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HR 3919 104th Congress House

American Opportunity Grant Act

Official title: To provide financial aid grants for college and technical school education.

Introduced: July 30, 1996 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 6, 1996
Referred to the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training and Life-Long Learning.
Jul 30, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities.
Jul 30, 1996
Introduced in House
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 Latest action September 6, 1996

Referred to the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training and Life-Long Learning.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

American Opportunity Grant Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to rename basic educational opportunity grants (currently, Federal Pell Grants) as American Opportunity Grants for students at institutions of higher education.

Revises the determination of the amount of such a grant. Sets forth formulas based on adjusted incomes and amounts of the basic awards, and of the additional "B" average merit awards and public service awards. Sets forth limitations relating to calculations of individual grant awards.

Sets forth baseline expenditure and revenue limitations on institutional eligibility for participation in such grants program.

Revises provisions relating to individual periods of eligibility.

(Sec. 4) Preserves Pell Grant eligibility provisions with respect to students attending proprietary institutions of higher education or postsecondary vocational school. Sets the maximum grant in such cases at $2,500. Directs the Comptroller General to evaluate and report to specified congressional committees on the financial aid needs of students attending such institutions, with recommendations for appropriate alternatives.

(Sec. 5) Directs the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance to study and report to the Congress on the baseline expenditure and revenue limitations for institutional eligibility to participate in the grants program under this Act, including recommendations to restrain the annual rate of tuition increases and increases in the cost of attendance.

(Sec. 6) Establishes a Commission on Corporate Welfare to report to the President and the Congress and to recommend changes in existing law relating to Federal expenditures and revenues that would: (1) reduce direct or indirect subsidies to corporations; and (2) produce, in total, a net savings that would fully offset expenditures resulting from the American Opportunity Grants program under this Act. Authorizes appropriations.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3919: American Opportunity Grant Act. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3919/
MLA
"H.R. 3919: American Opportunity Grant Act." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3919/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3919, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3919/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3919: American Opportunity Grant Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3919/)
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