SCORE Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/4312
Last Updated: July 17, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]

ID: B001257

Follow the money

The bill

SCORE Act

HR. 4312, 119th Congress — read as touching For-Profit Education & Student Loans.

The sponsor

Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]

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

The money

$74,300 raised

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

The alignment

55% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Department of Education" section, p. 383-385 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 916 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4312, H.R. 1005, H.R. 1049, H.R. 1069, H.R. 2965 and H.R. 4305. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4312, H.R. 1005, H.R. 1049, H.R. 1069, H.R. 2965, and H.R. 4305 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.

November 30, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

📍 Current Status

Next: The full House will vote on whether to pass the bill.

✅

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 masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the geniuses in Congress. Let's dissect this farce and reveal the real disease beneath.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The SCORE Act claims to protect student athletes' name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights while promoting fair competition in intercollegiate athletics. How noble. In reality, it's a thinly veiled attempt to appease powerful athletic programs, boosters, and corporate interests.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill defines an "agent" as someone who represents student athletes for NIL agreements or other compensation-related deals. It also establishes a convoluted framework for determining what constitutes an "associated entity or individual," which is essentially a euphemism for booster organizations and wealthy alumni.

The SCORE Act amends existing antitrust laws to exempt certain college sports revenue streams from scrutiny, effectively allowing institutions to collude on NIL agreements without fear of reprisal. This is a blatant handout to the NCAA and its member schools, who will now have even more freedom to exploit student athletes for profit.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** Student athletes, athletic programs, boosters, corporate sponsors, and the NCAA are all impacted by this bill. But let's be real – the only ones who truly matter are the wealthy interests backing these institutions. They're the ones calling the shots, and this legislation is designed to protect their investments.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** The SCORE Act will further entrench the existing power structure in college athletics, where a select few reap enormous benefits while student athletes are left with scraps. By codifying loopholes for booster organizations and wealthy alumni, Congress is essentially greenlighting corruption and exploitation.

This bill is a symptom of a deeper disease – the corrupting influence of money in sports and politics. It's a classic case of regulatory capture, where lawmakers prioritize the interests of powerful lobbies over those of their constituents.

In conclusion, the SCORE Act is a cynical exercise in legislative doublespeak, designed to perpetuate the status quo while pretending to address the very real problems plaguing college athletics. Don't be fooled – this bill is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and its true purpose is to further enrich the already wealthy at the expense of student athletes and fair competition.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$74,300
19 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$6,600
Committees
$0
Individuals
$67,700

No PAC contributions found

1
COOL MASTER PRO LLC
1 transaction
$6,600

No committee contributions found

1
OF FLORIDA, SEMINOLE TRIBE
2 transactions
$6,600
2
MENG, BEN
2 transactions
$6,600
3
ARTECHE, LEON
1 transaction
$5,000
4
LAGOS, JAMES H.
1 transaction
$3,300
5
RICE, WILLIAM LLOYD
1 transaction
$3,300
6
WANEK, RON
1 transaction
$3,300
7
WANEK, TODD
1 transaction
$3,300
8
WANEK, JOYCE
1 transaction
$3,300
9
WANEK, KAREN
1 transaction
$3,300
10
HEPSCHER, WILLIAM S
1 transaction
$3,300
11
YOUNG, JENNIFER
1 transaction
$3,300
12
REAL, JUAN C
1 transaction
$3,300
13
MALONE, KEVIN P
1 transaction
$3,300
14
HUENINK, JEFF
1 transaction
$3,300
15
KAVOUKLIS, EDIE
1 transaction
$3,300
16
KAVOUKLIS, NICHOLAS
1 transaction
$3,300
17
ARISON, MICKY
1 transaction
$3,300
18
ARISON, MADELEINE
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

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

Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]

ID: B001326

Top Contributors

10

1
EMILYS LIST
CONDUIT TOTAL LISTED IN AGG. FIELD
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$250
May 2, 2024
2
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LA
OrganizationMARKSVILLE, LA
$2,000
Dec 31, 2023
3
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$1,000
Aug 1, 2024
4
CLEM, BRIAN
SELF EMPLOYED • SMALL BUSINESSMAN
IndividualSALEM, OR
$6,600
Jun 30, 2023
5
HEISING, MARK
MEDLEY PARTNERS LLC • MANAGING DIRECTOR
IndividualATHERTON, CA
$6,600
Aug 16, 2023
6
KELLY, JAMES
SELF EMPLOYED • RANCHING
IndividualKIMBERLY, OR
$6,600
Jul 23, 2024
7
TRIPPLETT, LARRY
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualSAN MATEO, CA
$6,500
Jun 27, 2023
8
MORGAN, JULIO
SELF EMPLOYED • MCDONALDS OWNER
IndividualJACKSON, NJ
$5,600
Sep 7, 2023
9
STONE, JAMES
REDMON GROUP INC • PROGRAMMER
IndividualWASHINGTON, DC
$5,000
Oct 22, 2024
10
SMITH, ADRIAN
IVE AGE MANAGEMENT • OWNER
IndividualSUMMERFIELD, NC
$5,000
Jun 21, 2023

Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2]

ID: G000558

Top Contributors

10

1
BL PARTNERS GROUP, LLC
OrganizationARLINGTON, VA
$1,000
Jun 28, 2024
2
SMITH, BRAD
MICROSOFT CORPORATION • ATTORNEY
IndividualBELLEVUE, WA
$6,600
Jun 25, 2024
3
DUNN, TIMOTHY M. MR.
CROWNQUEST OPERATING • CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
IndividualMIDLAND, TX
$5,000
Aug 2, 2024
4
WALK, CLAIRE MRS.
IndividualCARROLLTON, TX
$5,000
Sep 30, 2024
5
TREXLER, ALLISON
IndividualALEXANDRIA, VA
$5,000
Jun 11, 2024
6
OSGOOD, STEVEN
SQUARE FOOT COMPANIES • REAL ESTATE
IndividualSARASOTA, FL
$5,000
Mar 14, 2023
7
FOSTER, JEFF
CLOUD CAPITAL • CFO
IndividualSAINT PETERSBURG, FL
$5,000
Mar 18, 2023
8
ARNOLD, JOHN
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$3,300
May 9, 2024
9
ARNOLD, LAURA
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$3,300
May 9, 2024
10
BERTA, VINCE
COVINGTON CAPITAL • MANAGING PARTNER
IndividualBOWLING GREEN, KY
$3,300
May 13, 2024

Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]

ID: W000798

Top Contributors

10

1
POKAGON BAND OF POTAWATOMI INDIANS
OrganizationDOWAGIAC, MI
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023
2
WEIR FARMS
OrganizationHANOVER, MI
$500
Aug 21, 2023
3
WEIR FARMS
OrganizationHANOVER, MI
$500
Aug 12, 2024
4
HAWORTH, ETHELYN
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSAUGATUCK, MI
$47,900
Jun 5, 2024
5
HONIG, KEN
KEN HONIG • BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
IndividualNEW PORT BEACH, CA
$31,600
May 30, 2024
6
HAWORTH, RICHARD
HAWORTH INC • CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
IndividualSAUGATUCK, MI
$11,600
May 9, 2024
7
KLARR, GUNNAR
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualJACKSON, MI
$10,000
Dec 29, 2023
8
HAWORTH, RICHARD
HAWORTH INC • CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
IndividualSAUGATUCK, MI
$10,000
Nov 4, 2024
9
DRESNER, LINDA
SELF • RETIRED
IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
Dec 7, 2023
10
LEVY, EDWARD C JR.
EDWARD C LEVY COMPANY • EXECUTIVE
IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
Dec 7, 2023

Rep. Jordan, Jim [R-OH-4]

ID: J000289

Top Contributors

10

1
MATT HUFFMAN FOR OHIO
OrganizationLIMA, OH
$1,000
Sep 24, 2024
2
UNION COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
OrganizationPLAIN CITY, OH
$500
Dec 31, 2023
3
UNION COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
OrganizationPLAIN CITY, OH
$500
Jun 10, 2024
4
TRAVAGLIANTE
OrganizationINDEPENDENCE, OH
$100
Oct 3, 2023
5
TRAVAGLIANTE
OrganizationINDEPENDENCE, OH
$100
Oct 3, 2023
6
TRAVAGLIANTE
OrganizationINDEPENDENCE, OH
$100
Oct 3, 2023
7
KIMBER, DAMON
IndividualBRONX, NY
$20,000
Jul 25, 2023
8
KIMBER, DAMON
IndividualBRONX, NY
$20,000
Jul 27, 2023
9
MACRICOSTAS, GEORGE
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualINCLINE VILLAGE, NV
$13,200
May 22, 2024
10
SALAMONE, CHRISTOPHER
IndividualFAIRPORT, NY
$12,120
Apr 3, 2024

Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]

ID: F000481

Top Contributors

10

1
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$3,300
Apr 29, 2024
2
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$3,300
May 24, 2024
3
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$2,300
May 24, 2024
4
MALDI MA
OrganizationIRVINGTON, AL
$2,000
Apr 6, 2024
5
HILLWOOD LIQUORS LLC
OrganizationMOBILE, AL
$1,000
Feb 14, 2024
6
SIP & SMOKE LLC
OrganizationMOBILE, AL
$1,000
Feb 14, 2024
7
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$1,000
Feb 28, 2024
8
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$1,000
Aug 15, 2024
9
MAA PETROLEUM LLC
OrganizationIRVINGTON, AL
$500
Feb 14, 2024
10
MOWA BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
OrganizationMOUNT VERNON, AL
$500
Apr 6, 2024

Rep. McClain, Lisa C. [R-MI-9]

ID: M001136

Top Contributors

10

1
A & ALL WASTE LLC
OrganizationOAKLAND TWP, MI
$1,000
Oct 21, 2024
2
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$1,000
Dec 31, 2023
3
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$1,000
Apr 20, 2023
4
SALT RIVER PIMA MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationSCOTTSDALE, AZ
$1,000
Apr 20, 2023
5
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$1,000
Sep 11, 2023
6
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$1,000
Sep 30, 2023
7
BANKE, BARBARA R.
IndividualGEYSERVILLE, CA
$6,600
Nov 16, 2023
8
SAMONA, MAZIN
WILD BILL'S TOBACCO • CEO
IndividualTROY, MI
$6,600
Sep 15, 2023
9
ALKHAFAJI, AMMAR
W INVESTORS GROUP • PRINCIPAL
IndividualSOUTHFIELD, MI
$6,600
Jul 24, 2023
10
YALDO, RUDI
PEARL TRADING LLC • CEO
IndividualBLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI
$6,600
Jul 21, 2023

Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5]

ID: F000471

Top Contributors

10

1
HENDRICKS, DIANE M
ABC • OWNER
IndividualBELOIT, WI
$6,600
Jun 25, 2023
2
ROWAN, CAROLYN
CAROLYN ROWAN COLLECTION LLC • OWNER
IndividualGREENWICH, CT
$6,600
Aug 16, 2023
3
ROWAN, MARC J.
APOLLO GLOBAL • CEO
IndividualGREENWICH, CT
$6,600
Aug 16, 2023
4
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN
BLACKSTONE • CEO AND CHAIRMAN
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Nov 13, 2023
5
SCHMIDT, TIM
DELTA DEFENSE LLC • CEO
IndividualWEST BEND, WI
$6,600
Dec 10, 2023
6
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Nov 13, 2023
7
LEVY, EDWARD
EDWARD C. LEVY CO • CHAIRMAN
IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
May 1, 2024
8
FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMU, .
TRIBE • TRIBE
IndividualCRANDON, WI
$6,600
Jun 28, 2024
9
FISHER, SHERRILYN
PLANO 6500 LLC • MEMBER
IndividualPLANO, TX
$6,600
Jun 2, 2024
10
FISHER, KENNETH
FISHER INVESTMENTS • EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
IndividualPLANO, TX
$6,600
Jun 2, 2024

Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]

ID: F000478

Top Contributors

10

1
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Feb 20, 2024
2
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Sep 5, 2024
3
RMS LLC
OrganizationHOOVER, AL
$2,500
Sep 5, 2024
4
ROBERT S GUYTON PC
OrganizationMYRTLE BEACH, SC
$1,000
Jun 17, 2024
5
GAMBLE, KATHRYN
UNAKA CO • BUSINESS EXECUTIVE
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$6,600
Jul 15, 2024
6
AUSTIN, ROBERT
UNAKA CO., INC. • BUSINESSMAN
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$6,600
Jul 19, 2024
7
MOORE, KEVIN
R.H. MOORE COMPANY, INC. • CONSTRUCTION
IndividualPAWLEYS ISLAND, SC
$6,600
Aug 20, 2024
8
LOWELL, RANDY
BURR FORMAN • ATTORNEY
IndividualISLE OF PALMS, SC
$3,435
Dec 2, 2024
9
GRUBBS, WESLEY
BEACH FORD • CAR DEALER
IndividualMYRTLE BEACH, SC
$3,435
May 30, 2024
10
WOOTEN, GAIL
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualMURRELLS INLET, SC
$3,435
Jun 19, 2024

Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]

ID: W000816

Top Contributors

10

1
POARCH BANK OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$3,300
Dec 2, 2024
2
FORD, GERALD J. MR.
DIAMOND-A CORPORATION • BANKER
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$6,600
Jan 10, 2024
3
PRINCE, ZAN MRS.
SELF EMPLOYED • INSURANCE AGENT
IndividualWEATHERFORD, TX
$6,600
Mar 30, 2023
4
WOODARD, DONALD M. MR. JR.
WESTERN COMMERCE GROUP • FINANCE
IndividualFORT WORTH, TX
$6,600
Mar 5, 2024
5
CARVALHO, ANNE MARIE MRS.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualFORT WORTH, TX
$6,600
May 5, 2023
6
ROWAN, CAROLYN
SELF EMPLOYED • FASHION DESIGNER
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Apr 19, 2023
7
ROWAN, MARC
APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT • CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Apr 19, 2023
8
DUNIGAN, MIKE MR.
MIKE DUNIGAN RARE COINS • OWNER
IndividualFORT WORTH, TX
$6,000
Mar 5, 2024
9
LOWRANCE, DAN E. MR.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualFORT WORTH, TX
$5,000
Oct 31, 2023
10
NICHOLS, THOMAS B. MR.
U.S. POLYCO • PRESIDENT
IndividualSPARKS, NV
$5,000
Feb 10, 2023

Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4]

ID: W000821

Top Contributors

10

1
PUEBLO OF LAGUNA
OrganizationLAGUNA, NM
$8,300
Aug 1, 2024
2
ONEIDA INDIAN NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, NY
$5,000
May 13, 2024
3
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 6, 2023
4
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF SILETZ INDIANS
OrganizationSILETZ, OR
$3,300
Dec 27, 2023
5
SHINGLE SPRINGS BAND MIWOK INDIANS
OrganizationSHINGLE SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Oct 26, 2023
6
SNOQUALMIE TRIBE
OrganizationSNOQUALMIE, WA
$3,300
Nov 10, 2023
7
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION
OrganizationPENDLETON, OR
$3,300
Jan 17, 2024
8
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Feb 14, 2024
9
CATAWBA INDIAN NATION
OrganizationROCK HILL, SC
$3,300
Mar 31, 2024
10
NISQUALLY INDIAN TRIBE
OrganizationOLYMPIA, WA
$3,300
Mar 14, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

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

Loading...

Showing 47 nodes and 36 connections (31 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $105,350

Top Donors - Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]

Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount

1 Org18 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 2 helped.

  • Section 5(c) and (d) require institutions with high intercollegiate athletics revenue to provide comprehensive academic support, career counseling, medical benefits, grant-in-aid maintenance, degree completion programs, and maintain at least 16 varsity sports teams. This imposes operational and financial burdens on colleges and universities, which could benefit for-profit education providers and student-loan servicers as students may seek alternative educational pathways or require additional su

  • +Labor Unionsconfidence 0.85

    Section 8 clarifies that student athletes are not considered employees based on participation in varsity sports, which prevents student athletes from unionizing or claiming employee status under labor laws. This benefits labor unions by preserving the current classification of student athletes as non-employees, potentially reducing pressure on unions to organize in this sector and maintaining the status quo for union representation in other industries.

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 Education

Weak
Vector: 66%
Pages: 383-385AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The SCORE Act focuses on name, image, and likeness rights for student athletes and antitrust frameworks in college sports, while the Project 2025 excerpt concerns education choice, state opt-outs, and accreditation reform. Both touch on higher education and federal oversight, but their substantive goals and mechanisms are largely unrelated."

Key themes:higher educationfederal oversightstudent rights

— 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: 368-370AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The SCORE Act focuses on name, image, and likeness rights for college athletes, while the Project 2025 Education section addresses civil rights enforcement, IDEA equity regulations, school meal policies tied to Title IX, and student loan repayment plans. There is only a tangential connection through the broader theme of federal involvement in education-related athletics and Title IX considerations."

Key themes:Title IXfederal oversightstudent athleteseducation policy

— 336 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise on civil rights, the next conservative Administration should take sweeping action to assure that the purpose of the Civil Rights Act is not inverted through a disparate impact standard to provide a pretext for theoretically endless federal meddling. Assistance to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities; Preschool Grants for Children with Disabilities (Equity in IDEA) l Effective January 18, 2017, the department issued final regulations under Part B of IDEA that require states to consider race and ethnicity in the identification, placement, and discipline of students with disabilities. The new Administration should rescind this regulation. Students should never be denied access to special education services because of their race or ethnicity, but this is happening in school districts across the country thanks to the Obama Administration’s Equity in IDEA regulation. This was not the intent of the regulation, but it is an inevitable byproduct of its flawed assumptions. The Obama Administration looked at the racial statistics on special education assignment and made two assumptions: that African American students were dis- proportionately overrepresented, and that this overrepresentation constituted a harm that required federal pressure to ameliorate. School districts deemed to overrepresent minority students in special education assignment, or in discipline amongst special education students, are tagged by their state education agencies as engaging in “significant disproportionality,” and are required to reallocate 15 percent of their IDEA Part B money into coordinated early intervening services that are intended to address the “root causes of dispro- portionality.” In practice, this can mean raiding special education funding to pay for CRT-inspired “equity” consultants and professional development. This is especially problematic given that both of the assumptions behind Equity in IDEA are flawed. Special education services provide extra assistance to students; they do not harm them. And according to the most rigorous research on the subject, conducted by Penn State’s Paul Morgan, black students are actually underrep- resented in special education once adequate statistical controls are made. That means that this regulation effectively further depresses the provision of valuable services to an already underserved group. l The next Administration should immediately commence rulemaking to rescind the Equity in IDEA regulation. No replacement regulation is required. l The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) should prepare a digest of the best research on this subject and share — 337 — Department of Education it directly with state superintendents and state special education leaders across the country, who have been led by this regulation to believe a false problem diagnosis. Every effort should be made to dissuade states from continuing to operate on the assumption that overrepresentation requires state intervention after the federal pressure is rescinded. Provide School Meals to Children in Need; Do Not Use Federal Meals to Support Radical Ideology In May 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) tried to advance a radical political agenda using the federal school meal program. Nearly a century ago, federal lawmakers adopted the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) and other services that provide meals for K–12 students to give children from low-income families access to food while at school. Since the 1940s, federal lawmakers have greatly expanded these meal programs, creating an entitlement for nearly all students, regardless of family income levels, and have turned the meal programs into some of the most wasteful federal pro- grams in Washington. Now, the USDA is threatening to withhold federal taxpayer spending for these meals from schools that do not implement Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 so that the term “sex” is replaced with “sexual orientation and gender identity” (SOGI). l The next Administration should prohibit the USDA or any other federal agency from withholding services from federal or state agencies—including but not limited to K–12 schools—that choose not to replace “sex” with “SOGI” in that agency’s administration of Title IX. The Administration will have significant support for this policy change among state officials and Members of Congress. Twenty-two state attorneys general filed a lawsuit after the USDA’s announcement that the agency intended to withhold spending from schools that do not replace sex with SOGI. Members of Congress also introduced legislation in 2022 that would prohibit the agency from carrying out its intentions regarding Title IX. Phase Out Existing Income-Driven Repayment Plans While income-driven repayment (IDR) of student loans is a superior approach relative to fixed payment plans, the number of IDR plans has proliferated beyond reason. And recent IDR plans are so generous that they require no or only token repayment from many students. l The Secretary should phase out all existing IDR plans by making new loans (including consolidation loans) ineligible and should implement

Department of Education

Weak
Vector: 62%
Pages: 362-364AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The SCORE Act focuses on name, image, and likeness rights for college athletes, while the Project 2025 Department of Education section concerns reorganizing the department, moving OCR to DOJ, and rolling back regulations. Both touch on higher education but address distinct policy areas, resulting in only weak thematic alignment."

Key themes:higher educationstudent athlete rightsfederal oversight

— 330 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise with the advice and consent of the Senate; (2) funded with annual appropriations from Congress; and (3) operated by professional managers. Federal loans would be assigned directly to the Treasury Department, which would manage collections and defaults. The new federal student loan authority would manage the loan port- folio, handle borrower relations, administer loan applications and disbursements, monitor institutional participation and accountability issues, and issue regulations. Office for Civil Rights (OCR) l OCR should move to the Department of Justice. The federal government has an essential responsibility to enforce civil rights protections, but Washington should do so through the Department of Justice and federal courts. The OCR at DOJ should be able to enforce only through litigation. Additional Bureaus and Offices For those attorneys, accountants, experts, and specialists in the department's remaining offices subject to closure whose positions might nevertheless be a key component of serving the mission—positions that might include the Office of the Secretary/Deputy Secretary, Office of the Undersecretary, Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Finance and Operations, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office of Communications and Outreach, and Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs—the opportunity to join other agencies based on their expertise and the needs of other agencies should be made available. For example, OGC higher education lawyers would join the newly independent Federal Student Aid Office or the Department of Labor, and OGC civil rights attor- neys would join DOJ. These positions must first be determined to serve a continued mission need prior to being transferred. l Attorneys, accountants, experts, and specialists in the department’s remaining offices subject to closure, and whose positions are indispensable to serving the mission, should have the opportunity to join other agencies. Current Laws Relating to the Department of Education That Require Repeal In order to fully wind down the Department of Education, Congress must pass and the President must sign into law a Department of Education Reorganization Act (or Liquidating Authority Act) to direct the executive branch on how to devolve the agency as a stand-alone Cabinet-level department. l Congress should pass and the next President should sign a Department of Education Reorganization Act. — 331 — Department of Education Current Regulations Promulgated by or Relevant to the Agency That Should Be Rolled Back or Eliminated While the next Administration works to distribute department programs across the federal government, it will need to thoroughly review the many educa- tion-related regulations promulgated by the Biden Administration. There are five primary regulatory targets (as of December 2022) that require the next Adminis- tration’s attention: regulations on (1) Charter School Grant Program Priorities; (2) Civil Rights Data Collection; (3) Student Assistance General Provisions, Federal Perkins Loan Program, and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program Final Regulations; (4) Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance (Title IX); and (5) Assistance to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities, Preschool Grants for Children with Disabilities (Equity in IDEA). The next Administration should also review regulatory changes to the school meals program (under the Department of Agriculture) and changes to the Income-Driven student loan program. Additional Biden Administration regulations on (1) gainful employment, administrative capa- bility, and financial responsibility for institutions that participate in the federal student loans and grant programs; (2) Title VI, (3) accreditation of postsecondary institutions, and (4) female athletics are expected in to be released in 2023. l Thoroughly review the many education-related regulations promulgated by the Biden Administration, as well as the school meals program and the Income-Driven student loan program. Charter School Grant Programs Congress first authorized the Charter School Program (CSP) in 1994 [Title X, Part C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended, 20 U.S.C. § 8061 et seq. (1994)]. It most recently reauthorized the program in 2015 as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act.13 On March 14, 2022, the department published a notice concerning proposed priorities, requirements, definitions, and grant selection criteria relating to the award of federal grants to applicants in CSP. This proposal increases the federal footprint in the charter school sector by ignor- ing statute and adding to the list of requirements imposed on charter schools. l The new Administration must take immediate steps to rescind the new requirements and lessen the federal restrictions on charter schools. Civil Rights Data Collection On December 13, 2021, OCR published a notice concerning proposed revisions to OCR’s Mandatory Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) in which it proposed

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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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