Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2003) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to lower the interest rate on Federal student loans to 2 percent.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 883
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-17: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-17T15:54:41Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
H. Res. 883 is a procedural resolution introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on November 17, 2025, to establish the rules for debating and voting on H.R. 2003. H.R. 2003 seeks to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 by reducing the interest rate on federal student loans to a fixed 2 percent. This resolution aims to expedite the House's consideration of that bill without standard procedural delays.
Key Provisions
- Immediate Consideration: Upon adoption of the resolution, the House must immediately begin debating H.R. 2003.
- Waivers of Objections: All "points of order" (formal objections to the bill's consideration or its contents based on House rules) are waived, allowing the bill to proceed without challenges on procedural or content grounds.
- Deemed as Read: The bill is considered fully read, skipping the actual reading of its text to save time.
- Debate and Voting Rules:
- Limits debate to one hour, split equally between the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce (or their designees).
- Orders the "previous question," which ends debate and prevents further amendments, leading directly to a vote on final passage.
- Allows only one motion to recommit (a procedural move to send the bill back to committee for changes, typically used by the minority party).
- Suspension of Reporting Requirement: Section 2 exempts the consideration of H.R. 2003 from Clause 1(c) of Rule XIX, which normally requires committees to report bills with recommendations; this streamlines the process.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This resolution itself does not amend any substantive laws; it is purely procedural and modifies House rules temporarily for this specific bill. If H.R. 2003 passes, it would change the Higher Education Act of 1965 by capping federal student loan interest rates at 2 percent (a reduction from current variable rates, which can exceed 5-8 percent depending on the loan type). No direct changes to existing procedural laws are made beyond the waivers for this session.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Education, which administers federal student loans, could face administrative adjustments if H.R. 2003 becomes law, including recalculating interest for millions of borrowers and updating loan servicing systems. This might increase short-term costs to the federal government due to lower revenue from interest.
- On Citizens: Borrowers of federal student loans (over 40 million Americans) could benefit from reduced long-term debt burdens, making higher education more affordable. However, it might not affect private loans and could strain federal budgets, potentially leading to higher taxes or cuts elsewhere.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly enhance U.S. higher education's appeal to international students by lowering costs for domestic financing models.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Members of Congress: Particularly the Committee on Education and the Workforce, as they control debate; the resolution favors majority party efficiency.
- Student Loan Borrowers: Primarily current and future college students, graduates, and their families, who hold about $1.7 trillion in federal student debt.
- Higher Education Institutions: Universities and colleges may see increased enrollment if loans become cheaper, but they could face indirect pressure if federal funding is affected.
- Federal Government and Taxpayers: Agencies like the Department of Education and Treasury would implement changes, with broader fiscal implications for public spending.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: The resolution adheres to House rules for special procedures but waives objections, which could raise questions about minority rights in debate (though recommit motions preserve some opposition). If H.R. 2003 passes into law, it would require no constitutional changes but might face challenges over equal protection if rates disproportionately affect certain groups (unlikely). It aligns with Congress's power to regulate federal lending under Article I.
- Political: This fast-tracks a bipartisan-appealing issue (student debt relief) but limits amendments, potentially frustrating opposition and highlighting partisan control of the legislative agenda. Success could boost support for education policy reforms, while failure might fuel debates on fiscal responsibility. The bill's referral to the Committee on Rules underscores the majority's procedural leverage in the 119th Congress.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-17: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
- 2025-11-17: Submitted in House
- 2025-11-17: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2003) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to lower the interest rate on Federal student loans to 2 percent. — issued 2025-11-17 — PDF (2 pages)