A Republican bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the ``American Students First Act'', proposes to amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. It aims to prohibit federal financial assistance to public institutions of higher education that provide specific benefits to aliens not lawfully present in the United States. Under this act, an institution becomes ineligible for federal funds if it charges such individuals tuition at a rate equal to or less than the rate charged to state resident citizens. It also targets institutions that provide State-based financial aid to these individuals. If the Secretary of Education determines an institution is ineligible, it may lose federal assistance in the following fiscal year.
Yes
- Scored +5
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill increases federal authority by allowing the Secretary of Education to withhold funds from public institutions.
The opposite· 3 of 5
- Scored -7
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill significantly restricts educational opportunities and financial aid for undocumented immigrants.
- Scored -5
Does this make college cost less?
The bill may decrease college affordability for institutions by threatening their federal funding.
- Scored -4
Would students be better off under this?
The bill could negatively impact higher education funding and student aid availability.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Protection of Federal Funding for Eligible Institutions: By prohibiting the provision of federal financial assistance to institutions that violate these rules, the bill seeks to ensure that federal funds are not directed toward schools that provide certain benefits to those not lawfully present (Section 2, Subsection (c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Loss of Federal Financial Assistance for Public Institutions: Public institutions of higher education could lose their federal financial assistance for the following fiscal year if the Secretary of Education determines they are ineligible (Section 2, Subsection (c)(1)).
-
Impact on Tuition Rates: Institutions may be impacted if they currently charge aliens who are not lawfully present tuition at a rate less than or equal to the rate charged to resident citizens (Section 2, Subsection (c)(2)(A)).
-
Impact on State-Based Financial Aid: Institutions that provide State-based financial aid to aliens who are not lawfully present in the United States would be deemed ineligible (Section 2, Subsection (c)(2)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill significantly restricts educational opportunities and financial aid for undocumented immigrants. Would students be better off under this? — The bill could negatively impact higher education funding and student aid availability. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill could negatively impact low-income students who rely on state-based financial aid.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill may decrease college affordability for institutions by threatening their federal funding.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases federal authority by allowing the Secretary of Education to withhold funds from public institutions. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill limits the ability of states to set their own tuition and aid policies for certain residents.
- 11/19/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/26/2025
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Lauren BoebertRepublican · Colorado
Josh BrecheenRepublican · Oklahoma
Andy HarrisRepublican · Maryland