The Higher Education Act (HEA) authorizes the major federal student aid programs that are responsible for the majority of financial assistance to postsecondary students. To encourage growth and change, it must be re-approved or "reauthorized" by Congress, generally every five years. In addition to major reauthorization bills, Congress also considers many bills that may directly or indirectly impact the HEA.

What's new?

• February 17, 2009 — The president signed H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
• October 7, 2008 — The president signed H.R. 6889, extending the loan purchase programs authorized by the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 for an additional year.
• August 14, 2008 — The president signed H.R. 4137, reauthorizing the Higher Education Act of 1965.

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More Resources

Summary of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA)

TG Legislative Fact Sheets

Text of HEA, Title IV

Congressional Research Service Report

TG Legislative Report

TG School Fact Sheets

TG Research

For questions regarding the Reauthorization process, please contact George Torres, TG's Assistant Vice President for Congressional and Legislative Relations at george.torres@tgslc.org.