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HR 5756 114th Congress House

Degrees Not Debt Act

Official title: To establish Federal-State higher education financing partnerships to drive down the cost of tuition for millions of American students.

Introduced: July 13, 2016 Introduced by: Pocan, Mark Democratic · Wisconsin See on congress.gov
Education Academic performance and assessmentsEducation of the disadvantagedEducation programs fundingGovernment information and archives
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Higher educationInflation and pricesIntergovernmental relationsState and local financeStudent aid and college costs
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) 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 19, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
Jul 13, 2016
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Jul 13, 2016
Introduced in House
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 Latest action September 19, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Degrees Not Debt Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a federal-state partnership to promote state investment in public higher education.

It directs the Department of Education to award matching block grants to states to reduce tuition costs and support the enrollment, retention, and degree completion of low-income students at public institutions of higher education. A state that receives a grant must waive any unmet financial need for certain low-income students, maintain or increase per-student operating support, maintain state-based financial aid levels, and limit tuition increases at public institutions of higher education.

The bill prohibits the use of grant funds to increase an institution's endowment or to modernize, renovate, or repair athletic facilities.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 2191 Related bill PARTNERSHIPS Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 8
All 8 Democratic 8
D
Takano, Mark
California · Sep 9, 2016
 D
DeSaulnier, Mark
California · Sep 8, 2016
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Sep 8, 2016
 D
Carson, André
Indiana · Sep 6, 2016
 D
Chu, Judy
California · Sep 6, 2016
 D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Sep 6, 2016
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Sep 6, 2016
 D
Watson Coleman, Bonnie
New Jersey · Sep 6, 2016
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5756: Degrees Not Debt Act. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5756/
MLA
"H.R. 5756: Degrees Not Debt Act." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5756/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5756, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5756/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5756: Degrees Not Debt Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5756/)
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