Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/hr/1391
Last Updated: August 20, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

ID: R000617

Follow the money

The bill

Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act of 2025

HR. 1391, 119th Congress — read as touching For-Profit Education & Student Loans.

The sponsor

Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$79,700 raised

20 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

85% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Department of Veterans Affairs" section, p. 688-691 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Committee Hearings Held

May 19, 2026

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

✅

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another bill, another exercise in futility. Let's dissect this mess.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Student Veteran Benefit Restoration Act of 2025 (HR 1391) claims to restore educational benefits to veterans who were defrauded by corrupt educational institutions. How noble. In reality, it's a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:**

* The bill creates a new section in the US Code (Sec. 3699C) that allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to restore entitlements to veterans who were scammed by educational institutions. * It sets forth conditions for repayment of funds by these institutions, including cases where they engaged in fraud or were found guilty by a court. * The bill also establishes an appeals process for institutions and owners affected by these findings.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:**

* Veterans who were defrauded by corrupt educational institutions (the supposed beneficiaries of this bill). * Educational institutions that received payment from the VA for programs they offered to veterans (the ones who might actually be held accountable, but probably won't be). * The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Justice (who will supposedly enforce these provisions).

**Potential Impact & Implications:**

This bill is a classic case of "legislative theater." It's designed to look good on paper, but its actual impact will be minimal. Here's why:

* The VA already has mechanisms in place to address defrauded veterans; this bill just adds more bureaucratic red tape. * Educational institutions will likely find ways to circumvent the repayment provisions or appeal them indefinitely. * The appeals process is a joke – it's designed to give institutions an easy out, not hold them accountable.

In short, HR 1391 is a feel-good bill that won't actually help veterans. It's a symptom of a deeper disease: politicians' addiction to grandstanding and their inability to address real problems. This bill will likely die in committee or be watered down to the point of irrelevance. Mark my words.

Diagnosis: Legislative Theater-itis, with symptoms of bureaucratic inefficiency, lack of accountability, and a healthy dose of cynicism. Prognosis: Poor.

Related Topics

Military & Veterans AffairsEducation & Student Aid
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$79,700
17 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$0
Committees
$0
Individuals
$79,700

No PAC contributions found

No organization contributions found

No committee contributions found

1
ALNOBANI, ABDUL
3 transactions
$13,600
2
SIBLANI, ALI EL
2 transactions
$9,900
3
ROGERS, JOHN
1 transaction
$6,600
4
REHMAN, MOHAMMED
1 transaction
$5,000
5
REZNICK, DEBORAH
1 transaction
$5,000
6
AKHTER, REHAN
1 transaction
$3,300
7
ANWAR, NAVEED
1 transaction
$3,300
8
HORNSTEIN, NORBERT
1 transaction
$3,300
9
SHINE, JAMES
1 transaction
$3,300
10
TAMELING, GRETTA
1 transaction
$3,300
11
ZAMAN, FAHEEM
1 transaction
$3,300
12
JACOBS, IRWIN
1 transaction
$3,300
13
PILLE, LINDA
1 transaction
$3,300
14
AHMED, JUNAID
1 transaction
$3,300
15
DUDA, JENNIFER
1 transaction
$3,300
16
KHAN, SHAZIA
1 transaction
$3,300
17
SIDDIQUI, SAMANA
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]

ID: T000472

Top Contributors

25

1
SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION)
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$5,000
Mar 30, 2023
2
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Jun 28, 2023
3
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Jun 28, 2023
4
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE TRIBE OF CALIFORNIA
OrganizationUPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
May 1, 2023
5
MS BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
OrganizationCHOCTAW, MS
$1,000
Oct 10, 2024
6
BECKER, TODD
LAW OFFICES OF TODD B BECKER • ATTORNEY
IndividualPASADENA, CA
$3,300
Oct 17, 2023
7
ELDRIDGE, SEAN
STAND UP AMERICA • PRESIDENT
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Nov 29, 2023
8
HUH, JIHEE
PAFCO • VICE CHAIRMAN
IndividualROLLING HILLS, CA
$3,300
Oct 17, 2023
9
HUH, PETER
PAFCO • CHAIRMAN
IndividualPALOS VERDES PENINSULA, CA
$3,300
Oct 17, 2023
10
LI, LI
MEBO INTERNATIONAL • PRESIDENT
IndividualARCADIA, CA
$3,300
Oct 17, 2023

Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

ID: L000593

Top Contributors

48

1
DIGIDEMS PAC
CONDUIT TOTAL LISTED IN AGG. FIELD
PACLOS ANGELES, CA
$250
Nov 5, 2024
2
SANTA ROSA RANCHERIA
OrganizationLEMOORE, CA
$6,600
Jun 13, 2024
3
SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION
OrganizationEL CAJON, CA
$3,300
Nov 2, 2024
4
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
OrganizationPALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Jun 29, 2023
5
SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION
OrganizationEL CAJON, CA
$3,300
Jun 29, 2023
6
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
May 12, 2023
7
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
May 12, 2023
8
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$3,300
Jun 21, 2023
9
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Aug 22, 2024
10
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$3,300
Jun 13, 2024

Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

ID: S001145

Top Contributors

20

1
MILLS, MARTHA
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualCHICAGO, IL
$3,500
Jan 18, 2024
2
STASCH, JULIA
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualCHICAGO, IL
$3,500
Jan 4, 2024
3
PARETSKY, SARA
SELF-EMPLOYED • AUTHOR
IndividualCHICAGO, IL
$3,500
May 3, 2024
4
CHIA, STAN
VIVID SEATS • CEO
IndividualCHICAGO, IL
$3,300
Oct 18, 2023
5
CLIFFORD, ROBERT
SELF • ATTORNEY
IndividualCHICAGO, IL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2023
6
CONWAY, KEVIN
COONEY & CONWAY • ATTORNEY
IndividualCHICAGO, IL
$3,300
Dec 10, 2023
7
COONEY, ROBERT
COONEY AND CONWAY • ATTORNEY
IndividualCHICAGO, IL
$3,300
Dec 10, 2023
8
CORBOY, PHILIP H. JR.
CORBOY & DEMETRIO • ATTORNEY
IndividualWINNETKA, IL
$3,300
Dec 24, 2023
9
FAHEY, WILLIAM
COONEY AND CONWAY • ATTORNEY
IndividualCHICAGO, IL
$3,300
Dec 18, 2023
10
HEBEISEN, KEITH
CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES • ATTORNEY
IndividualCHICAGO, IL
$3,300
Dec 10, 2023

Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]

ID: B001315

Top Contributors

26

1
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Jun 13, 2023
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Apr 30, 2024
3
LABORERS LOCAL 397 PAC
OrganizationEDWARDSVILLE, IL
$500
Jul 22, 2024
4
PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LOCAL 553
OrganizationEAST ALTON, IL
$500
Jul 26, 2024
5
LABORERS LOCAL 397 PAC
OrganizationEDWARDSVILLE, IL
$500
Oct 8, 2024
6
PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LOCAL 553
OrganizationEAST ALTON, IL
$500
Oct 8, 2024
7
FISHER, CYNTHIA
PATIENTRIGHTSADVOCATE.ORG • CHAIRMAN
IndividualPALM BEACH, FL
$3,300
Oct 22, 2024
8
MURPHY, JAMES
INVENERGY LLC • PRESIDENT
IndividualBARRINGTON, IL
$3,300
Oct 20, 2024
9
NELSON, REED C.
NELSON AND NELSON • ATTORNEY
IndividualCOLLINSVILLE, IL
$3,300
Oct 9, 2024
10
NI, PIN
WANXIANG AMERICA CORPORATION • PRESIDENT
IndividualSOUTH BARRINGTON, IL
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024

Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]

ID: G000586

Top Contributors

22

1
PRAIRIE BAND POTAWATOMI NATION
OrganizationMAYETTA, KS
$3,300
Sep 23, 2023
2
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,000
Jun 19, 2024
3
DISPARTI, LAWRENCE
SELF • ATTORNEY
IndividualCHICAGO, IL
$6,600
Dec 30, 2023
4
DISPARTI, LAWRENCE
SELF • ATTORNEY
IndividualCHICAGO, IL
$6,600
Dec 30, 2023
5
D'ESCOTO, RODRIGO
REFLECTION WINDOW + WALL • PRESIDENT
IndividualCHICAGO, IL
$5,000
Jun 23, 2023
6
FLOOD, KEVIN
FLOOD BROS DISPOSAL CO • CEO
IndividualOAKBROOK TERRACE, IL
$5,000
Sep 22, 2023
7
SUAREZ, SERGIO D.
LOS COMALES MELROSE • SELF EMPLOYED
IndividualELMHURST, IL
$3,300
Oct 17, 2024
8
AKHTAR, MUHAMMAD
RNA CORPORATION • CEO
IndividualBURR RIDGE, IL
$3,300
Nov 30, 2023
9
BUSHNER, IAN
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP • ATTORNEY
IndividualHINSDALE, IL
$3,300
Dec 7, 2023
10
BUSHNER, IAN
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP • ATTORNEY
IndividualHINSDALE, IL
$3,300
Dec 7, 2023

Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]

ID: F000476

Top Contributors

22

1
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$1,000
Jun 28, 2024
2
MISSISSIPPI BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
OrganizationCHOCTAW, MS
$500
Sep 26, 2023
3
HULL, MEGAN
SELF EMPLOYED • ACTIVIST
IndividualWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Nov 17, 2024
4
HARRIS, WILLIAM
PERKINS + WILL • ARCHITECT
IndividualCAMBRIDGE, MA
$3,300
Oct 29, 2023
5
BOYLAND, DORIAN
BOYLAND AUTO ORLANDO • BUSINESS OWNER
IndividualWINDERMERE, FL
$3,300
Oct 13, 2023
6
TILLMAN, BRIAN
WINDOW WORLD • OWNER
IndividualORLANDO, FL
$3,300
Oct 20, 2023
7
PISCITELLI, JUNE
SMARTHINKING • INSTRUCTOR
IndividualFORT LAUDERDALE, FL
$3,300
Oct 6, 2023
8
WILLIAMS, TERESA
SELF EMPLOYED • MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
IndividualWINTER PARK, FL
$3,300
Dec 2, 2023
9
HARRIS, WILLIAM
PERKINS + WILL • ARCHITECT
IndividualCAMBRIDGE, MA
$3,300
Oct 29, 2023
10
PISCITELLI, JUNE
SMARTHINKING • INSTRUCTOR
IndividualFORT LAUDERDALE, FL
$3,300
Oct 6, 2023

Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7]

ID: G000551

Top Contributors

70

1
PASCUA YAQUI TRIBE
OrganizationTUCSON, AZ
$6,600
Sep 28, 2023
2
SNOQUALMIE TRIBE
OrganizationSNOQUALMIE, WA
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024
3
ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBE
OrganizationLIVINGSTON, TX
$3,300
Sep 25, 2023
4
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LA
OrganizationMARKSVILLE, LA
$3,300
Sep 28, 2023
5
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
OrganizationPALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Dec 7, 2023
6
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
OrganizationPALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Dec 7, 2023
7
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationMARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023
8
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationMARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023
9
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS
OrganizationTEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Dec 19, 2023
10
SNOQUALMIE TRIBE
OrganizationSNOQUALMIE, WA
$3,300
Oct 27, 2023

Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

ID: S001226

Top Contributors

34

1
COW CREEK BAND OF UMPQUA TRIBE OF INDIANS
OrganizationROSEBURG, OR
$3,300
Apr 30, 2024
2
COW CREEK BAND OF UMPQUA TRIBE OF INDIANS
OrganizationROSEBURG, OR
$3,300
Apr 30, 2024
3
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Aug 8, 2024
4
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF GRAND RONDE
OrganizationGRAND RONDE, OR
$2,500
Nov 5, 2024
5
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF GRAND RONDE
OrganizationGRAND RONDE, OR
$2,500
May 9, 2024
6
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationPHILADELPHIA, PA
$2,000
Jun 30, 2024
7
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Jun 7, 2023
8
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Apr 30, 2024
9
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLAKESIDE, CA
$1,500
May 24, 2023
10
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION GENERAL FUND
OrganizationPENDLETON, OR
$1,500
Dec 31, 2023

Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]

ID: B001285

Top Contributors

24

1
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Mar 5, 2024
2
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Mar 5, 2024
3
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLAKESIDE, CA
$2,000
Jun 28, 2024
4
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$1,000
Feb 23, 2024
5
PRISELAC, TOM M.
CEDAR SINAI HEALTH SYSTEMS • EXECUTIVE
IndividualSANTA MONICA, CA
$3,300
Oct 31, 2024
6
BUCHMAN, MICHELLE J.
N/A • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualCARBONDALE, CO
$3,300
Nov 18, 2023
7
CONROY, ROBERTA
N/A • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualSANTA MONICA, CA
$3,300
Dec 1, 2023
8
SAVAGE, KEVIN
N/A • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualBEVERLY HILLS, CA
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023
9
STEVENS, SETH R.
SOUTHERN CA PERMANENTE GROUP • DERMATOLOGIST
IndividualNEWBURY PARK, CA
$3,300
Oct 28, 2023
10
UNTERMAN, JANET M.
N/A • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualPACIFIC PALISADES, CA
$3,300
Dec 8, 2023

Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]

ID: C001127

Top Contributors

23

1
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$500
Nov 4, 2024
2
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
OrganizationHOLLYWOOD, FL
$3,300
Aug 20, 2024
3
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
OrganizationHOLLYWOOD, FL
$3,300
Sep 8, 2023
4
FIGGERS, FREDDIE
FIGGERS • INVENTOR
IndividualFORT LAUDERDALE, FL
$6,600
Jun 8, 2023
5
FIGGERS, FREDDIE
IndividualFORT LAUDERDALE, FL
$6,600
Sep 25, 2023
6
MOISE, RUDOLPH
IndividualDAVIE, FL
$3,300
Oct 7, 2024
7
GEORGE, DAVID J.
REFUEL DEPOT LLC • SALES
IndividualLEADWOOD, KS
$3,300
Sep 27, 2024
8
GOLDEN, SYLVIA
NONE • RETIRED
IndividualWEST PALM BEACH, FL
$3,300
Aug 18, 2024
9
GORI, PHILIP
SELF • INVESTOR
IndividualBOCA RATON, FL
$3,300
Sep 16, 2024
10
MUELLER, KYLE
ZUTEK • DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES
IndividualOLATHE, KS
$3,300
Sep 27, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 36 nodes and 51 connections

Total contributions: $51

Top Donors - Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

Showing top 17 donors by contribution amount

17 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 harmed.

  • Section 2(a) adds Sec. 3699C requiring educational institutions receiving VA educational assistance to repay funds if they engaged in fraud, were not approved, or were closed due to fraud, directly impacting for-profit education providers that rely on such funding.

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.AI-enhanced analysis provides detailed alignment ratings.

Department of Veterans Affairs

Strong
Vector: 63%
Pages: 688-691AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill directly supports VA objectives to safeguard veteran benefits and hold fraudulent actors accountable, aligning with Project 2025's focus on VA oversight and veteran protection."

Key themes:veteran benefit protectionfraud preventioneducational assistance restorationVA oversightinstitutional accountability

— 655 — Department of Veterans Affairs ENDNOTES 1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Division, VHA Directive 1003, “VHA Veteran Patient Experience,” April 14, 2020, pp. 1 and B-1. 2. S. 2372, VA Mission Act of 2018, Public Law No. 115-182, 115th Congress, June 6, 2018, https://www.congress. gov/115/plaws/publ182/PLAW-115publ182.pdf (accessed January 30, 2023). 3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA History Office, “VA History,” last updated May 27, 2021, https://www. va.gov/HISTORY/VA_History/Overview.asp (accessed January 28, 2023). 4. 38 U.S. Code § 1116, https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/38/1116 (accessed January 28, 2023). 5. S. 3373, Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022), Public Law No. 117-168, 117th Congress, August 10, 2022, https://www. congress.gov/117/plaws/publ168/PLAW-117publ168.pdf (accessed January 28, 2023). 6. H.R. 2471, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, Public Law No. 117-103, 117th Congress, March 15, 2022, Division S, Title I, https://www.congress.gov/117/plaws/publ103/PLAW-117publ103.pdf (accessed March 18, 2023). Known variously as the Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse and Physician Assistant Retention and Income Security Enhancement Act and the VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act. 7. See note 5, supra.

Department of Education

Weak
Vector: 64%
Pages: 383-385AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill focuses on restoring veterans' education benefits and holding fraudulent institutions accountable for VA funds, while Project 2025's Department of Education section emphasizes school choice, opting out of federal programs, and accreditation reform. Both touch on institutional accountability for federal education funds, but their primary objectives and mechanisms differ significantly."

Key themes:institutional accountabilityfederal education funds oversight

— 351 — Department of Education as the Educational Choice for Children Act. This bill would create a federal scholarship tax credit that would incentivize donors to contribute to nonprofit scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). Eligible families could then use that funding from the SGOs for their children’s education expenses including private school tuition, tutoring, and instructional materials. ADDITIONAL K–12 REFORMS Allowing States to Opt Out of Federal Education Programs. States should be able to opt out of federal education programs such as the Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success (APLUS) Act. Much of the red tape and regulations that hinder local school districts are handed down from Washington. This regulatory burden far exceeds the federal government’s less than 10 percent financing share of K–12 education. In the most recent fiscal year (FY 2022), states and localities financed 93 percent of K–12 education costs, and the federal government just 7 percent. That 7 percent share should not allow the federal government to dictate state and local education policy. l To restore state and local control of education and reduce the bureaucratic and compliance burden, Congress should allow states to opt out of the dozens of federal K–12 education programs authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and instead allow states to put their share of federal funding toward any lawful education purpose under state law. This policy has been advanced over the years via a proposal known as the Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success (APLUS) Act. HIGHER EDUCATION REFORM HEA: Accreditation Reform Congress established two primary responsibilities for the U.S. Department of Education in the HEA: 1) to ensure the “administrative capacity and financial responsibility” of colleges and universities that accept Title IV funds; and 2) to ensure the quality of those institutions. Congress did not endow the Department of Education with the authority to involve itself in academic quality issues relating to colleges and universities that participate in the Title IV student aid program; the HEA allows the agency only to recognize accreditors, which are then supposed to provide quality assurance measures. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration has followed closely in the footsteps of the Obama Administration by engaging in a politically motivated and incon- sistent administration of the accrediting agency recognition process. As a result, accreditors have transformed into de facto government agents. Despite claims by — 352 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise the department and accreditation agencies that accreditation is voluntary, the fact that Americans are denied access to an otherwise widely available entitle- ment benefit if the institution “elects” to not be accredited makes accreditation anything but voluntary. Today, accreditation determines whether Americans can access federal student aid benefits, transfer academic credits, enroll in higher-level degree programs, and even qualify for federal employment. Unnecessarily focused on schools in a specific geographic region, institutional accreditation reviews have also become wildly expensive audits by academic “peers” that stifle innovation and discourage new institutions of higher education. Of par- ticular concern are efforts by many accreditation agencies to leverage their Title IV (student loans and grants) gatekeeper roles to force institutions to adopt policies that have nothing to do with academic quality assurance and student outcomes. One egregious example of this is the extent to which accreditors have forced col- leges and universities, many of them faith-based institutions, to adopt diversity, equity, and inclusion policies that conflict with federal civil rights laws, state laws, and the institutional mission and culture of the schools. Perhaps more distress- ingly, accreditors, while professing support for academic freedom and campus free speech, have presided over a precipitous decline in both over the past decade. Despite maintaining criteria that demand such policies, accreditors have done nothing to dampen the illiberal chill that has swept across American campuses over the past decade. The current system is not working. A radical overhaul of the HEA’s accreditation requirements is thus in order. The next Administration should work with Congress to amend the HEA and should consider the following reforms: l Prohibit accreditation agencies from leveraging their Title IV gatekeeper role to mandate that educational institutions adopt diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. l Protect the sovereignty of states to decide governance and leadership issues for their state-supported colleges and universities by prohibiting accreditation agencies from intruding upon the governance of state-supported educational institutions. l Protect faith-based institutions by prohibiting accreditation agencies from: 1. Requiring standards and criteria that undermine the religious beliefs of, or require policies or conduct that conflict with, the religious mission or religious beliefs of the institution; and

Department of Education

Weak
Vector: 63%
Pages: 386-388AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill focuses on restoring VA educational benefits for defrauded student veterans and holding institutions accountable, while the Project 2025 excerpt concerns Department of Education student loan reforms and accreditation oversight. Both touch on institutional accountability for federal funds, but they address different programs and agencies, resulting only a tangential connection."

Key themes:educational institution accountabilityfederal funds oversightfraud prevention

— 353 — Department of Education 2. Intruding on the governance of colleges and universities controlled by a religious organization. l Revamp the system for recognizing accreditation agencies for Title IV purposes by removing the department’s monopoly on recognition by (1) authorizing states to recognize accreditation agencies for Title IV gatekeeping purposes and/or (2) authorizing state agencies to act as accreditation agencies for institutions throughout the United States. The next Administration and Congress might also consider amending the HEA to remove accreditors from the program triad entirely to allow accreditation to return to its original role of voluntary quality assurance. This would permit accreditors to put some “teeth” back into their standards without creating high- stakes disasters, such as institutional loss of Title IV access through paperwork submission errors, a state exercising its constitutional authority to administer its public colleges and universities, or an institution freely exercising the religious beliefs of its founders. With this option, neither the department nor the states would oversee or recognize accrediting agencies. The department’s role would be limited to evaluating the institution’s compliance with federal accounting requirements pursuant to evaluations conducted by appropriately credentialed auditors who have no conflicts of interest in performing the review paid for by the federal agency charged with overseeing compliance—not the institutions being reviewed. HEA: Student Loans l Beyond immediate policy moves and rulemaking to end the current Administration’s abuse of the department’s payment pause and HEA loan forgiveness programs, the department should work with Congress to overhaul the federal student loan program for the benefit of taxpayers and students. The federal government does not have the proper incentives to make sound lending decisions. The new Administration should consider: l Privatizing all lending programs, including subsidized, unsubsidized, and PLUS loans (both Grad and Parent). This would allow for market prices and signals to influence educational borrowing, introducing consumer-driven accountability into higher education. Pell grants should retain their current voucher-like structure. — 354 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise If privatizing student lending is not feasible, then the next Administration should consider the following reforms: l Switch to fair-value accounting from FCRA accounting. l Consolidate all federal loan programs into one new program that a) utilizes income-driven repayment, b) includes no interest rate subsidies or loan forgiveness, c) includes annual and aggregate limits on borrowing, and d) includes skin in the game to hold colleges accountable. l Eliminate Grad PLUS loans (for graduate students) and Parent PLUS loans (for parents of undergraduates). Graduate students are already eligible for unsubsidized Stafford student loans; Grad PLUS loans are redundant. They also lack some of the safeguards of Stafford loans, such as annual and aggregate borrowing limits. Parent PLUS loans are also redundant because there are many privately provided alternatives available. l The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which prioritizes government and public sector work over private sector employment, should be terminated. Whatever Congress chooses to do with future loans, there is still the question of the government’s responsible stewardship of the existing student loan portfolio—a substantial taxpayer asset. The current Administration has recklessly engaged in the policy fetish of forgiving and canceling student loans with abandon. l The next Administration should work with Congress to amend the HEA to ensure that no Administration engages in this kind of abuse in the future. l Specifically, the new Administration should urge the Congress to amend the HEA to abrogate, or substantially reduce, the power of the Secretary to cancel, compromise, discharge, or forgive the principal balances of Title IV student loans, as well as to modify in any material way the repayment amounts or terms of Title IV student loans. l Further, the next Administration should propose that Congress amend the HEA to remove the department’s authority to forgive loans based on borrower defense to repayment; instead, the department

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About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using a hybrid approach: initial candidates are found using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text, then an AI model (Llama 3.1 70B) provides detailed alignment ratings and analysis. Ratings range from 1 (minimal alignment) to 5 (very strong alignment). This analysis does not imply direct causation or intent.

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