Reps. Lee, Kim Introduce Bill to End Legacy Admissions at Colleges and Universities
**For Immediate Release**
Reps. Lee, Kim Introduce Bill to End Legacy Admissions at Colleges and Universities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 10, 2025 — Today, Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12), a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-40) introduced the Fair College Admissions for Students Act, a bipartisan bill that seeks to end higher education institutions’ preferential treatment of children of alumni and donors, and ensure students are admitted based on their merit, not their family connections or financial contributions.
“Legacy admissions are inequitable, unfair, and rooted in racist traditions that have no place in our society. The Fair College Admissions for Students Act brings us one step closer to leveling the playing field for students of all lived backgrounds, not just the rich and well-connected. Every student deserves a fair chance at pursuing and being admitted to higher education, and I urge Congress to pass this bipartisan bill without delay,” said Rep. Summer Lee.
“As a first-generation college graduate, I have seen firsthand how education unlocks new doors for students and believe all students should have the ability to achieve their American Dream. For too long, colleges and universities have admitted students based on family connections or background instead of merit. It’s past time we level the playing field,” said Rep. Young Kim. “This bill will ensure a fair college admissions process that assesses every student, regardless of background, on their merit. I will keep fighting to ensure the promise of America — where we are judged on our actions and can achieve success through hard work — remains alive for future generations.”
The Fair College Admissions for Students Act would prohibit colleges and universities across the nation from participating in federal student aid programs if they give admissions preference to students with legacy or donor status.
Legacy admissions can account for up to 10 to 25 percent of available slots at elite schools, according to The Century Foundation.
Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and John Kennedy (R-LA).
“Access to higher education should be based on merit, not money and connections,” said Senator Jeff Merkley. “Our bipartisan Fair College Admissions for Students Act is a common-sense solution to help ensure fairness in college admissions by preventing donors and legacy families from using their influence to get a leg up in this complicated and highly competitive process. Discrimination exercised on behalf of students from the already best-off families is an unacceptable assault on fair opportunities for all.”
“Louisiana’s students work hard for an opportunity to get into their dream college. However, the practice of legacy admissions undermines good academic performance. The Fair College Admissions for Students Act would make sure that higher education institutions make decisions about who can attend their schools based on merit,” said Senator John Kennedy.
A copy of the bill text can be found here.
Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.4 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs. Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 3,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.