PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

H.R. 5768: Accreditation Reform Act of 2020

Before you vote › Federal bills

H.R. 5768: Accreditation Reform Act of 2020

116th Congress · introduced 2020-02-06 · Education · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2020-02-06 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. 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

Accreditation Reform Act of 2020

Plain summary

Accreditation Reform Act of 2020 This bill modifies provisions related to federal oversight of the postsecondary accreditation system. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to review additional data during the process of recognizing an accrediting agency or association. This review must include, among other elements, data related to student achievement at institutions of higher education (IHEs), a record of IHEs that fail to meet certain financial responsibility requirements, and an annual enhanced review of the standards of any accrediting agency or association that accredited an IHE that was the subject of an investigation or settlement for violations related to students (e.g., deceptive practices). ED must make publicly available on its website (1) each petition made by an accrediting agency or association, including a record of student complaints for each IHE accredited by the agency or association and a record of investigations and lawsuits related to students at each IHE; and (2) all final documents produced during the accreditation review process. ED must also promulgate regulations that provide procedures for limitations on accrediting agencies or associations. The bill also revises the functions of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, which advises ED on the accreditation process and the eligibility of IHEs to participate in federal student-aid programs. Specifically, the bill requires the committee to participate in federal recognition reviews of accrediting agencies or associations, such as by participating in on-site inspections and reviews of IHEs.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in 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

Accreditation Reform Act of 2020

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] reported raising $1.9 million (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-hr5768 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116