A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program".
- Bill Number
- S.J.Res. 182
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure rejected in Senate by Voice Vote. (CR S2407)
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-26T17:47:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S.J. Res. 182 (119th Congress, 2nd Session)
Purpose
This joint resolution seeks to block a specific rule issued by the U.S. Department of Education on the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (a federal student loan initiative). It uses the Congressional Review Act (CRA)—a law allowing Congress to overturn certain agency rules with a simple majority vote—to nullify the rule before it takes effect.
Key Provisions
- Expressly disapproves the Department of Education's rule titled "William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program," published in the Federal Register on October 31, 2025 (90 Fed. Reg. 48966).
- States that the disapproved rule "shall have no force or effect," preventing its implementation.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- No new laws are created; instead, it invokes the CRA (5 U.S.C. Chapter 8) to repeal the specified rule.
- If enacted, it would override the agency's rulemaking authority on this matter, reverting to the prior legal status without the new rule.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Limits the Department of Education's ability to enforce the new rule, potentially requiring it to adjust loan program operations and guidance.
- On citizens: Affects federal student loan borrowers by maintaining the pre-rule framework for Direct Loans, avoiding whatever changes the rule proposed (e.g., eligibility, repayment, or servicing adjustments).
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders
- Federal student loan borrowers: Primary group affected by Direct Loan Program changes.
- U.S. Department of Education: Loses the rule's implementation if disapproved.
- Student loan servicers and higher education institutions: May face operational shifts based on the rule's status.
- Congress: Asserts oversight over executive agency actions, with introduction by Sen. Kaine and 30+ cosponsors (mostly Democrats).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Exemplifies CRA use, which has a 60-day window for disapproval after rule submission; bypasses typical notice-and-comment rulemaking hurdles.
- Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's oversight role under Article I (legislative power) against executive branch regulations.
- Political: Highlights partisan or bipartisan efforts to check agency rules; committee discharge by petition (5 U.S.C. 802(c)) sped it to the Senate calendar, signaling urgency. No broader policy debate is included in the text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (33)
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure rejected in Senate by Voice Vote. (CR S2407)
- 2026-04-30: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 402.
- 2026-04-30: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c).
- 2026-04-30: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c).
- 2026-04-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2026-04-13: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. — issued 2026-04-13 — PDF (2 pages)
- Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. — issued 2026-04-30 — PDF (4 pages)