBCUs and preserve borrower defenses failed in recorded votes. The substitute as adopted leaves in place provisions that Democrats warned would weaken consumer protections and impose financial penalties that could force some institutions to change offerings or admissions.","Democrats said risk‑sharing, repeal of the 90/10 rule, and rollback of borrower‑defense protections would harm HBCUs and defrauded students; Republicans said the reforms create accountability and fiscal discipline.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6257790,"Democrats say GOP plan would shrink Pell and punish part‑time students; Republicans say changes force accountability",0,2963000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3152141-4dc6fb8f4fc327518c8427ee128f9a88&start=2963&end=2963","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3152141-4dc6fb8f4fc327518c8427ee128f9a88/thumbnail_2963000.jpg","/articles/6257790/Democrats-say-GOP-plan-would-shrink-Pell-and-punish-parttime-students-Republicans-say-changes-force-accountability","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257790-f9b06369dc0c423e184518d74b7419e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770659487&Signature=eMSPkSUYHJYbofAIEh3nAQX-YqAH2msJFNwUCks6UCEvGO7OeVrPYxgKZ-L51B-LlNs6oKMwYKcgxd82xdFK~VEYNHf-gCuIVtr32YoeZECXOVFBKUZMRqLjOXxYlsFGS~AKqvb0cXEqWOldAQBoZhkgv-c~0ajO7tZwBSDrQR9rRcjM0r8MzDZpUGxX-~W-8bWs4a27VQQGN8A~W5h6716qex1djbfPMjSoPfadA9d~LOh2lJWvfrZLqQdOX5acu2g7~gY16aEVb5b7C0CtWhg8W0pxeDT~R20TukYvImTNX1asBYGQBJndR93NOY1TiL7nolmNk5BO3WIWcrcCWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lede: Democratic members argued that the reconciliation package’s changes to Pell Grant eligibility and annual caps would cut aid for part‑time, working, and parenting students and reduce access to college; Republicans said caps and median‑based aid would put downward pressure on tuition and limit taxpayer exposure.

Nut graf: Much of the markup turned on how to define and fund Pell: Democrats repeatedly urged protection of existing Pell coverage for part‑time and nontraditional students, while Republicans emphasized fiscal sustainability and incentives for colleges to lower tuition. The dispute touches classroom access for community college students, working parents, and the 3.5 million students who rely on federal aid.

Body: Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D‑Va.) told the committee the reconciliation plan “would cut $330 billion in student aid” and change who can obtain Pell. Representative Alma Adams (D‑N.C.) offered amendments to exempt protections and require department certifications for low‑income impacts; those amendments were not adopted. Democrats cited a CBO estimate of a looming Pell shortfall and said that the committee’s short‑term replenishment language was insufficient to ensure long‑term coverage.

Republican defenders said the bill’s median‑based caps would not affect most undergraduates and would incentivize institutions to lower prices. Representative John (chairman text) and Rep. Tim Walberg argued the package “replenishes the Pell program” until FY2027 and provides additional funds for FY2028.

Ending: The committee did not adopt Democratic amendments to preserve current Pell definitions; the substitute as adopted moves to the Budget Committee and retains the GOP changes that Democrats say will shrink Pell awards for many part‑time and nontraditional students.","Committee Democrats warned the reconciliation package would redefine full‑time Pell eligibility (raising the threshold to 30 credits per year), cap federal aid at program medians, and cut the average Pell award, while Republicans said the changes would pressure colleges to lower tuition and improve outcomes.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6257780,"Members split over repayment reforms: GOP overhaul vs. Biden’s SAVE plan and PSLF protections",346,8510000,8856000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3152141-4dc6fb8f4fc327518c8427ee128f9a88&start=8510&end=8856","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3152141-4dc6fb8f4fc327518c8427ee128f9a88/thumbnail_8510000.jpg","/articles/6257780/Members-split-over-repayment-reforms-GOP-overhaul-vs-Bidens-SAVE-plan-and-PSLF-protections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257780-dc956080a742b005b99c4818754af074/orig.mp4?Expires=1770659487&Signature=U0c8h~8obyRHYII0a0DwhREBkSXlxaxwm4STNI0cNd0H2iRkoJSIsSc4Ko6BssMxofcVxWqFjb~AxmDoaAO~~YrxJ3dqrGO-WufNqJlJyAfHgEnWGd5Xf8PlwKUFaqHgaW0bdawLPvUtLqfrGONZnCDEGQvgF92sRQUy-EfZnP6ZE0aSqrtUSEF70sXcu-H7YLJM~lPie8ao6hCaBXhAnWBkiIWML~ziZmYHQmgakjWdr272i1U2u0eshmIUw9a1yEd8uZoeTEu8GS8cTjWK9xCT4rTPmMEXyv5FGeOHmXplEFqdqN~8zNWPv~7gQI6M~8ro3Ife5NYim6-D1efK6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lede: Committee Republicans said their repayment reforms would end the ‘‘ballooning balances’’ that arose under prior administration rulemaking and would offer targeted relief; Democrats sought to preserve the Biden administration’s SAVE repayment plan and protect Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and related teacher and resident exceptions.

Nut graf: A major fault line in the markup was repayment policy. Democrats argued SAVE and PSLF improvements are the right path to relieve borrowers and incentivize public service; Republicans said SAVE expanded federal fiscal exposure and encouraged institutions to raise prices.

Body: Ranking Member Bobby Scott described the SAVE plan as part of prior administrations’ ‘‘false promises’’ that left borrowers with growing balances. Republican members defended their repayment assistance design: a $10 minimum payment, unpaid interest waivers for qualifying borrowers, and a matching principal payment mechanism to ensure balances decline in repayment. Democrats offered amendments to retain SAVE, preserve residents’ and medical/dental residency months for PSLF, and allow teachers to count five years toward both teacher forgiveness and PSLF; these amendments were defeated. Representative Joe Courtney and others pressed to protect residency credit and PSLF because of physician shortages in rural areas; Representative Tim Walberg and other Republicans opposed expansion on budgetary and moral‑hazard grounds.

Ending: The substitute adopted by the committee keeps the GOP repayment framework and does not adopt Democratic proposals to codify SAVE or to expand PSLF eligibility in the ways offered by Democratic amendments; those amendments were rejected by recorded votes.","Republicans told the committee their repayment assistance plan would prevent ballooning balances and target relief; Democrats pushed to keep the SAVE plan, preserve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and protect loan forgiveness for residents and educators.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House Education and Labor committee advances Republican student‑aid reconciliation package after day‑long markup

HBCUs and borrower protections at center of fight over risk‑sharing, 90/10, borrower defense and closed‑school rules

Democrats say GOP plan would shrink Pell and punish part‑time students; Republicans say changes force accountability

Members split over repayment reforms: GOP overhaul vs. Biden’s SAVE plan and PSLF protections