Congressman Biggs Leads Bipartisan Effort to Recognize Grand Canyon University's Nonprofit Status

Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) introduced legislation to clarify that any institution of higher education (IHE) considered a nonprofit organization by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) should also be considered a nonprofit IHE by the Department of Education (ED).

The IHE Nonprofit Clarity Act will provide long-overdue financial relief to Grand Canyon University (GCU). Because the Department of Education has failed to recognize GCU's IRS designation as a nonprofit institution, GCU has been hampered in efforts to improve—like enhancing student services, unlocking student loan opportunities, and receiving tax-deductible donations from outside individuals and entities. Congressman Biggs’s legislation will allow GCU to lower tuition costs, expand athletics programs, conduct more academic research, and provide more and higher quality student services.

Congressman Biggs also led an Arizona delegation letter to ED Secretary Linda McMahon urging her department to update GCU’s nonprofit status at ED.

“ED’s refusal to designate GCU as a nonprofit institution of higher education is residual damage from the Biden-Harris regime’s weaponization of government against Christian universities,” said Congressman Biggs.

“Now that ED is under new leadership, I am confident that Secretary McMahon will right the wrongs committed by Joe Biden and his cronies. America’s Golden Age is here, and Congress stands ready to enact the mandate delivered by the American people.”

The legislation may be read here.

Cosigners of the letter are: Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), Rep. Abraham J. Hamadeh (R-AZ), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).

The letter to Secretary McMahon may be read here.