Jim Banks (R-IN)
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require that recipients of Pell Grants be citizens or nationals of the United States.
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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 is about changing who can get Pell Grants for their education. Introduced in the Senate, the legislation amends the Higher Education Act of 1965. Specifically, it requires that anyone receiving a Pell Grant must be a citizen or national of the United States. It adds a new definition for an eligible student to Section 401(a) of the act. The bill also makes a conforming amendment to Section 484(a) to align with this new requirement.
Yes
No question was scored yes.
The opposite· 3 of 6
- Scored -7
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill explicitly bars non-citizen immigrants from receiving Pell Grants for higher education.
- Scored -4
Would students be better off under this?
Students who are not U.S. citizens or nationals are disqualified from receiving federal Pell Grants.
- Scored -4
Does this make college cost less?
The bill restricts Pell Grant eligibility exclusively to U.S. citizens or nationals, reducing financial aid access for non-citizen students.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Citizens and nationals of the United States who meet the specified requirements will have their student status explicitly defined to ensure they are the recipients of Pell Grants under Section 1(a), adding Section 401(a)(3)(B) to the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Based on the provided text, there are no specific negative impacts or burdens mentioned for individuals who are not citizens or nationals of the United States, other than the creation of the citizenship and nationality requirement itself under Section 1(a), adding Section 401(a)(3)(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 explicitly bars non-citizen immigrants from receiving Pell Grants for higher education. Would students be better off under this? — Students who are not U.S. citizens or nationals are disqualified from receiving federal Pell Grants. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income households containing non-citizen students will lose access to essential Pell Grant financial assistance. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adult non-citizens pursuing higher education lose eligibility for federal Pell Grants under this legislation.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill restricts Pell Grant eligibility exclusively to U.S. citizens or nationals, reducing financial aid access for non-citizen students. Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay? — By narrowing federal financial grant eligibility, non-citizen students may face increased reliance on loans or out-of-pocket expenses.
- 9/22/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Introduced in Senate