Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 1963

119th Congress

Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Jun 5, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Thomas Tillis

Senator

Republican

NC

Cosponsors

10

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Education

Summary

The Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Act of 2025 would expand access to higher education by eliminating tuition and fees for certain students at community colleges, public four-year universities, and historically Black colleges and universities. It would also increase funding for federal financial aid programs like Pell Grants and student support services.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

SponsorThomas Tillis (R-NC)

Introduced6/5/2025

StatusRead twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

ChamberSenate

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Act of 2025

The Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Act of 2025 would expand access to higher education by eliminating tuition and fees for certain students at community colleges, public four-year universities, and historically Black colleges and universities. It would also in

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The Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Act of 2025 would expand access to higher education by eliminating tuition and fees for certain students at community colleges, public four-year universities, and historically Black colleges and universities. It would also increase funding for federal financial aid programs like Pell Grants and student support services.

Bill Number: 1963
Sponsor: Thomas Tillis (R-NC)
Introduced: 6/5/2025
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Policy Area: Education

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Act of 2025
Bill Number: 1963
Sponsor: Thomas Tillis (R-NC)
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Introduced: 6/5/2025
Summary: The Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Act of 2025 would expand access to higher education by eliminating tuition and fees for certain students at community colleges, public four-year universities, and historically Black colleges and universities. It would also increase funding for federal financial aid

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Act of 2025 would expand access to higher education by eliminating tuition and fees for certain students at community colleges, public four-year universities, and historically Black colleges and universities. It would also increase funding for federal financial aid programs like Pell Grants and student support services.

Last updated: 12/30/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

College for All Act of 2023 This bill establishes measures to expand access to higher education, including by eliminating tuition and required fees for eligible students, revising the Federal Pell Grant program, and reauthorizing certain programs to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Specifically, the bill provides funding to enable states and tribal colleges and universities, through a federal-state partnership, to eliminate tuition and required fees for (1) all students at community colleges and two-year tribal colleges and universities, and (2) working- and middle-class students at four-year public institutions of higher education and tribal colleges and universities. The bill provides funding to enable private, nonprofit historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions to eliminate tuition and required fees for eligible students. The bill permanently reauthorizes and otherwise revises the Federal Pell Grant program by <ul> <li>providing funding to increase the maximum award for each eligible student,</li> <li>increasing the duration limit for the use of Pell Grants,</li> <li>allowing students to use their awards to cover living and nontuition expenses, and</li> <li>expanding eligibility to Dreamer students (i.e., students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status and who entered the United States before the age of 16) and students with other immigration statuses. </li> </ul> Further, the bill requires the Department of Education to award grants to eligible states and tribal colleges and universities for improving student outcomes. The bill reauthorizes through FY2033 the Federal TRIO Programs and reauthorizes through FY2027 the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Eliminates tuition and fees for all students at community colleges and two-year tribal colleges, as well as working- and middle-class students at four-year public universities and tribal colleges
Provides funding to eliminate tuition and fees at private, non-profit historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions
Permanently reauthorizes and increases funding for the Federal Pell Grant program, expanding eligibility and allowing grants to cover living expenses
Reauthorizes and provides funding for programs that assist disadvantaged students, like TRIO and GEAR UP
Requires the Department of Education to award grants to states and tribal colleges to improve student outcomes

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

If enacted, this bill would significantly increase access to higher education, especially for students from low-income and minority backgrounds. Eliminating tuition and fees would make college more affordable, while expanded Pell Grants and student support services would provide greater resources to help these students succeed. This could lead to higher enrollment, retention, and graduation rates at colleges and universities across the country.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Education

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

1963, 119th Congress (2025). "Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-1963

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