Earl N. Williams, Sr., First Chance Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7689
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-16T17:13:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, titled the "Earl N. Williams, Sr., First Chance Act," aims to expand support for low-income and disadvantaged college students by adding financial grants to help cover basic living expenses and unexpected emergencies. These grants are integrated into the existing Student Support Services (SSS) program under the Higher Education Act of 1965, focusing on students in their first undergraduate year to improve retention and completion rates.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility and Types of Grants: Institutions receiving SSS grants must provide two types of supplemental living assistance to current SSS participants (eligible students):
- Basic grants: For reasonable, anticipated expenses needed to complete an academic year of the student's first baccalaureate program (e.g., everyday costs like housing or food).
- Emergency grants: For reasonable, unanticipated expenses that could otherwise prevent the student from continuing college (e.g., sudden medical or repair costs).
- Grant Amounts and Flexibility:
- Institutions decide how to split funds between basic and emergency grants, as well as individual amounts, based on student needs (considering factors like location, family status, or urban/rural setting).
- Emergency grants are capped at $500 per student for the 2027-2028 academic year, with annual increases tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation.
- Grants can cover costs beyond the standard "cost of attendance" (defined as tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, board, transportation, and other allowances under federal law), including extra dependent care, transportation, or personal items.
- Funding Limits:
- No more than 2% of an institution's total SSS funds can be used for these grants.
- Additional funding comes from any excess appropriations for SSS projects starting in fiscal year 2027 (beyond the 2027 baseline), with up to 2% of that excess allocated here.
- Administration Rules:
- Grants do not count as income when calculating a student's need for other federal aid (like Pell Grants), but total federal aid cannot exceed the student's cost of attendance by more than the emergency grant cap.
- Institutions must consult between their SSS office and financial aid office to award grants.
- These funds must supplement (add to) existing non-federal support, not replace it.
- Effective Dates: Starts with the 2027-2028 academic year.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 402D of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1070a-14) by adding a new required activity (paragraph 7) to the SSS program, which previously focused on academic development, tutoring, counseling, and assistance with basic needs but did not include dedicated living assistance grants.
- Introduces a new subsection (f) specifically for these grants, marking the first time SSS explicitly mandates emergency financial aid with inflation-adjusted caps and flexible coverage of non-standard expenses.
- Ties funding to excess appropriations under Section 402A(g), creating a mechanism to use surplus federal dollars without needing new overall appropriations.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Primarily benefits disadvantaged students (e.g., first-generation, low-income, or those from underrepresented groups) by reducing financial barriers to staying in college, potentially increasing graduation rates and access to higher education for about 1,000 SSS programs nationwide serving over 200,000 students annually.
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Education gains responsibility for overseeing these grants within existing SSS funding (around $350 million yearly), with minimal added administrative burden due to the 2% cap and use of excess funds; no new agencies are involved.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as this is a domestic education policy focused on U.S. higher education institutions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Students: Eligible SSS participants, especially first-year undergraduates facing financial hardship, who gain access to targeted aid without affecting other federal benefits.
- Higher Education Institutions: SSS grantees (community colleges, universities) must implement and administer the grants, requiring coordination between program offices.
- Federal Government: Department of Education, which allocates funds and monitors compliance; Congress, through appropriations committees.
- Indirectly: Families of eligible students and postsecondary educators supporting retention efforts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces the Higher Education Act's emphasis on equal access to education for underserved populations without altering core federal aid formulas; the "supplement, not supplant" rule prevents institutions from reducing other spending. No conflicts with existing aid laws, as grants are excluded from need calculations.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the Spending Clause (Article I, Section 8) by using federal funds to promote general welfare through education; no free speech, equal protection, or due process issues, as eligibility is tied to existing SSS criteria without discrimination.
- Political: Supports bipartisan goals of student success and equity in higher education, potentially appealing to advocates for low-income communities; could face debate over funding priorities if SSS appropriations do not grow, but the excess-funds mechanism minimizes new spending demands.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Earl N. Williams, Sr., First Chance Act — issued 2026-02-25 — PDF (6 pages)