S. 848 · 117th Congress

Consider Teachers Act of 2021

Introduced on Mar 18, 2021 by Mike Braun (R-IN). 4 cosponsors, 3 of them from another party. Became Public Law 117-49.

Stage
Became law
Public Law 117-49
Introduced
Mar 18, 2021
Cosponsors
4
3 from the other party
Policy area
Education
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Progress

The furthest stage the measure reached. Simple and concurrent resolutions do not go to the President.

  1. Introduced
  2. Reported by committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Sent to the President
  6. Became law

Official title

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to improve the service obligation verification process for TEACH Grant recipients, and for other purposes.

Subjects

  • Administrative remedies
  • Cardiovascular and respiratory health
  • Department of Education
  • Education of the disadvantaged
  • Education programs funding
  • Elementary and secondary education
  • Emergency medical services and trauma care
  • Government lending and loan guarantees
  • Higher education
  • Infectious and parasitic diseases
  • Interest, dividends, interest rates
  • National and community service
  • Personnel records
  • Student aid and college costs
  • Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary

By the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Oct 13, 2021). Public domain.

Consider Teachers Act of 2021

This bill revises the service obligation verification process for the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant program. The TEACH program awards grants to postsecondary students who commit to teaching for four years in high-need subjects in low-income schools. In addition, the bill establishes certain program flexibilities with respect to the service obligations of teachers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, the bill provides a process for the Department of Education (ED) to reconsider and reverse the conversion of a TEACH grant to a loan. Under current program terms, TEACH grants are converted into loan obligations if service requirements are not met.

In addition, the bill directs ED to notify TEACH grant recipients of the requirements for submitting employment certifications. ED must also provide an alternative to certification.

ED must maintain and annually update a list of qualifying schools and high-need fields.

The bill also provides certain program flexibilities with respect to the service obligations of teachers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the bill (1) extends the service obligation window for TEACH grants, and (2) requires ED to consider teaching service that is interrupted as a result of a qualifying emergency as full-time service for purposes of Federal Perkins Loans.

Sponsor and cosponsors

Cosponsors by party as of the day they signed on. Original cosponsors signed on the day of introduction.

Mike BraunR-INSponsor

Democrats · 2

Independents · 1

Republicans · 1

Roll calls

Recorded votes on the measure. Most measures move by voice vote or unanimous consent, which record no individual positions.

  1. On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
    Sep 28, 2021· House· Passage· Passed 406–16

History

Every action as published, oldest first. Roll calls link to how each member voted.

  1. Mar 18, 2021Introduced in Senate
  2. Mar 18, 2021 · SenateRead twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  3. Apr 27, 2021Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2246-2247)
  4. Apr 27, 2021 · SenateSenate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2246-2247)
  5. Apr 27, 2021Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S2246-2247)
  6. Apr 27, 2021 · SenatePassed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2246-2247)
  7. Apr 28, 2021 · SenateMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
  8. Apr 28, 2021 · HouseReceived in the House.
  9. Apr 28, 2021 · HouseHeld at the desk.
  10. Jul 26, 2021 · HouseMr. Scott (VA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  11. Jul 26, 2021 · HouseConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3851-3854)
  12. Jul 26, 2021 · HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 848.
  13. Jul 26, 2021 · HouseAt the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  14. Sep 28, 2021 · HouseConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5496)
  15. Sep 28, 2021Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 - 16 (Roll no. 302).(text: CR 7/26/2021 H3851-3852)House · Roll call 302
  16. Sep 28, 2021 · HouseOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 - 16 (Roll no. 302). (text: CR 7/26/2021 H3851-3852)House · Roll call 302
  17. Sep 28, 2021 · HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  18. Oct 4, 2021Presented to President.
  19. Oct 4, 2021 · HousePresented to President.
  20. Oct 13, 2021Signed by President.
  21. Oct 13, 2021Signed by President.
  22. Oct 13, 2021Became Public Law No: 117-49.
  23. Oct 13, 2021Became Public Law No: 117-49.

Committees

Committees and subcommittees the measure was referred to.

Agencies in its committees' jurisdiction

Analisa's mapping of committee jurisdiction to federal agencies; the bill may touch others, or none of these.

Sources and method

Every figure on this page traces to these records.

  • Bill status: bills and resolutions, sponsors, actions, subjects and CRS summaries (U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo), from Congress.gov (Library of Congress))GovInfo Bill Status bulk data (Congress.gov; summaries by the Congressional Research Service) · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Members of Congress, their terms, committees and identifiers (The @unitedstates project (from the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, the House and the Senate))unitedstates/congress-legislators: legislators, committees and current committee membership · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication)
  • House roll-call votes (Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, roll-call vote records · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Senate roll-call votes and DW-NOMINATE scores (Voteview (UCLA Department of Political Science))Lewis, Jeffrey B., Keith Poole, Howard Rosenthal, Adam Boche, Aaron Rudkin, and Luke Sonnet (2026). Voteview: Congressional Roll-Call Votes Database. https://voteview.com/ · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Free to use with the required citation
  • Lobbying disclosures (LD-1 registrations, LD-2 quarterly reports, LD-203 contribution reports) (Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives)Clerk of the House, Lobbying Disclosure Act filings (organizations only; lobbyists' names are not loaded) · data current to Oct 5, 2026 · loaded Oct 5, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Positions are shown only where a roll call recorded them; voice votes and unanimous consent record none.