The U.S. Senate education committee announced a bipartisan amendment that would permanently fund HBCUs and simplify the FAFSA. Its chances in the House are uncertain, and advocates disagree on whether an HEA authorization will follow.
Higher education advocates are largely supportive of a new bipartisan amendment on federal funding for historically black colleges and universities, but some point to challenges in the road ahead.
“We’re hearing some rumblings that there could be some opposition from the tax community on the House side,” Carrie Warick, director of policy and advocacy at the National College Access Network, said.
The bipartisan proposal, announced Tuesday by the U.S. Senate education committee, would amend legislation passed in September and make permanent $255 million in annual funding for historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions. The FUTURE Act, as the legislation is formally called, would also simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and eliminate paperwork for the 7.7 million federal student loan borrowers currently on income-driven repayment plans by automating income recertification.