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H.R. 5549 115th Congress House

HIGHER ED Act

Official title: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve loans, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 18, 2018 See on congress.gov
Education Administrative law and regulatory proceduresBankruptcyConsumer affairsDepartment of Education
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Education programs fundingEmployee benefits and pensionsGovernment lending and loan guaranteesGovernment studies and investigationsHigher educationInterest, dividends, interest ratesMarriage and family statusStudent aid and college costsTax administration and collection, taxpayersTax treatment of familiesTeaching, teachers, curriculaTemporary and part-time employmentWages and earnings
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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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 22, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.
Apr 18, 2018
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 18, 2018
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 22, 2018

Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Helping Individuals Get a Higher Education while Reducing Education Debt Act or the HIGHER ED Act

This bill assists certain student borrowers with reducing their debt for higher education. Among other things, the bill allows existing public and private students loans to be refinanced into federal loans, broadly changes loan terms, such as repayment and interest for student loans, authorizes graduate and professional students to receive subsidized Stafford Loans, and makes federal student loans dischargeable in bankruptcy proceedings.

 Related & companion bills 5
  • HR 2366 Discharge Student Loans in Bankruptcy Act of 2017
  • HR 2526 POST GRAD Act
  • S 1927 Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act of 2017
  • HR 2477 Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act
  • S 1162 Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5549: HIGHER ED Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-5549/
MLA
"H.R. 5549: HIGHER ED Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-5549/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5549, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-5549/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5549: HIGHER ED Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-5549/)
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