Higher Education Funding Act
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
Higher Education Funding Act - Authorizes an income tax deduction under the Internal Revenue Code for contributions to a qualified higher education fund established by the taxpayer for the purposes of funding the higher education of his dependents. Limits the amount of the deduction to the lesser of: (1) $500 times the number of qualified beneficiaries; (2) 10 percent of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income; or (3) $2,500. Provides that a qualified education fund must be established by the taxpayer pursuant to a written plan: (A) solely for the purpose of defraying the cost of room, board, and tuition at an institution of higher education of one or more eligible beneficiaries; (B) which provides that no distribution shall be made by the fund (except upon termination thereof) other than to, or on behalf of, eligible beneficiaries; (C) which provides that upon termination of the fund all assets of the funds shall be distributed to the taxpayer or to his estate; (D) which prohibits contributions to the fund in excess of amounts deductible; and (E) under which the taxpayer consents to the income tax treatment upon termination of the fund. Defines "institution of higher education" as an educational institution: (A) which regularly offers education at a level above the twelfth grade; (B) contributions to or for the use of which constitute charitable contributions; (C) which is legally authorized to provide and does provide a program of postsecondary education; and (D) which is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association listed by the United States Commissioner of Education.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on January 24, 1973. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on January 24, 1973: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 93rd Congress (1973-74), 651 of the 23,396 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 2.8 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
JOHN RARICK (D-LA) introduced it on January 24, 1973. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on January 24, 1973, 19587 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 19587 days ago, on January 24, 1973.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 93rd Congress has not finished by January 3, 1975 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers