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Tuition Assistance for Families Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Sep 9, 2002

Tuition Assistance for Families Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax deduction for qualified higher education tuition and related expenses. Sets such deduction at: (1) $12,000 for those with incomes up to $65,000 single or $130,000 joint; and (2) $2,000 for those whose incomes are above that level, but not more than $80,000 single or $160,000 joint. Provides inflation adjustment. Makes such tuition deduction permanent.Increases the amount of the Lifetime Learning tax credit percentage from 20 to 25 percent. Increases the amount of education expenses subject to such credit from $10,000 to $12,000 (thus making the maximum allowable credit $3,000, rather than the current $2,000). Provides inflation adjustment.Raises annual income limits for the Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits to $55,000 single and $110,000 joint.Amends the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2002 (Public Law 107-116) to increase the maximum Pell Grant award from $4,000 to $4,500.Establishes an academic achievement scholarship program. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award a $1,000 college scholarship to each student in a State who graduates in the top five percent of his or her secondary school's graduating class.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE] · D–DE

Committees

  • Finance Committee
0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

    Actions

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    1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

    2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8387-8388)

    3. Introduced in Senate

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    Source last updated: Aug 19, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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