H.R. 4984Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act

3 recorded actions106 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Brett Guthrie [R-KY-02]
Cosponsors: 17 · 14 Republicans · 3 Democrats
Policy area: Education
Committees: Education and Workforce Committee, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Latest action: Jul 28, 2014 · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

IntroducedJun 26, 2014
Passed the HouseJul 24, 2014
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act - (Sec. 2) Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education (IHEs) to ensure that individuals who receive a Federal Pell Grant or a William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (other than a Federal Direct consolidation Loan) receive comprehensive counseling regarding the terms and conditions of the Pell Grant or Direct Loan for each year they receive it. (Currently, IHEs are required to provide a first-time student borrower of a Direct Loan with counseling regarding the terms and conditions of such loan prior to, or upon the student's receipt of, such loan.)

Requires that counseling to be provided in a simple and understandable manner: (1) in person, (2) online, or (3) through the use of an online counseling tool maintained by the Secretary of Education. Requires the in person and online counseling sessions to use interactive programs that test the individual's understanding of the terms and conditions of the Pell Grant or Direct Loan.

Includes in the counseling provided to both Pell Grant and Direct Loan recipients:

an explanation regarding how the student may budget for typical educational expenses that includes a sample budget based on the cost of attending the IHE;

an explanation of the individual's right to annually request a consumer credit report;
the estimated average income and percentage of employment in the applicable state for persons with a high school diploma or equivalent, persons with some post-secondary education without completion of a degree or certificate, and persons with a bachelor's degree; and
an introduction to the financial management resources provided by the Financial Literacy and Education Commission.

Requires the annual counseling provided to each student receiving a Pell Grant to include an explanation of:

the terms and conditions of the Pell Grant;

the educational expenses such Grants cover;
why the student may have to repay the Grant;
the maximum number of semesters or equivalent periods for which the student may be eligible for the Grant and the amount of time remaining on such eligibility;
the fact that if the student transfers to another IHE not all of the courses the student has taken may count in meeting the program requirements at such IHE, but the time remaining on the student's Pell Grant eligibility wont change; and
how the student may seek additional financial assistance from the IHE's financial aid office due to changes in the student's financial circumstances, including contact information for that office.

Roll calls on H.R. 49843 roll calls on this measure

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Jul 24, 2014Each bar: ✓ Yea from the bottom, ✕ Nay aboveJul 24, 2014

How every member votedHouse roll call 446

House Jul 24, 2014 · the primary vote

On Passage

To amend the loan counseling requirements under the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes

Passed

405 Yea 11 Nay 16 not voting

Crossed both parties 11 of 416 voting members broke with their own party: 11 Republicans.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

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All members432 members

Democratic199 members

Republican233 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors17 · 14 Republicans · 3 Democrats

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 4984 and vote against it. 2 signed when it was filed.

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 498435 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 4984 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

THE TRUSTEES OF PURDUE UNIVERSITYfiled by JORDAN WICKER, DEBORAH HOHLT, THE TRUSTEES OF PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Defense · Transportation · Manufacturing · Education +3 more6 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2014Filing

ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES

Education · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Budget/Appropriations5 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2014Filing

NATIONAL ASSN OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

Education4 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2014Filing

ASSOCIATION OF PROPRIETARY COLLEGESfiled by CARD & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Education3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2014Filing

BRIDGEPOINT EDUCATION

Education3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2014Filing

CAREER EDUCATION COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (FKA ASS'N OF PRIVATE SECTOR COLLEGES AIts PAC: Career Education Colleges & Universities PAC

Defense · Education · Veterans3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2014Filing

COUNCIL FOR OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION

Budget/Appropriations · Education3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2014Filing

DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICESIts PAC: Discover Financial Services PAC

Banking · Housing · Bankruptcy · Education3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2014Filing

NATIONAL HEP/CAMP ASSOCIATIONfiled by NVG, LLC

Education · Budget/Appropriations3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2014Filing

RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEYfiled by RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Copyright/Patent/Trademark · Budget/Appropriations · Immigration +3 more3 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2014Filing

75 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.