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H.R. 2944 115th Congress House

To Offer Refugees College Help (TORCH) Act

Official title: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for in-State tuition rates for refugees and asylees.

Introduced: June 20, 2017 Introduced by: Jared Huffman Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Education Higher educationImmigrant health and welfareRefugees, asylum, displaced personsState and local government operationsStudent aid and college costs
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 20, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Jun 20, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 20, 2017

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

To Offer Refugees College Help (TORCH) Act

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require states to charge in-state tuition rates to refugees, asylees, and special immigrant visa holders if they are lawfully in the United States. This requirement only applies to the first state where the individual lives after being admitted into the United States.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 41
All 41 Democratic 41
D
Sánchez, Linda T.
California · Oct 26, 2018
 D
Correa, J. Luis
California · Jul 10, 2018
 D
Carbajal, Salud O.
California · Jul 12, 2017
 D
Castor, Kathy
Florida · Jun 22, 2017
 D
Peters, Scott H.
California · Jun 22, 2017
 D
Barragán, Nanette Diaz
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Brownley, Julia
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Carson, André
Indiana · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Chu, Judy
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Jun 20, 2017
 D
DeSaulnier, Mark
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Dingell, Debbie
Michigan · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Evans, Dwight
Pennsylvania · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Gallego, Ruben
Arizona · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Green, Al
Texas · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Jayapal, Pramila
Washington · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Jeffries, Hakeem S.
New York · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Khanna, Ro
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Larson, John B.
Connecticut · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Lieu, Ted
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Matsui, Doris O.
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
McCollum, Betty
Minnesota · Jun 20, 2017
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Moulton, Seth
Massachusetts · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Panetta, Jimmy
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Pocan, Mark
Wisconsin · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Raskin, Jamie
Maryland · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Takano, Mark
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Thompson, Mike
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Torres, Norma J.
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Vargas, Juan
California · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Florida · Jun 20, 2017
 D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Jun 20, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2944: To Offer Refugees College Help (TORCH) Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-2944/
MLA
"H.R. 2944: To Offer Refugees College Help (TORCH) Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-2944/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2944, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-2944/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2944: To Offer Refugees College Help (TORCH) Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-2944/)
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