Higher Education Act (HEA, 1965)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (20 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
The HEA was enacted as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great Society” to strengthen U.S. colleges and universities and provide financial aid to make higher education more accessible.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Before HEA, there was no comprehensive federal framework for student aid. Federal education involvement was limited to land-grant colleges (Morrill Acts) and GI Bill benefits.

Biden v. Nebraska (2023)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the Supreme Court opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
The Biden administration announced a plan to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt per borrower, citing authority under the HEROES Act of 2003. Six states challenged the program. The Supreme Court, in a 6–3 decision, struck it down, holding that the administration lacked clear congressional authorization for such a sweeping policy under the major questions doctrine.