	Higher Education Act Authorization

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA; P.L. 89-329), authorizes the operation of numerous federal aid programs that provide support both to individuals pursuing a postsecondary education and to institutions of higher education (IHEs). It also authorizes certain activities and functions. The most recent comprehensive reauthorization of the HEA was in 2008 under the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA; P.L. 110-315 ). However, under generally applicable provisions in the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), the authorization periods for most HEA programs were effectively extended through the end of FY2015. However, because GEPA Section 422 only provides an additional one-year extension to HEA programs and many of those programs that were set to expire at the end of FY2014 were automatically extended through FY2015 under GEPA—and subsequently through FY2016, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016—additional legislative action must occur if these expiring provisions are to continue beyond September 30, 2016. Explicit Extension

For the HEA provisions that, with the GEPA extension, expired at the end of FY2015, a law could be enacted to explicitly extend the authorization. 114-113 ), under which Congress provided additional appropriations for many of the HEA programs through FY2016. For each program, it identifies
the HEA section authorizing the appropriation of funds or providing mandatory budget authority; whether budget authority for these funds is classified as discretionary (D) or mandatory (M); the amount authorized to be appropriated during specified fiscal years; the period or duration for which the authorization of appropriations or mandatory budget authority is provided; whether the authorization provision is extended by GEPA; and for discretionary spending authorizations of appropriations, the amount appropriated for FY2016 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016; for mandatory programs, budget authority for FY2016.
The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA; P.L. 89-329), authorizes the operation of numerous federal aid programs that provide support both to individuals pursuing a postsecondary education and to institutions of higher education (IHEs). It also authorizes certain activities and functions. The HEA was first enacted in 1965. It has since been amended and extended numerous times, and it has been comprehensively reauthorized eight times. The most recent comprehensive reauthorization occurred in 2008 under the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA; P.L. 110-315), which authorized most HEA programs through FY2014. Many of the programs with HEA authorizations set to expire at the end of FY2014 were automatically extended through FY2015 under Section 422 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA). Additionally, many HEA programs due to expire at the end of FY2015 were extended through FY2016 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113).
This report identifies provisions under the HEA that were, with GEPA extensions, set to expire at the end of FY2015. It also discusses authorization and appropriations options for extending the statutory authorities that are scheduled to lapse. These options include an explicit extension of, or an appropriation of funds for, these programs either through a regular appropriations measure or a continuing resolution. Finally, for all HEA mandatory and discretionary programs and activities, the report provides information on the authorization of appropriations or mandatory budget authority, the duration for which such authority is provided, the applicability of extensions under GEPA, and FY2016 appropriations and mandatory budget authority.