H.R. 9896 – WINGS Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 29, 2026 at 11:52 AM UTC

The WINGS Act of 2026 amends the Higher Education Act to let colleges count aviation‑related licensure, certification, and training costs as part of a student’s cost of attendance. It creates a clear definition of which aviation programs qualify, based on specific CIP codes or Secretary designation, and updates the professional‑student definition to cover aviation training programs. The changes apply starting July 1 2027.

Key Provisions

Adds a new cost‑of‑attendance category for students in qualifying aviation‑related programs, allowing schools to count reasonable licensure, certification, and aviation training expenses (such as lab fees, aircraft or simulator instruction, training materials, exam and licensing fees, and other direct costs).
Defines a “qualifying aviation‑related program of study” as one with a specific CIP code (starting with 49.01 or 47.0607‑09) or a program the Secretary identifies as preparing students for aviation jobs, and that awards an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
Sets the new cost‑of‑attendance rules to take effect on July 1 2027 for the 2027‑2028 award year and onward.
Expands the definition of a “professional student” to include programs that award a professional degree or provide training covered by FAA regulations (14 CFR part 141).

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

July 23, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 23, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

July 23, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 23, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9896

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 23, 2026

Mrs. Beatty (for herself, Ms. Stefanik, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Nunn of Iowa, Mr. Bacon, Ms. Brown, Mrs. Grijalva, Mr. Figures, and Mr. Quigley) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include certain licensure, certification, and aviation training costs in the determination of the cost of attendance of a student, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Workforce Innovation for Next-Gen in Skies Act of 2026 or the WINGS Act of 2026.

2.

Cost of attendance

(a)

In general

Section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in paragraph (13), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(B)

in paragraph (14), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(15)

for a student enrolled in a qualifying aviation-related program of study, reasonable costs associated with licensure, certification, or aviation training related to such program (as determined by the institution), including—

(A)

aviation laboratory training fees;

(B)

the cost of instructional hours in an aircraft or simulator, or ground instruction;

(C)

the cost of aviation training materials and equipment;

(D)

exam and licensing fees, including the cost of a practical test; or

(E)

other fees that are directly incurred as part of aviation training.

;

(2)

in subsection (c), by striking 14 and inserting 15; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(d)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

CIP code

The term CIP code means the 6-digit taxonomic identification code assigned by an institution of higher education to a specific program of study at the institution, determined by the institution in accordance with the Classification of Instructional Programs published by the National Center for Education Statistics.

(2)

Qualifying aviation-related program of study

The term qualifying aviation-related program of study means a program of study—

(A)

that has been assigned a CIP code—

(i)

that begins with 49.01;

(ii)

that is 47.0607, 47.0608, or 47.0609; or

(iii)

identified by the Secretary as relating to preparing students for employment in the aviation industry; and

(B)

that awards an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree upon completion of the program.

.

(b)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on July 1, 2027, and apply with respect to award year 2027–2028 and each subsequent award year, as determined under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).

3.

Professional student

Section 455(a)(4)(C)(ii) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)(4)(C)(ii)) is amended—

(1)

by striking program of study that and all that follows and inserting program of study that—; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(I)

awards a professional degree, as defined under section 668.2 of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this paragraph), upon completion of the program; or

(II)

provides the training described in part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations).

.