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H.R. 4638 116th Congress House

Degrees Not Debt Act of 2019

Official title: To give middle-class families access to the maximum Federal Pell Grant, to increase college transparency, and State maintenance of efforts, and for other purposes.

Introduced: October 11, 2019 Introduced by: Salud O. Carbajal Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Education Administrative remediesGovernment lending and loan guaranteesHigher educationPerformance measurementStudent aid and college costs
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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
Oct 11, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
Oct 11, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 11, 2019

Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on 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.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Degrees Not Debt Act of 2019

This bill sets forth provisions to increase the availability of need-based federal student aid and require an institution of higher education (IHE) to disclose performance indicators.

The bill repeals the alternative minimum tax exemption and the increased estate and gift tax exemption and uses the tax revenue to increase need-based federal student aid. Specifically, the bill increases (1) the maximum amount of the federal Pell Grant, and (2) the income threshold that triggers an automatic zero for an expected family contribution.

In addition, the bill eliminates Pell Grant funding for an institution of higher education in a state that does not maintain its funding levels for IHEs.

Finally, an IHE must disclose performance indicators (e.g., graduation rates and employment outcomes).

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 2471 Identical bill Degrees Not Debt Act of 2019
 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. 4638: Degrees Not Debt Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4638/
MLA
"H.R. 4638: Degrees Not Debt Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4638/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4638, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4638/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4638: Degrees Not Debt Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4638/)
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