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States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-369| House 
| Updated: 1/13/2025
David Rouzer

David Rouzer

Republican Representative

North Carolina

Cosponsors (12)
Barry Moore (Republican)Ashley Hinson (Republican)Andy Harris (Republican)David J. Taylor (Republican)Brad Knott (Republican)Daniel Meuser (Republican)Joe Wilson (Republican)W. Gregory Steube (Republican)Addison P. McDowell (Republican)Chuck Edwards (Republican)Jack Bergman (Republican)Craig A. Goldman (Republican)

Education and Workforce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The States' Education Reclamation Act of 2025 aims to abolish the Department of Education , asserting that federal involvement in education is inconsistent with constitutional principles of federalism and has undermined parental and community control. The bill's findings suggest that the Department has fostered overregulation, standardization, and bureaucracy, leading to stagnated educational performance despite significant budget growth. It posits that local control and parental empowerment are essential for improving educational outcomes. Upon the Department's abolition, the bill proposes a new system where states would receive direct grants from the Secretary of the Treasury for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education. These grants, available from fiscal year 2025 through 2033, would be equal to the amount of federal funds appropriated for such programs in fiscal year 2025, excluding those transferred to other agencies. States would have broad discretion to use these funds for any education purpose permitted by state law, including increases in teacher salaries , with the stipulation that these funds must supplement, not supplant, existing state and local funding. To ensure accountability, states would be required to contract with independent auditing entities annually to review expenditures of grant funds. Any misuse of funds would result in a 100 percent penalty paid to the U.S. Treasury, potentially offset against future grants. States must also submit annual reports detailing their activities and audit results, which must be made publicly available. The Secretary of the Treasury's role would be limited to making payments, approving auditors, and enforcing financial and reporting compliance, while the Attorney General would oversee nondiscrimination provisions. Certain Department of Education programs would be transferred to other federal agencies within 24 months of the bill's enactment. For instance, job training programs would move to the Department of Labor, special education grants to the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Pell Grant program and student loan programs to the Department of the Treasury. Importantly, these transfers would involve administrative responsibility only, not the personnel currently employed by the Department of Education to carry out these programs. The bill mandates that no individual shall be discriminated against in any program funded by these state grants based on disability, sex, race, color, or national origin, upholding existing federal nondiscrimination laws. If a state fails to comply with these provisions, the Attorney General may initiate civil action or exercise enforcement powers. Finally, the bill requires the Comptroller General to report on the feasibility of enhancing state education funding through federal tax burden reduction and for the President to submit a plan for the Department of Education's closure within one year.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-1930
States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-2106
States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-202
States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2023
Jan 13, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 13, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-1930
    States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-2106
    States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-202
    States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2023


  • January 13, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 13, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education

Accounting and auditingAppropriationsCongressional oversightDepartment of EducationDisability and health-based discriminationEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationEmployment and training programsExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHigher educationIntergovernmental relationsRacial and ethnic relationsSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationSpecial educationState and local financeState and local government operationsTeaching, teachers, curriculaWages and earnings

States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-369| House 
| Updated: 1/13/2025
The States' Education Reclamation Act of 2025 aims to abolish the Department of Education , asserting that federal involvement in education is inconsistent with constitutional principles of federalism and has undermined parental and community control. The bill's findings suggest that the Department has fostered overregulation, standardization, and bureaucracy, leading to stagnated educational performance despite significant budget growth. It posits that local control and parental empowerment are essential for improving educational outcomes. Upon the Department's abolition, the bill proposes a new system where states would receive direct grants from the Secretary of the Treasury for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education. These grants, available from fiscal year 2025 through 2033, would be equal to the amount of federal funds appropriated for such programs in fiscal year 2025, excluding those transferred to other agencies. States would have broad discretion to use these funds for any education purpose permitted by state law, including increases in teacher salaries , with the stipulation that these funds must supplement, not supplant, existing state and local funding. To ensure accountability, states would be required to contract with independent auditing entities annually to review expenditures of grant funds. Any misuse of funds would result in a 100 percent penalty paid to the U.S. Treasury, potentially offset against future grants. States must also submit annual reports detailing their activities and audit results, which must be made publicly available. The Secretary of the Treasury's role would be limited to making payments, approving auditors, and enforcing financial and reporting compliance, while the Attorney General would oversee nondiscrimination provisions. Certain Department of Education programs would be transferred to other federal agencies within 24 months of the bill's enactment. For instance, job training programs would move to the Department of Labor, special education grants to the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Pell Grant program and student loan programs to the Department of the Treasury. Importantly, these transfers would involve administrative responsibility only, not the personnel currently employed by the Department of Education to carry out these programs. The bill mandates that no individual shall be discriminated against in any program funded by these state grants based on disability, sex, race, color, or national origin, upholding existing federal nondiscrimination laws. If a state fails to comply with these provisions, the Attorney General may initiate civil action or exercise enforcement powers. Finally, the bill requires the Comptroller General to report on the feasibility of enhancing state education funding through federal tax burden reduction and for the President to submit a plan for the Department of Education's closure within one year.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-1930
States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-2106
States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-202
States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2023
Jan 13, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 13, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-1930
    States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-2106
    States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-202
    States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2023


  • January 13, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 13, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
David Rouzer

David Rouzer

Republican Representative

North Carolina

Cosponsors (12)
Barry Moore (Republican)Ashley Hinson (Republican)Andy Harris (Republican)David J. Taylor (Republican)Brad Knott (Republican)Daniel Meuser (Republican)Joe Wilson (Republican)W. Gregory Steube (Republican)Addison P. McDowell (Republican)Chuck Edwards (Republican)Jack Bergman (Republican)Craig A. Goldman (Republican)

Education and Workforce Committee

Education

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Accounting and auditingAppropriationsCongressional oversightDepartment of EducationDisability and health-based discriminationEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationEmployment and training programsExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHigher educationIntergovernmental relationsRacial and ethnic relationsSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationSpecial educationState and local financeState and local government operationsTeaching, teachers, curriculaWages and earnings