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Bill114th CongressFiled Jul 23, 2015Education
H.R. 3179

Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house amended (Jul 11, 2016)

Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify loan counseling requirements for an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student aid programs.

Currently, an IHE must provide entrance counseling to a student who is a first-time federal student loan borrower. This bill replaces required entrance counseling with required annual counseling. Also, it expands the required recipients of such annual counseling to include, in addition to student borrowers, Federal Pell Grant recipients and parent PLUS Loan borrowers.

Each annual counseling recipient must receive comprehensive information on the terms, conditions, and responsibilities with respect to a grant or loan and general information on a typical student budget, the right to request an annual credit report, average income and employment data, and financial management resources. Additionally, the bill revises, expands, or establishes specific annual counseling information requirements for student borrowers, Pell Grant recipients, or parent PLUS Loan borrowers.

(Sec. 3) The legislation revises and expands exit counseling information requirements to include an outstanding loan balance summary, the anticipated monthly payments under standard and income-based repayment plans, an explanation of the grace period preceding repayment, the option to pay accrued interest before it capitalizes, the right to request an annual credit report, and loan servicer contact information.

(Sec. 4) It directs ED to maintain a consumer-tested online counseling tool that provides annual and exit counseling.

(Sec. 5) The Institute of Education Sciences must study the impact and effectiveness of exit counseling, annual counseling, and the online counseling tool.

(Sec. 6) No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this bill.

What just happenedJul 12, 2016

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2](R-KY)Sponsor
38 cosponsors19 D19 R
Read on Congress.gov
38cosponsors2committees16actions1related bills9subjects
  1. Jul 12, 2016IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

    Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  2. Jul 11, 2016FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Jul 11, 2016FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4607-4609)

  4. Jul 11, 2016Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4607-4609)

  5. Jul 11, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3179.

  6. Jul 11, 2016FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4607-4611)

  7. Jul 11, 2016FloorH30300

    Mr. Guthrie moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  8. Jul 11, 2016CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 523.

  9. Jul 11, 2016CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 114-675.

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  10. Jul 11, 2016Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 114-675.

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  11. Jun 22, 2016Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  12. Jun 22, 2016Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  13. Nov 16, 2015Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

    Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcomittee
  14. Jul 23, 2015IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  15. Jul 23, 2015IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  16. Jul 23, 2015IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedJul 11, 201636

Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify loan counseling requirements for an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student aid programs.

Currently, an IHE must provide entrance counseling to a student who is a first-time federal student loan borrower. This bill replaces required entrance counseling with required annual counseling. Also, it expands the required recipients of such annual counseling to include, in addition to student borrowers, Federal Pell Grant recipients and parent PLUS Loan borrowers.

Each annual counseling recipient must receive comprehensive information on the terms, conditions, and responsibilities with respect to a grant or loan and general information on a typical student budget, the right to request an annual credit report, average income and employment data, and financial management resources. Additionally, the bill revises, expands, or establishes specific annual counseling information requirements for student borrowers, Pell Grant recipients, or parent PLUS Loan borrowers.

(Sec. 3) The legislation revises and expands exit counseling information requirements to include an outstanding loan balance summary, the anticipated monthly payments under standard and income-based repayment plans, an explanation of the grace period preceding repayment, the option to pay accrued interest before it capitalizes, the right to request an annual credit report, and loan servicer contact information.

(Sec. 4) It directs ED to maintain a consumer-tested online counseling tool that provides annual and exit counseling.

(Sec. 5) The Institute of Education Sciences must study the impact and effectiveness of exit counseling, annual counseling, and the online counseling tool.

(Sec. 6) No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this bill.

Introduced in HouseJul 23, 2015

Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify loan counseling requirements for an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student aid programs.

Currently, an IHE must provide entrance counseling to a student who is a first-time federal student loan borrower. This bill replaces required entrance counseling with required annual counseling. Also, it expands the required recipients of such annual counseling to include, in addition to student borrowers, Federal Pell Grant recipients and parent PLUS Loan borrowers.

Each annual counseling recipient must receive comprehensive information on the terms, conditions, and responsibilities with respect to a grant or loan and general information on a typical student budget, the right to request an annual credit report, average income and employment data, and financial management resources. Additionally, the bill revises, expands, or establishes specific annual counseling information requirements for student borrowers, Pell Grant recipients, or parent PLUS Loan borrowers.

The legislation revises and expands exit counseling information requirements to include an outstanding loan balance summary, the anticipated monthly payments under standard and income-based repayment plans, an explanation of the grace period preceding repayment, the option to pay accrued interest before it capitalizes, the right to request an annual credit report, and loan servicer contact information.

It directs ED to maintain a consumer-tested online counseling tool that provides annual and exit counseling.

The Institute of Education Sciences must study the impact and effectiveness of exit counseling, annual counseling, and the online counseling tool.

Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act — Informed