HR3530119th CongressWALLET

Flight Education Access Act

Sponsored By: Representative Davis (NC)

Introduced

Summary

This bill would expand federal student loan access for undergraduate flight training. It creates a distinct set of Federal Direct Stafford loan limits for eligible undergraduate flight education and training programs and adds new borrower disclosure rules before loan disbursement.

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  • Students and families: Eligible undergraduate flight students would be able to use higher federal loan limits. Dependent students could access up to $111,000 in aggregate unsubsidized loans and independent students up to $137,500 in aggregate unsubsidized loans.
  • Programs and institutions: To get the enhanced limits programs must meet Title IV rules during the first three years and then a three-year average completion rate of 70 percent or higher. Programs must report enrollment, persistence, transfer, completion, financial-aid use, unmet need, and disaggregated demographic data.
  • Federal oversight and implementation: The bill adds pre-disbursement loan disclosures about principal, interest, repayment months, estimated balance at repayment start, and lifetime cost estimates. It also requires a GAO review within two years and authorizes $3.0 million per year for 2025–2035 to carry out the amendments.

*Would authorize $3.0 million annually for 2025–2035 to implement the program, increasing federal spending for those years.*

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Bigger loans for flight students, with rules

If enacted, dependent students in eligible flight programs could borrow up to $20,500 before finishing year one. After year one, they could borrow up to $31,500 a year. Amounts would be prorated if the program is shorter than a full academic year. To qualify, the program must be accredited, use FAA Part 141 training, and prepare students for a commercial pilot certificate. Programs using FAA Part 61 would be excluded. After three years of data, a program would need a 3‑year average completion rate of at least 70% to keep access. These higher limits would apply to new Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loans made after enactment.

Clear loan costs before disbursement

If enacted, your school or lender would have to show key loan costs before or when money is paid out. You would see the principal, interest rate, number of monthly payments, and when payments start. You would also see the estimated balance at repayment (including any capitalized interest), your projected monthly payment, and the total you would pay over the life of the loan, including fees. This would apply to new Direct Stafford and Direct Unsubsidized loans made after enactment to eligible flight students.

Funding to run flight education changes

If enacted, the Education Department would get $3 million each year from 2025 through 2035 to carry out this bill. The money would be available until spent. This funding would support administration and oversight, so students and schools would benefit only indirectly.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Davis (NC)

NC • D

Cosponsors

  • Kiggans (VA)

    VA • R

    Sponsored 5/21/2025

  • Olszewski

    MD • D

    Sponsored 5/29/2025

  • Fitzpatrick

    PA • R

    Sponsored 6/20/2025

  • Nunn (IA)

    IA • R

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov

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