# 119-hr-7117: Fast Track To and Through College Act

119-hr-7117, Fast Track To and Through College Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2] (D-MD); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7117
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-7117
- Congress: 119
- Title: Fast Track To and Through College Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-01-15
- Sponsor: Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2] (D-MD)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Education
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Accelerating time to degree**: This bill would create a federal‑state grant program to shorten college timelines, lower costs, and expand early college and dual enrollment so students earn more real college credit in high school. - Students and families: Eligible high school students in approved early college pathways would be able to receive Pell Grants to cover tuition, fees, books, and supplies. The Education Secretary could waive the usual 12‑semester Pell limit for up to two semesters for participants. - States and school systems: The bill would fund competitive, five‑year, Governor‑led grants to build statewide alignment, require universal articulation agreements that guarantee credit transfer, and reserve 2 percent of funds for evaluation and 2 percent for technical assistance. - Historically underrepresented students: Applications must prioritize expanding access and include targeted outreach, advising, fee support, and other services to boost participation and completion for underserved groups. - Colleges and transfer policy: Grants must produce statewide credit recognition tools such as common course numbering, a general education core, and transfer management systems that make earned credits count across public institutions and participating private nonprofits.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large] (R-GU), 2026-01-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Grants to pay advanced course costs: benefit, medium. If enacted, grant recipients would use the first two grant years to align high school and college courses and expand access to advanced coursework. Grants could pay tuition, fees (including AP/IB exam fees where the bill allows), books, supplies, and online course delivery for eligible students. St…
- Federal grants to speed college: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would create a new federal competitive grant program for states to help students finish college faster. Grants would be for five years and a State could receive only one award. The Secretary would reserve 2% of each year's funding for an independent evaluation and 2% for techn…
- Pell grants for high school students: mixed, high. This bill would let eligible high school students in approved early college pathways get Federal Pell Grants starting for award years on July 1, 2026. Each award would be based on the student's student aid index. Pell for these students could not exceed the cost of tuition, fees (excluding AP/IB ex…
- State application and accountability rules: mixed, medium. This bill would require Governors to submit state plans with signed commitments from top state education leaders. States that get grants would have two years to align high school diploma rules, remedial placement standards, and statewide credit-transfer agreements. States must keep at least the ave…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-5168: Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2548: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-7117 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7117)

## Related
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-5168: Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5168)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [119-hr-2548: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2548)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7117 (as of 2026-09-21).