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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7260 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7260
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a program that
enables college-bound residents of the Northern Mariana Islands and
American Samoa to have greater choices among institutions of higher
education, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 6, 2024
Mr. Sablan (for himself and Mrs. Radewagen) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the
Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a program that
enables college-bound residents of the Northern Mariana Islands and
American Samoa to have greater choices among institutions of higher
education, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Northern Mariana Islands and
American Samoa College Access Act''.
SEC. 2. NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS AND AMERICAN SAMOA COLLEGE ACCESS.
Subpart 10 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070h) is amended to read as follows:
``Subpart 10--Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa College
Access
``SEC. 420R. PUBLIC SCHOOL GRANTS.
``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this subpart to establish a
program that enables college-bound residents of the Northern Mariana
Islands and American Samoa to have greater choices among institutions
of higher education.
``(b) Grants.--
``(1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under
subsection (j), the Secretary shall provide--
``(A) 50 percent of such amount to the Northern
Mariana Islands for the Governor to award grants to
eligible institutions that enroll eligible students to
pay the difference between the tuition and fees charged
for in-State students and the tuition and fees charged
for out-of-State students on behalf of each eligible
student enrolled in the eligible institution; and
``(B) 50 percent of such amount to the American
Samoa for the Governor to award grants to eligible
institutions that enroll eligible students to pay the
difference between the tuition and fees charged for in-
State students and the tuition and fees charged for
out-of-State students on behalf of each eligible
student enrolled in the eligible institution.
``(2) Maximum student amounts.--The amount paid on behalf
of an eligible student under this section shall be--
``(A) not more than $15,000 for any one award year
(as defined in section 481); and
``(B) not more than $45,000 in the aggregate.
``(3) Proration.--The Governor shall prorate payments under
this section for students who attend an eligible institution on
less than a full-time basis.
``(c) Reduction for Insufficient Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--If the funds appropriated pursuant to
subsection (j) for any fiscal year are insufficient to award a
grant in the amount determined under subsection (a) on behalf
of each eligible student enrolled in an eligible institution,
then the Governor, in consultation with the Secretary of
Education, shall--
``(A) first, ratably reduce the amount of the
tuition and fee payment made on behalf of each eligible
student who has not received funds under this section
for a preceding year; and
``(B) after making reductions under subparagraph
(A), ratably reduce the amount of the tuition and fee
payments made on behalf of all other eligible students.
``(2) Adjustments.--The Governor, in consultation with the
Secretary of Education, may adjust the amount of tuition and
fee payments made under paragraph (1) based on--
``(A) the financial need of the eligible students
to avoid undue hardship to the eligible students; or
``(B) undue administrative burdens on the Governor.
``(3) Further adjustments.--Notwithstanding paragraphs (1)
and (2), the Governor may prioritize the making or amount of
tuition and fee payments under this subsection based on the
income and financial need of eligible students.
``(d) Definitions.--In this subpart:
``(1) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible
institution' means an institution that--
``(A) is a public four-year institution of higher
education located in one of the several States, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States
Virgin Islands, or Guam;
``(B) is eligible to participate in the student
financial assistance programs under this title; and
``(C) enters into an agreement with the Governors
of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa
containing such conditions as each Governor may
specify, including a requirement that the institution
use the funds made available under this section to
supplement and not supplant assistance that otherwise
would be provided to eligible students from the
Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.
``(2) Eligible student.--The term `eligible student' means
an individual who--
``(A) graduated from a public institution of higher
education located in the Northern Mariana Islands or
American Samoa;
``(B) begins the individual's course of study
within the 3 calendar years (excluding any period of
service on active duty in the Armed Forces or service
under the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.) or
subtitle D of title I of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.)) of
graduation from a public institution of higher
education located in the Northern Mariana Islands or
American Samoa;
``(C) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment, on at
least a half-time basis, in a baccalaureate degree or
other program (including a program of study abroad
approved for credit by the institution at which such
student is enrolled) leading to a recognized
educational credential at an eligible institution;
``(D) if enrolled in an eligible institution, is
maintaining satisfactory progress in the course of
study the student is pursuing in accordance with
section 484(c); and
``(E) has not completed the individual's first
undergraduate baccalaureate course of study.
``(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given the
term in section 101.
``(4) Governor.--The term `Governor' means the Governor of
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or American
Samoa.
``(e) Construction.--Nothing in this subpart shall be construed to
require an institution of higher education to alter the institution's
admissions policies or standards in any manner to enable an eligible
student to enroll in the institution.
``(f) Applications.--Each student desiring a tuition payment under
this section shall submit an application to the eligible institution at
such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the
eligible institution may require.
``(g) Administration of Program.--
``(1) In general.--Each Governor shall carry out the
program under this section in consultation with the Secretary.
Each Governor may enter into a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement with another public or private entity to administer
the program under this section if the Governor determines that
doing so is a more efficient way of carrying out the program.
``(2) Policies and procedures.--Each Governor, in
consultation with institutions of higher education eligible for
participation in the program authorized under this section,
shall develop policies and procedures for the administration of
the program.
``(3) Memorandum of agreement.--Each Governor and the
Secretary shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement that
describes--
``(A) the manner in which the Governor shall
consult with the Secretary with respect to
administering the program under this section; and
``(B) any technical or other assistance to be
provided to the Governor by the Secretary for purposes
of administering the program under this section (which
may include access to the information in the common
financial reporting form developed under section 483).
``(h) Governor's Report.--Each Governor shall report to the
Secretary and the authorizing committees annually regarding--
``(1) the number of eligible students attending each
eligible institution and the amount of the grant awards paid to
those institutions on behalf of the eligible students;
``(2) the extent, if any, to which a ratable reduction was
made in the amount of tuition and fee payments made on behalf
of eligible students; and
``(3) the progress in obtaining recognized academic
credentials of the cohort of eligible students for each year.
``(i) GAO Report.--Not later than 24 months of the date of
enactment of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa College
Access Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall report
on the effect of the program assisted under this section on educational
opportunities for eligible students. The Comptroller General shall
analyze whether eligible students had difficulty gaining admission to
eligible institutions because of any preference afforded to in-State
residents by eligible institutions, and shall expeditiously report any
findings regarding such difficulty to Congress. In addition the
Comptroller General shall--
``(1) analyze and identify any challenges eligible students
face in gaining admission to eligible institutions, including
admission aided by assistance provided under this subpart, due
to--
``(A) caps on the number of out-of-State students
the institution will enroll;
``(B) significant barriers imposed by academic
entrance requirements (such as grade point average and
standardized scholastic admissions tests); and
``(C) absence of admission programs benefitting
minority students; and
``(2) report the findings of the analysis described in
paragraph (1) and the assessment described in paragraph (2) to
Congress and the Governor.
``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and
American Samoa to carry out this subpart $10,000,000, to be available
until expended, for fiscal year 2024 and each of the 5 succeeding
fiscal years.
``(k) Effective Date.--This subpart shall take effect with respect
to payments for periods of instruction that begin on or after the date
of enactment of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa College
Access Act.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E118)
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
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