S. 5403 · 119th Congress · pending
Debt-Free College Act of 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Latest official action 2026-09-15 · Referred
The bill, briefly
Debt-Free College Act of 2026 This bill establishes measures to cover the unmet financial need of students who are enrolled at certain institutions of higher education (IHEs). Unmet financial need refers to the difference between a student's cost of attendance and the student's student aid index, plus any federal, state, and local sources of grant aid. In addition, the bill makes certain Dreamer students (i.e., students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status and who entered the United States before the age of 16) eligible for federal financial aid. First, the bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to award grants for state-federal partnerships with a goal of providing debt-free college for all eligible students at in-state public IHEs. Eligible student refers to an individual who (1) is enrolled or is eligible to enroll in an in-state public IHE, and (2) completes a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or demonstrates eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant through state or institutional financial aid eligibility forms. Next, the bill requires ED to award grants to historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions to cover the unmet financial need of enrolled students. ED must establish an office to administer grants and provide oversight. In addition, the bill makes Dreamer students who entered the Unit…
Congressional Research Service · 2026-09-15
Who reported lobbying on this bill?
Amount spent specifically on this bill: not disclosed
The reports below name this bill and disclose an organization’s overall lobbying expenses or a firm’s client income for the period. They can cover many bills and issues. These amounts are not payments to the bill or its politicians.
No matching lobbying report is imported yet. This is not evidence that no lobbying occurred.
2,409 latest lobbying reports imported. Some source imports are still in progress.
Politicians behind the bill
Sponsors and cosponsors from the official source, limited to members currently in office. Campaign amounts are cycle-wide and are not payments for this bill.
Sponsor
Brian Schatz
Senate · HI · Democratic
$427,197PAC receipts · 2025–2026
Cosponsor
Alex Padilla
Senate · CA · Democratic
$177,000PAC receipts · 2025–2026
Cosponsor
Jeff Merkley
Senate · OR · Democratic
$519,875PAC receipts · 2025–2026
Cosponsor
Elizabeth Warren
Senate · MA · Democratic
$18,500PAC receipts · 2025–2026
Cosponsor
Richard J. Durbin
Senate · IL · Democratic
-$24,800PAC receipts · 2025–2026
Cosponsor
Richard Blumenthal
Senate · CT · Democratic
$109,550PAC receipts · 2025–2026
Cosponsor
Cory A. Booker
Senate · NJ · Democratic
$488,544PAC receipts · 2025–2026
Cosponsor
Tammy Baldwin
Senate · WI · Democratic
$192,086PAC receipts · 2025–2026
Cosponsor
Ben Ray Luján
Senate · NM · Democratic
$1,879,794PAC receipts · 2025–2026
Cosponsor
Adam B. Schiff
Senate · CA · Democratic
$55,400PAC receipts · 2025–2026
9 of 9 source cosponsor records retrieved; only current officials and unwithdrawn sponsorships appear.
PAC donors to the listed sponsors
These are all-cycle contributions to the listed sponsors’ and cosponsors’ campaigns. FEC does not attribute them to this bill. A donation plus sponsorship does not establish why a politician acted.
A NEW DIRECTION PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordADVANCING DEMOCRACY AND MOBILIZATION PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordALSOPAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordAMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, AFL-CIO COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordBLUE HEN FEDERAL PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordDEFEND THE DREAM$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordFORWARD TOGETHER PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordGRANITE VALUES PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordHEALTH JOBS JUSTICE$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordI GOT YOUR BACK PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordKEYSTONE AMERICA PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordM-PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordNARRAGANSETT BAY PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordOCEANS PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordOFF THE SIDELINES PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordPEOPLE'S VOICE PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordPINEAPPLE PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordREV UP PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordVICTORY NOW PAC$30,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordIN OUR HANDS$28,300
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Tammy Baldwin · Cosponsor · -$1,700
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordINTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS INTERESTED IN REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION PAC$26,500
Brian Schatz · Sponsor · $2,500
Alex Padilla · Cosponsor · $5,000
Elizabeth Warren · Cosponsor · $2,500
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $5,000
Tammy Baldwin · Cosponsor · $2,500
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $9,000
Official PAC recordAMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES (ACEC/PAC)$25,500
Alex Padilla · Cosponsor · $10,000
Richard Blumenthal · Cosponsor · $5,000
Tammy Baldwin · Cosponsor · $5,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $5,500
Official PAC recordAMERICAN MOBILIZATION PAC$25,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $5,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordCOMMON GROUND PAC$25,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $5,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordFOLLOW THE NORTH STAR FUND$25,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $5,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordGIDDY UP PAC$25,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $5,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordHAWAII PAC$25,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $5,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordHOOPS PAC$25,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $5,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordMITTEN PAC$25,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $5,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordMOTOR CITY PAC$25,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $5,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordNATIONAL RURAL LETTER CARRIERS' ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE$25,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $5,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordPERIMETER PAC$25,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $5,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $10,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordSEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION)$25,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Richard Blumenthal · Cosponsor · $5,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $5,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $5,000
Official PAC recordNEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION$24,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Richard J. Durbin · Cosponsor · $2,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $2,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordD.R.I.V.E. - DEM, REP, IND VOTER ED (THE PAC OF THE INT'L BRHD OF TEAMSTERS)$23,000
Brian Schatz · Sponsor · $1,500
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $0
Tammy Baldwin · Cosponsor · $5,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $1,500
Adam B. Schiff · Cosponsor · $5,000
Official PAC recordUNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION ACTIVE BALLOT CLUB$23,000
Alex Padilla · Cosponsor · $1,500
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $10,000
Elizabeth Warren · Cosponsor · -$2,500
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $9,000
Adam B. Schiff · Cosponsor · $5,000
Official PAC recordAMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES P E O P L E$22,500
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $7,500
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $5,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordSMART SOLUTIONS PAC$22,500
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $5,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $7,500
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (NABPAC)$21,300
Brian Schatz · Sponsor · $2,750
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $1,000
Richard Blumenthal · Cosponsor · $5,050
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $7,000
Adam B. Schiff · Cosponsor · $5,500
Official PAC recordAIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION PAC$20,000
Jeff Merkley · Cosponsor · $5,000
Cory A. Booker · Cosponsor · $5,000
Ben Ray Luján · Cosponsor · $10,000
Official PAC recordThe largest 40 donor totals appear here. Open each politician for their complete, paginated PAC donor list.
What happened after enactment?
This bill is not enacted. Post-enactment results do not apply yet.