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119-hr-10551119th CongressWALLET

Public Service Educational Assistance Act

Sponsored By: Representative Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a stand‑alone, federally funded educational assistance program for dependents of long‑service public service employees. The bill would cover tuition, fees, and books for eligible dependents at in‑State public postsecondary programs for up to four academic years.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Tuition help for public workers' dependents

This bill would create a new Public Service Educational Assistance Program at the Department of Education. If enacted, dependents of qualifying public service employees with at least 20 years of aggregate public service would be able to get help paying tuition, fees, and books for up to four academic years. The dependent must be eligible for in‑State tuition where the public institution is located. The benefit would be tax-exempt, would not count as wages for retirement or employment benefit calculations (except as otherwise provided by law), and could be used along with Title IV and other federal, state, or local student aid. The program would take effect one year after enactment and the Secretary of Education would issue implementing regulations.

Who counts as a public service worker

This bill would define who is eligible for the new education help. If enacted, a public service employee would mean a full-time (at least 40 hours per week) first responder, educator/teacher, or social worker. The bill lists which jobs count as first responders and says educators must be non-elected public school employees. It would define dependent by reference to the tax code (with a specific age substitution) and use existing federal definitions for recognized postsecondary credentials and institutions. These definitions would take effect one year after enactment and decide who can get the program benefit.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]

AL • D

Cosponsors

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 9/28/2026

  • Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 9/28/2026

  • Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 9/28/2026

  • Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 10/19/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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