{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/sens-scott-young-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-end-legacy-admissions/", "Sens. Scott, Young, colleagues introduce bill to end legacy admissions", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SC", "Tim Scott", "S001184", "www.scott.senate.gov", "timscott", "https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/jsf/jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 As college applications open across the nation, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), John Kennedy (R-La.), and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) in introducing the Merit-Based Educational Reforms and Institutional Transparency Act (MERIT Act). This legislation is designed to end the practice of colleges and universities giving \u201cpreferential treatment\u201d in the admissions process based on an applicant\u2019s relationship to alumni or donors of the deciding institution.\n\nThe MERIT Act would amend the Higher Education Act to add a new standard for accreditation to prevent accredited colleges and universities \u2013 institutions that are recognized for maintaining a certain level of educational quality \u2013 from giving \u201cpreferential treatment\u201d during the admissions process.\n\n\u201cEvery student deserves a fair shot at any college or university regardless of his or her family\u2019s background and connections to the institution,\u201d said Sen. Scott. \u201cEducation is the doorway to opportunity, and the MERIT Act ensures we keep that door open for all students. This legislation will level the playing field so that all students have the opportunity to work hard and pursue their version of the American Dream.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica is a land of opportunity, not a land of aristocracy,\u201d said Sen. Young. \u201cLegacy admissions restrict opportunities for many bright and talented young Americans and provide unmerited advantage to the most connected individuals in our society. Our bill will end legacy preferences in the admissions process and promote upward mobility for Americans of all backgrounds.\u201d\n\n\u201cEveryone deserves the same opportunity to pursue higher education if they choose. It shouldn\u2019t be dependent on whether someone\u2019s parents went to college or donated money to a university,\u201d said Sen. Kaine. \u201cI\u2019m glad to be introducing this bipartisan bill to provide Americans of all backgrounds the same chance to pursue higher education and help ensure first-generation and low-income students are not at a disadvantage during the admissions process.\u201d\n\n\u201cPreferential treatment for the rich and well-connected has no place in the college admissions process,\u201d said Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock. \u201cOur bipartisan bill establishes an essential standard of fairness and eliminates practices that have undermined trust in the college admissions process.\u201d\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\nBackground\n\nThe MERIT Act would:\n\nDefine \u201cpreferential treatment\u201d as making admissions decisions or providing benefits based on an applicant\u2019s relationship with alumni or donors as the \u201cdeterminative factor.\u201d\n\nClarify that the new standard shouldn\u2019t be construed to prevent institutions from considering an applicant\u2019s genuine interest in the institution as part of the admissions process.\n\nEnsure that religious institutions can make admissions decisions in line with their faith-based values, ensuring no infringement on religious freedom.\n\nRequire a comprehensive feasibility study to assess improving data collection regarding the influence of legacy and donor relationships on admissions decisions.", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/sens-scott-young-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-end-legacy-admissions/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8019797969609499, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}