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H.R. 4674: College Affordability Act

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H.R. 4674: College Affordability Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-10-15 · Education · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 583.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-10-15 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 583. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

College Affordability Act

Plain summary

College Affordability Act This bill reauthorizes and revises the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) and addresses additional issues related to higher education, including to revise federal student financial aid programs, consolidate federal student loans and expand loan forgiveness, increase college access and success for certain students, and revise accountability measures. Specifically, the bill revises financial aid programs, including to increase the maximum federal Pell Grant award, provide incentives for states to fund public institutions of higher education (IHEs), increase and make permanent funding for minority-serving IHEs, expand the availability of financial aid to postsecondary students, and extend eligibility for student aid to certain noncitizen students. The bill also revises federal student loan programs, including to replace existing student loan repayment plans with one income-based repayment plan and one fixed repayment plan, allow existing borrowers to lower their payments by switching to the new plans, expand public service loan forgiveness programs (e.g., TEACH grants), and create appeal processes for denied applications for loan forgiveness. In addition, the bill increases college access and success for certain students (e.g., students with low-income, children, or disabilities) through investments and practices, such as student support services and accelerated learning opportunities. The bill establishes consumer information requirements for prospective students. Further, it revises accountability measures for IHEs (including for-profit IHEs), job training programs, college accrediting agencies, and lenders. In particular, the bill updates the performance goals of the Office of Federal Student Aid and requires the Department of Education (ED) to be responsible for the oversight of the office. Finally, the bill prohibits ED from issuing or enforcing certain rules that weaken the enforcement of the prohibition of sex discrimination applicable under title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

College Affordability Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] · 158 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4674, College Affordability Act (2019-12-10)

Cosponsors on this site

Joe Courtney (D-CT), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Mark Takano (D-CA), Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY), Josh Harder (D-CA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Susie Lee (D-NV), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Joe Neguse (D-CO), John Garamendi (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), André Carson (D-IN), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and 98 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] reported raising $882,179 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr4674 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116