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?

• May 7, 2008 — The President signed H.R. 5715, the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008.
• May 6, 2008 — Congress approved S. 2929, providing for a "clean" extension of the Higher Education Act through May 31, 2008.
• February 7, 2008 — The House passed H.R. 4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, to reauthorize and amend the Higher Education Act.
• September 27, 2007 — The President signed H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, a reconciliation bill that makes numerous significant changes to the Higher Education Act.
• July 24, 2007 — The Senate passed S. 1642 the Higher Education Amendments of 2007. S. 1642, which was approved by unanimous vote, is the Senate's comprehensive reauthorization bill.

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More Resources

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.