H.R. 468 · 119th Congress
Mel’s Law
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D
VelázquezSponsor6 cosponsors · 4 D, 2 R
5 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs to establish policies for awarding posthumous degrees.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Jan 15, 2025
Mel's Law
This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs to establish policies for awarding posthumous degrees.
Specifically, the IHE must certify that it has a policy to award a posthumous degree to a deceased student who (1) was enrolled in a degree program at the IHE; (2) died prior to completing such program; and (3) at the time of death, was in academic standing consistent with the requirements for graduation from such program (as determined by the IHE).
The bill prohibits accrediting agencies from taking into consideration the number of posthumous degrees awarded to deceased students by the IHE. (Under current law, an IHE must be accredited by an accrediting agency to participate in federal student aid programs.)
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Mel’s Law
Latest action (Jan 15, 2025): Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Policy area: Education · Origin: House · Introduced: Jan 15, 2025
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.