# 114-hr-5756: Degrees Not Debt Act

114-hr-5756, Degrees Not Debt Act, is a 114th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5756
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 114-hr-5756
- Congress: 114
- Title: Degrees Not Debt Act
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
- Introduced: 2016-07-13
- Sponsor: Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI)
- Cosponsors: 12
- Policy area: Education
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Degrees Not Debt Act This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a federal-state partnership to promote state investment in public higher education. It directs the Department of Education to award matching block grants to states to reduce tuition costs and support the enrollment, retention, and degree completion of low-income students at public institutions of higher education. A state that receives a grant must waive any unmet financial need for certain low-income students, maintain or increase per-student operating support, maintain state-based financial aid levels, and limit tuition increases at public institutions of higher education. The bill prohibits the use of grant funds to increase an institution's endowment or to modernize, renovate, or repair athletic facilities.

## Cosponsors (12)

- Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5] (D-MN), 2016-07-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2016-09-06T00:00:00.000Z
- MICHAEL HONDA (D-CA), 2016-09-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2016-09-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2016-09-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2016-09-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2016-09-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2016-09-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2016-09-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2016-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2016-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] (D-CA), 2016-09-09T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 114-hr-5044: Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to respond to Zika virus.
- 114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act
- 114-hr-4479: Families of Flint Act
- 114-hr-4269: Assault Weapons Ban of 2015
- 114-hr-3514: WAGE Act
- 114-hr-3381: Childhood Cancer STAR Act

## Sources
- [114-hr-5756 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5756)

## Related
- [114-hr-5044: Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to respond to Zika viru…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5044)
- [114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4592)
- [114-hr-4479: Families of Flint Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4479)
- [114-hr-4269: Assault Weapons Ban of 2015](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4269)
- [114-hr-3514: WAGE Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3514)
- [114-hr-3381: Childhood Cancer STAR Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3381)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5756 (as of 2025-11-18).