II 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 686 

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide greater access 

to higher education for America’s students, to eliminate educational 

barriers for participation in a public service career, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 6, 2019 

Mr. CARDIN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide 

greater access to higher education for America’s students, to eliminate educational barriers for participation 

in a public service career, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Amer5 ican Communities Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 

7 It is the purpose of this Act to provide greater access 

8 to higher education for America’s students, to eliminate 


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1 educational barriers for participation in a public service 

2 career by providing an opportunity for potential public 

3 servants to obtain an undergraduate education, and to es4 tablish an accelerated form of the public service loan for5 giveness program for more immediate loan forgiveness for 

6 existing public servants holding Federal Direct Stafford 

7 Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, and 

8 Federal Direct PLUS Loans. 

9 TITLE I—AMERICA’S COLLEGE 

10 PROMISE 

11 SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 

12 This title may be cited as the ‘‘America’s College 

13 Promise Act of 2019’’. 

14 SEC. 102. PURPOSE. 

15 The purpose of this title is to help all individuals of 

16 the United States earn the education and skills the indi17 viduals need— 

18 (1) by making 2 years of community college 

19 free, through a new partnership with States and In20 dian Tribes to help the States and Indian Tribes— 

21 (A) waive resident community college tui22 tion and fees for eligible students; 

23 (B) maintain State and Indian Tribe sup24 port for higher education; and 


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1 (C) promote key reforms to improve stu2 dent outcomes; and 

3 (2) through a new partnership with minority4 serving institutions to— 

5 (A) encourage eligible students to enroll 

6 and successfully complete a baccalaureate de7 gree at participating institutions; and 

8 (B) promote key reforms to improve stu9 dent outcomes. 

10 Subtitle A—State and Indian Tribe 

11 Grants for Community Colleges 

12 SEC. 111. IN GENERAL. 

13 From amounts appropriated under section 117(a) for 

14 any fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants to eligible 

15 States and Indian Tribes to pay the Federal share of ex16 penditures needed to carry out the activities and services 

17 described in section 115. 

18 SEC. 112. FEDERAL SHARE; NON-FEDERAL SHARE. 

19 (a) FEDERAL SHARE.— 

20 (1) FORMULA.—Subject to paragraph (2), the 

21 Federal share of a grant under this subtitle shall be 

22 based on a formula, determined by the Secretary, 

23 that— 

24 (A) accounts for the State or Indian 

25 Tribe’s share of eligible students; and 


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1 (B) provides, for each eligible student in 

2 the State or Indian Tribe, a per-student 

3 amount that is— 

4 (i) not less than 300 percent of the 

5 per-student amount of the State or Indian 

6 Tribe share, determined under subsection 

7 (b), subject to clause (ii); and 

8 (ii) not greater than 75 percent of— 

9 (I) for the 2018–2019 award 

10 year, the average resident community 

11 college tuition and fees per student in 

12 all States for the most recent year for 

13 which data are available; and 

14 (II) for each subsequent award 

15 year, the average resident community 

16 college tuition and fees per student in 

17 all States calculated under this sub18 clause for the preceding year, in19 creased by the lesser of— 

20 (aa) the percentage by which 

21 the average resident community 

22 college tuition and fees per stu23 dent in all States for the most re24 cent year for which data are 

25 available increased as compared 


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1 to such average for the preceding 

2 year; or 

3 (bb) 3 percent. 

4 (2) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN INDIAN

5 TRIBES.—In any case in which not less than 75 per6 cent of the students at the community colleges oper7 ated or controlled by an Indian Tribe are low-income 

8 students, the amount of the Federal share for such 

9 Indian Tribe shall be not less than 95 percent of the 

10 total amount needed to waive tuition and fees for all 

11 eligible students enrolled in such community col12 leges. 

13 (b) STATE OR TRIBAL SHARE.— 

14 (1) FORMULA.— 

15 (A) IN GENERAL.—The State or Tribal 

16 share of a grant under this subtitle for each fis17 cal year shall be the amount needed to pay 25 

18 percent of the average community college resi19 dent tuition and fees per student in all States 

20 in the 2018–2019 award year for all eligible 

21 students in the State or Indian Tribe, respec22 tively, for such fiscal year, except as provided in 

23 subparagraph (B). 

24 (B) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN INDIAN

25 TRIBES.—In a case in which not less than 5 


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1 percent of the students at the community col2 leges operated or controlled by an Indian Tribe 

3 are low-income students, the amount of such 

4 Indian Tribe’s tribal share shall not exceed 5 

5 percent of the total amount needed to waive tui6 tion and fees for all eligible students enrolled in 

7 such community colleges. 

8 (2) NEED-BASED AID.—A State or Indian Tribe 

9 may include any need-based financial aid provided 

10 through State or Tribal funds to eligible students as 

11 part of the State or Tribal share. 

12 (3) NO IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.—A State or 

13 Indian Tribe shall not include in-kind contributions 

14 for purposes of the State or Tribal share described 

15 in paragraph (1). 

16 SEC. 113. ELIGIBILITY. 

17 To be eligible for a grant under this subtitle, a State 

18 or Indian Tribe shall agree to waive community college 

19 resident tuition and fees for all eligible students for each 

20 year of the grant. 

21 SEC. 114. APPLICATIONS. 

22 (a) SUBMISSION.—For each fiscal year for which a 

23 State or Indian Tribe desires a grant under this subtitle, 

24 an application shall be submitted to the Secretary at such 

25 time, in such manner, and containing such information as 


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1 the Secretary may require. Such application shall be sub2 mitted by— 

3 (1) in the case of a State, the Governor, the 

4 State agency with jurisdiction over higher education, 

5 or another agency designated by the Governor to ad6 minister the program under this subtitle; or 

7 (2) in the case of an Indian Tribe, the gov8 erning body of such Tribe. 

9 (b) CONTENTS.—Each State or Indian Tribe applica10 tion shall include, at a minimum— 

11 (1) an estimate of the number of eligible stu12 dents in the State or Indian Tribe and the cost of 

13 waiving community college resident tuition and fees 

14 for all eligible students for each fiscal year covered 

15 by the grant, with annual increases of an amount 

16 that shall not exceed 3 percent of the prior year’s 

17 average resident community college tuition and fees; 

18 (2) an assurance that all community colleges in 

19 the State or under the jurisdiction of the Indian 

20 Tribe, respectively, will waive resident tuition and 

21 fees for eligible students in programs that are— 

22 (A) academic programs with credits that 

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1 ate degree at any public institution of higher 

2 education in the State; or 

3 (B) occupational skills training programs 

4 that lead to a recognized postsecondary creden5 tial that is in an in-demand industry sector or 

6 occupation in the State; 

7 (3) a description of the promising and evidence8 based institutional reforms and innovative practices 

9 to improve student outcomes, including completion 

10 or transfer rates, that have been or will be adopted 

11 by the participating community colleges, such as— 

12 (A) providing comprehensive academic and 

13 student support services, including mentoring 

14 and advising, especially for low-income, first15 generation, adult, and other underrepresented 

16 students; 

17 (B) providing accelerated learning opportu18 nities, such as dual or concurrent enrollment 

19 programs, including early college high school 

20 programs; 

21 (C) advancing competency-based education; 

22 (D) strengthening remedial education, es23 pecially for low-income, first-generation, adult 

24 and other underrepresented students; 


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1 (E) implementing course redesigns of high2 enrollment courses to improve student outcomes 

3 and reduce cost; or 

4 (F) utilizing career pathways or degree 

5 pathways; 

6 (4) a description of how the State or Indian 

7 Tribe will promote alignment between its public sec8 ondary school and postsecondary education systems, 

9 including between 2-year and 4-year public institu10 tions of higher education and with minority-serving 

11 institutions described in section 371(a) of the High12 er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)), to 

13 expand awareness of and access to postsecondary 

14 education, reduce the need for remediation and re15 peated coursework, and improve student outcomes; 

16 (5) a description of how the State or Indian 

17 Tribe will ensure that programs leading to a recog18 nized postsecondary credential meet the quality cri19 teria established by the State under section 123(a) 

20 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 

21 (29 U.S.C. 3153(a)) or other quality criteria deter22 mined appropriate by the State or Indian Tribe; 

23 (6) an assurance that all participating commu24 nity colleges in the State or under the authority of 

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1 pation agreements under section 487 of the Higher 

2 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094); and 

3 (7) an assurance that, for each year of the 

4 grant, the State or Indian Tribe will notify each eli5 gible student of the student’s remaining eligibility 

6 for assistance under this subtitle. 

7 SEC. 115. ALLOWABLE USES OF FUNDS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—A State or Indian Tribe shall use 

9 a grant under this subtitle only to provide funds to partici10 pating community colleges to waive resident tuition and 

11 fees for eligible students who are enrolled in— 

12 (1) academic programs with credits that can 

13 fully transfer via articulation agreement toward a 

14 baccalaureate degree or postbaccalaureate degree at 

15 any public institution of higher education in the 

16 State; or 

17 (2) occupational skills training programs that 

18 lead to a recognized postsecondary credential that is 

19 in an in-demand industry sector or occupation in the 

20 State. 

21 (b) ADDITIONAL USES.—If a State or Indian Tribe 

22 demonstrates to the Secretary that it has grant funds re23 maining after meeting the demand for activities described 

24 in subsection (a), the State or Indian Tribe may use those 

25 funds to carry out one or more of the following: 


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1 (1) Expanding the waiver of resident tuition 

2 and fees at community college to students who are 

3 returning students or otherwise not enrolling in 

4 postsecondary education for the first time, and who 

5 meet the student eligibility requirements of clauses 

6 (i) through (v) of section 116(5)(A). 

7 (2) Expanding the scope and capacity of high8 quality academic and occupational skills training 

9 programs at community colleges. 

10 (3) Improving postsecondary education readi11 ness in the State or Indian Tribe, through outreach 

12 and early intervention. 

13 (4) Expanding access to dual or concurrent en14 rollment programs, including early college high 

15 school programs. 

16 (5) Improving affordability at 4-year public and 

17 private, nonprofit institutions of higher education. 

18 (c) USE OF FUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PUR19 POSES.—A State or Indian Tribe that receives a grant 

20 under this subtitle may not use any funds provided under 

21 this subtitle for administrative purposes relating to the 

22 grant under this subtitle. 

23 (d) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT REQUIRED.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—A State or Indian Tribe that 

2 receives a grant under this subtitle shall provide, 

3 with respect to a fiscal year— 

4 (A) for public and private, nonprofit insti5 tutions of higher education in such State or In6 dian tribe an amount that is equal to or greater 

7 than the amount provided for non-capital and 

8 non-direct research and development expenses 

9 or costs by such State or Indian tribe to such 

10 institutions of higher education during the pre11 ceding fiscal year for which satisfactory data 

12 are available; and 

13 (B) for student financial aid for paying 

14 costs associated with public and private, non15 profit postsecondary education in such State or 

16 Indian tribe an amount that is equal to or 

17 greater than the amount provided for student 

18 financial aid for paying costs associated with 

19 public and private, nonprofit postsecondary 

20 education by such State or Indian tribe in the 

21 preceding fiscal year for which satisfactory data 

22 are available. 

23 (2) ADJUSTMENTS FOR BIENNIAL APPROPRIA24 TIONS.—The Secretary shall take into consideration 

25 any adjustments to the calculations under paragraph 


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1 (1) that may be required to accurately reflect fund2 ing levels in States or Indian tribes with biennial ap3 propriation cycles. 

4 (3) WAIVER.—The Secretary shall waive the re5 quirements of paragraph (1) if the Secretary deter6 mines that such a waiver would be equitable due to 

7 exceptional or uncontrollable circumstances, such as 

8 a natural disaster or a precipitous and unforeseen 

9 decline in the financial resources of a State or In10 dian tribe, as appropriate. 

11 (4) VIOLATION OF MAINTENANCE OF EF12 FORT.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 

13 the Secretary shall withhold from any State or In14 dian tribe that violates paragraph (1) and does not 

15 receive a waiver pursuant to paragraph (3) any 

16 amount that would otherwise be available to the 

17 State or Indian tribe under this Act until such State 

18 or Indian tribe has made significant efforts to cor19 rect such violation. 

20 (e) ANNUAL REPORT.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—A State or Indian Tribe re22 ceiving a grant under this subtitle shall submit an 

23 annual report to the Secretary describing the uses of 

24 grant funds under this subtitle, the progress made 

25 in fulfilling the requirements of the grant, and rates 


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1 of graduation, transfer and attainment of recognized 

2 postsecondary credentials at participating commu3 nity colleges, and including any other information as 

4 the Secretary may require. 

5 (2) INCLUSION IN HEA ANNUAL REPORT.—At 

6 the discretion of the Secretary, the information re7 quired in the report under paragraph (1) may be in8 cluded in an annual report on higher education re9 quired under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

10 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.). 

11 (f) REPORTING BY SECRETARY.—The Secretary an12 nually shall— 

13 (1) compile and analyze the information de14 scribed in subsection (e); and 

15 (2) prepare and submit a report to the Com16 mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

17 of the Senate and the Committee on Education and 

18 Labor of the House of Representatives containing 

19 the analysis described in paragraph (1) and an iden20 tification of State and Indian Tribe best practices 

21 for achieving the purpose of this subtitle. 

22 (g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 

23 provide technical assistance to eligible States and Indian 

24 Tribes concerning best practices regarding the promising 

25 and evidence-based institutional reforms and innovative 


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1 practices to improve student outcomes as described in sec2 tion 114(b)(3) and shall disseminate such best practices 

3 among the States and Indian Tribes. 

4 (h) CONTINUATION OF FUNDING.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—A State or Indian Tribe re6 ceiving a grant under this subtitle for a fiscal year 

7 may continue to receive funding under this title for 

8 future fiscal years conditioned on the availability of 

9 budget authority and on meeting the requirements 

10 of the grant, as determined by the Secretary. 

11 (2) DISCONTINUATION.—The Secretary may 

12 discontinue funding of the Federal share of a grant 

13 under this subtitle if the State or Indian Tribe has 

14 violated the terms of the grant or is not making ade15 quate progress in implementing the reforms de16 scribed in the application submitted under section 

17 114. 

18 SEC. 116. DEFINITIONS. 

19 In this subtitle: 

20 (1) CAREER PATHWAY.—The term ‘‘career 

21 pathway’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

22 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 

23 (29 U.S.C. 3102). 

24 (2) COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—The term ‘‘commu25 nity college’’ means a public institution of higher 


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1 education at which the highest degree that is pre2 dominantly awarded to students is an associate’s de3 gree, including 2-year tribally controlled colleges 

4 under section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 

5 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c) and public 2-year State in6 stitutions of higher education. 

7 (3) DUAL OR CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT PRO8 GRAM.—The term ‘‘dual or concurrent enrollment 

9 program’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

10 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 

11 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

12 (4) EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL.—The term 

13 ‘‘early college high school’’ has the meaning given 

14 the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec15 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

16 (5) ELIGIBLE STUDENT.— 

17 (A) DEFINITION.—The term ‘‘eligible stu18 dent’’ means a student who— 

19 (i)(I) enrolls in a community college 

20 after the date of enactment of this Act; or 

21 (II) is enrolled in a community college 

22 as of the date of enactment of this Act; 

23 (ii) attends the community college on 

24 not less than a half-time basis; 


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1 (iii) is maintaining satisfactory 

2 progress, as defined in section 484(c) of 

3 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

4 U.S.C. 1091(c)), in the student’s course of 

5 study; 

6 (iv) qualifies for resident tuition, as 

7 determined by the State or Indian Tribe; 

8 and 

9 (v) is enrolled in an eligible program 

10 described in section 114(b)(2). 

11 (B) SPECIAL RULE.—An otherwise eligible 

12 student shall lose eligibility 3 calendar years 

13 after first receiving benefits under this subtitle. 

14 (6) IN-DEMAND INDUSTRY SECTOR OR OCCUPA15 TION.—The term ‘‘in-demand industry sector or oc16 cupation’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

17 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 

18 (29 U.S.C. 3102). 

19 (7) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 

20 has the meaning given the term (without regard to 

21 capitalization) in section 102(2) of the Federally 

22 Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 

23 U.S.C. 5130(2)). 

24 (8) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 

25 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 


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1 meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 

2 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 

3 (9) RECOGNIZED POSTSECONDARY CREDEN4 TIAL.—The term ‘‘recognized postsecondary creden5 tial’’ has the meaning as described in section 3 of 

6 the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 

7 U.S.C. 3102). 

8 (10) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ 

9 means the Secretary of Education. 

10 (11) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean11 ing given the term in section 103 of the Higher 

12 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003). 

13 SEC. 117. APPROPRIATIONS. 

14 (a) AUTHORIZATION AND APPROPRIATIONS.—For 

15 the purpose of making grants under this subtitle, there 

16 are authorized to be appropriated, and there are appro17 priated— 

18 (1) $1,515,150,000 for fiscal year 2020; 

19 (2) $3,352,200,000 for fiscal year 2021; 

20 (3) $4,277,940,000 for fiscal year 2022; 

21 (4) $5,988,450,000 for fiscal year 2023; 

22 (5) $7,837,710,000 for fiscal year 2024; 

23 (6) $8,974,350,000 for fiscal year 2025; 

24 (7) $11,302,020,000 for fiscal year 2026; 

25 (8) $14,451,090,000 for fiscal year 2027; 


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1 (9) $15,077,130,000 for fiscal year 2028; and 

2 (10) $15,729,810,000 for fiscal year 2029 and 

3 each succeeding fiscal year. 

4 (b) AVAILABILITY.—Funds appropriated under sub5 section (a) shall remain available to the Secretary until 

6 expended. 

7 (c) INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.—If the amount appro8 priated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year is not suffi9 cient to award each participating State and Indian Tribe 

10 a grant under this subtitle that is equal to the minimum 

11 amount of the Federal share described in section 112(a), 

12 the Secretary may ratably reduce the amount of each such 

13 grant or take other actions necessary to ensure an equi14 table distribution of such amount. 


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1 Subtitle B—Grants to Historically 

2 Black Colleges and Universities, 

3 Hispanic-Serving Institutions, 

4 Asian American and Native 

5 American Pacific Islander-Serv6 ing Institutions, Tribal Colleges 

7 and Universities, Alaska Native8 Serving Institutions, Native Ha9 waiian-Serving Institutions, 

10 Predominantly Black Institu11 tions, and Native American12 Serving Nontribal Institutions 

13 SEC. 121. PATHWAYS TO STUDENT SUCCESS FOR HISTORI14 CALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—From amounts appropriated 

16 under section 124(a) for any fiscal year, the Secretary 

17 shall award grants to participating 4-year historically 

18 Black colleges or universities that meet the requirements 

19 of subsection (b) to— 

20 (1) encourage students to enroll and success21 fully complete a bachelor’s degree at institutions eli22 gible under subsection (b); 

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1 section (b) through strong transfer pathways to 

2 complete a bachelor’s degree program; and 

3 (3) support institutions eligible under sub4 section (b) to better serve new and existing students 

5 by engaging in reforms and innovations designed to 

6 improve completion rates and other student out7 comes. 

8 (b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 

9 under the program under this section, an institution shall 

10 be a historically Black college or university that— 

11 (1) has a student body of which not less than 

12 35 percent are low-income students; 

13 (2) commits to maintaining or adopting and im14 plementing promising and evidence-based institu15 tional reforms and innovative practices to improve 

16 the completion rates and other student outcomes, 

17 such as— 

18 (A) providing comprehensive academic and 

19 student support services, including mentoring 

20 and advising; 

21 (B) providing accelerated learning opportu22 nities and degree pathways, such as dual or 

23 concurrent enrollment programs and pathways 

24 to graduate and professional degree programs; 


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1 (C) advancing distance and competency2 based education; 

3 (D) partnering with employers, industry, 

4 nonprofit associations, and other groups to pro5 vide opportunities to advance learning outside 

6 the classroom, including work-based learning 

7 opportunities such as internships or apprentice8 ships or programs designed to improve inter9 cultural development and personal growth, such 

10 as foreign exchange and study abroad pro11 grams; 

12 (E) reforming remedial education, espe13 cially for low-income students, first generation 

14 college students, adult students, and other 

15 underrepresented students; or 

16 (F) implementing course redesigns of high17 enrollment courses to improve student outcomes 

18 and reduce cost; 

19 (3) sets performance goals for improving stu20 dent outcomes for the duration of the grant; and 

21 (4) if receiving a grant for transfer students, 

22 has articulation agreements with community colleges 

23 at the national, State, or local level to ensure that 

24 community college credits can fully transfer to the 

25 institution. 


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1 (c) GRANT AMOUNT.— 

2 (1) INITIAL AMOUNT.—For the first year that 

3 an eligible institution, as described in subsection (b), 

4 participates in the grant program under this section 

5 and subject to paragraph (3), such eligible institu6 tion shall receive a grant in an amount based on the 

7 product of— 

8 (A) the actual cost of tuition and fees at 

9 the eligible institution in such year (referred to 

10 in this section as the per-student rebate); multi11 plied by 

12 (B) the number of eligible students en13 rolled in the eligible institution for the pre14 ceding year. 

15 (2) SUBSEQUENT INCREASES.—For each suc16 ceeding year after the first year of the grant pro17 gram under this section, each eligible institution, as 

18 described in subsection (b), that participate in the 

19 grant program shall receive a grant in the amount 

20 determined under paragraph (1) for such year, ex21 cept that in no case shall the amount of the per-stu22 dent rebate for an eligible institution increase by 

23 more than 3 percent as compared to the amount of 

24 such rebate for the preceding year. 

25 (3) LIMITATIONS.— 


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1 (A) MAXIMUM PER-STUDENT REBATE.— 

2 No eligible institution, as described in sub3 section (b), participating in the grant program 

4 under this section shall receive a per-student re5 bate amount for any year that is greater than 

6 the national average of annual tuition and fees 

7 at public 4-year institutions of higher education 

8 for such year, as determined by the Secretary. 

9 (B) FIRST YEAR TUITION AND FEES.— 

10 During the first year of participation in the 

11 grant program under this section, no eligible in12 stitution, as described in subsection (b), may in13 crease tuition and fees at a rate greater than 

14 any annual increase at the eligible institution in 

15 the previous 5 years. 

16 (d) APPLICATION.—An eligible institution, as de17 scribed in subsection (b), that desires a grant under this 

18 section shall submit an application to the Secretary at 

19 such time, in such manner, and containing such informa20 tion as the Secretary may require. 

21 (e) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds awarded under this sec22 tion to an eligible institution, as described in subsection 

23 (b), shall be used to waive or significantly reduce tuition 

24 and fees for eligible students in an amount of not more 

25 than up to the annual per-student rebate amount for each 


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1 student, for not more than the first 60 credits an eligible 

2 student enrolls in the eligible institution. 

3 SEC. 122. PATHWAYS TO STUDENT SUCCESS FOR HISPANIC4 SERVING INSTITUTIONS, ASIAN AMERICAN 

5 AND NATIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER6 SERVING INSTITUTIONS, TRIBAL COLLEGES 

7 AND UNIVERSITIES, ALASKA NATIVE-SERV8 ING INSTITUTIONS, NATIVE HAWAIIAN-SERV9 ING INSTITUTIONS, PREDOMINANTLY BLACK 

10 INSTITUTIONS, AND NATIVE AMERICAN-SERV11 ING NONTRIBAL INSTITUTIONS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—From amounts appropriated 

13 under section 124(a) for any fiscal year, the Secretary 

14 shall award grants to eligible 4-year minority-serving insti15 tutions to— 

16 (1) encourage students to enroll and success17 fully complete a bachelor’s degree at institutions eli18 gible under subsection (b); 

19 (2) provide incentives to community college stu20 dents to transfer to institutions eligible under sub21 section (b) through strong transfer pathways to 

22 complete a bachelor’s degree program; and 

23 (3) support institutions eligible under sub24 section (b) to better serve new and existing students 

25 by engaging in reforms and innovations designed to 


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1 improve completion rates and other student out2 comes. 

3 (b) INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to 

4 participate and receive a grant under this section, an insti5 tution shall be a minority-serving institution with respect 

6 to which the majority of degrees awarded are bacca7 laureate degrees or higher that— 

8 (1) has a student body of which not less than 

9 35 percent are low-income students; 

10 (2) commits to maintaining or adopting and im11 plementing promising and evidence-based institu12 tional reforms and innovative practices to improve 

13 the completion rates and other student outcomes, 

14 such as— 

15 (A) providing comprehensive academic and 

16 student support services, including mentoring 

17 and advising; 

18 (B) providing accelerated learning opportu19 nities and degree pathways, such as dual or 

20 concurrent enrollment programs and pathways 

21 to graduate and professional degree programs; 

22 (C) advancing distance and competency23 based education; 

24 (D) partnering with employers, industry, 

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1 vide opportunities to advance learning outside 

2 the classroom, including work-based learning 

3 opportunities such as internships or apprentice4 ships or programs designed to improve inter5 cultural development and personal growth, such 

6 as foreign exchange and study abroad pro7 grams; 

8 (E) reforming remedial education, espe9 cially for low-income students, first generation 

10 college students, adult students, and other 

11 underrepresented students; and 

12 (F) implementing course redesigns of high13 enrollment courses to improve student outcomes 

14 and reduce cost; 

15 (3) sets performance goals for improving stu16 dent outcomes for the duration of the grant; and 

17 (4) if receiving a grant for transfer students, 

18 has articulation agreements with community colleges 

19 at the national, State, or local levels to ensure that 

20 community college credits can fully transfer to the 

21 institution. 

22 (c) GRANT AMOUNT.— 

23 (1) INITIAL AMOUNT.—For the first year that 

24 an eligible institution, as described in subsection (b), 

25 participates in the grant program under this section 


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1 and subject to paragraph (3), such eligible institu2 tion shall receive a grant in an amount based on the 

3 product of— 

4 (A) the actual cost of tuition and fees at 

5 the eligible institution in such year (referred to 

6 in this section as the per-student rebate); multi7 plied by 

8 (B) the number of eligible students en9 rolled in the eligible institution for the pre10 ceding year. 

11 (2) SUBSEQUENT INCREASES.—For each suc12 ceeding year after the first year of the grant pro13 gram under this section, each eligible institution, as 

14 described in subsection (b), that participate in the 

15 grant program shall receive a grant in the amount 

16 determined under paragraph (1) for such year, ex17 cept that in no case shall the amount of the per-stu18 dent rebate increase by more than 3 percent as com19 pared to the amount of such rebate for the pre20 ceding year. 

21 (3) LIMITATIONS.— 

22 (A) MAXIMUM PER-STUDENT REBATE.— 

23 No eligible institution, as described in sub24 section (b), participating in the grant program 

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1 bate amount for a grant year greater than the 

2 national average of public 4-year institutional 

3 tuition and fees, as determined by the Sec4 retary. 

5 (B) FIRST YEAR TUITION AND FEES.— 

6 During the first year of participation in the 

7 grant program under this section, no eligible in8 stitution, as described in subsection (b), may in9 crease tuition and fees at a rate greater than 

10 any annual increase made by the institution in 

11 the previous 5 years. 

12 (d) APPLICATION.—An eligible institution, as de13 scribed in subsection (b), shall submit an application to 

14 the Secretary at such time, in such a manner, and con15 taining such information as determined by the Secretary. 

16 (e) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds awarded under this sec17 tion to an eligible institution, as described in subsection 

18 (b), shall be used to waive or significantly reduce tuition 

19 and fees for eligible students in an amount of not more 

20 than up to the annual per-student rebate amount for each 

21 student, for not more than the first 60 credits an eligible 

22 student enrolls in the eligible institution. 

23 SEC. 123. DEFINITIONS. 

24 In this subtitle: 

25 (1) ELIGIBLE STUDENT.— 


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1 (A) DEFINITION.—The term ‘‘eligible stu2 dent’’ means a student, regardless of age, 

3 who— 

4 (i)(I) enrolls in a historically Black 

5 college or university, or minority-serving 

6 institution; or 

7 (II) transfers from a community col8 lege into a historically Black college or uni9 versity, or minority-serving institution; 

10 (ii) attends the historically Black col11 lege or university, or minority serving in12 stitution, on at least a half-time basis; and 

13 (iii) is maintaining satisfactory 

14 progress, as defined in section 484(c) of 

15 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

16 U.S.C. 1091(c)), in the student’s course of 

17 study. 

18 (B) SPECIAL RULE.—An otherwise eligible 

19 student shall lose eligibility 3 calendar years 

20 after first receiving benefits under this subtitle. 

21 (2) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE OR UNI22 VERSITY.—The term ‘‘historically Black college or 

23 university’’ means a part B institution described in 

24 section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

25 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)). 


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1 (3) LOW-INCOME STUDENT.—The term ‘‘low-in2 come student’’— 

3 (A) shall include any student eligible for a 

4 Federal Pell Grant under section 401 of the 

5 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

6 1070a); and 

7 (B) may include a student ineligible for a 

8 Federal Pell Grant under section 401 of the 

9 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

10 1070a) who is determined by the institution of 

11 higher education in which the student is en12 rolled to be a low-income student based on an 

13 analysis of the student’s ability to afford the 

14 cost of attendance at the institution. 

15 (4) MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTION.—The 

16 term ‘‘minority-serving institution’’ means any pub17 lic or nonprofit institution of higher education— 

18 (A) described in paragraphs (2) through 

19 (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education 

20 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)); and 

21 (B) designated as a minority-serving insti22 tution by the Secretary. 

23 (5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

24 the Secretary of Education. 


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1 SEC. 124. APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 (a) AUTHORIZATION AND APPROPRIATIONS FOR

3 HBCU AND MSI GRANTS.—For the purpose of carrying 

4 out sections 121 and 122, there are authorized to be ap5 propriated, and there are appropriated— 

6 (1) $61,050,000 for fiscal year 2020; 

7 (2) $199,800,000 for fiscal year 2021; 

8 (3) $1,189,920,000 for fiscal year 2022; 

9 (4) $1,237,650,000 for fiscal year 2023; 

10 (5) $1,287,600,000 for fiscal year 2024; 

11 (6) $1,338,660,000 for fiscal year 2025; 

12 (7) $1,359,750,000 for fiscal year 2026; 

13 (8) $1,449,660,000 for fiscal year 2027; 

14 (9) $1,508,490,000 for fiscal year 2028; and 

15 (10) $1,569,540,000 for fiscal year 2029 and 

16 each succeeding fiscal year. 

17 (b) AVAILABILITY.—Funds appropriated under sub18 section (a) are to remain available to the Secretary until 

19 expended. 

20 (c) INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.—If the amount appro21 priated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year is not suffi22 cient to award each participating institution in the grant 

23 programs under sections 121 and 122 a grant under this 

24 subtitle that is equal to 100 percent of the grant amount 

25 determined under sections 121(c) and 122(c), as applica26 ble, the Secretary may ratably reduce the amount of each 


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1 such grant or take other actions necessary to ensure an 

2 equitable distribution of such amount. 

3 TITLE II—NATIONAL PUBLIC 

4 SERVICE EDUCATION GRANT 

5 PROGRAM 

6 SEC. 201. NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE EDUCATION GRANT 

7 PROGRAM. 

8 Part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 

9 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) is amended by adding at 

10 the end the following: 

11 ‘‘Subpart 11—National Public Service Education 

12 Grant Program 

13 ‘‘SEC. 420T. NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE EDUCATION 

14 GRANT PROGRAM. 

15 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

16 ‘‘(1) COST OF ATTENDANCE.— 

17 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘cost of at18 tendance’ means tuition, fees, on-campus room 

19 and board, books and supplies, personal ex20 penses, and transportation. 

21 ‘‘(B) ON-CAMPUS ROOM AND BOARD.—The 

22 term ‘on-campus room and board’ means— 

23 ‘‘(i) the cost to a student of a double 

24 room on campus; and 


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1 ‘‘(ii) the cost of a resident student 

2 meal plan. 

3 ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘eligi4 ble institution’ means a public 4-year institution of 

5 higher education or a private, nonprofit 4-year insti6 tution of higher education. 

7 ‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE STUDENT.—The term ‘eligible 

8 student’ means a student who— 

9 ‘‘(A) has received an associate’s degree or 

10 has earned not less than 60 credits toward a 

11 baccalaureate degree; 

12 ‘‘(B) is enrolled, at an eligible institution 

13 awarded a grant under this section, on a full14 time basis in a course of study that will lead to 

15 employment in a public service job; and 

16 ‘‘(C) has submitted a Free Application for 

17 Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Depart18 ment. 

19 ‘‘(4) PUBLIC SERVICE JOB.—The term ‘public 

20 service job’ has the meaning given the term in sec21 tion 455(m)(3)(B). 

22 ‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary 

23 shall establish a National Public Service Education Grant 

24 program to assist in paying for the cost of attendance for 

25 an undergraduate education to students who commit to 


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1 work for not less than 3 years in a public service job upon 

2 completion of their baccalaureate degree. 

3 ‘‘(c) GRANTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO ELIGIBLE

4 INSTITUTIONS.— 

5 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 

6 grants to eligible institutions to enable the eligible 

7 institutions to award grants to eligible students who 

8 commit to work for not less than 3 years in a public 

9 service job upon completion of their baccalaureate 

10 degree. 

11 ‘‘(2) DURATION.—Grants awarded to eligible 

12 institutions under this subsection shall be 5 years in 

13 duration. Subject to subsection (e), such a grant 

14 may be extended for additional 5-year periods. 

15 ‘‘(3) AMOUNTS.— 

16 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

17 subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall award a 

18 grant to an eligible institution under this sub19 section for a fiscal year in an amount equal to 

20 the lesser of— 

21 ‘‘(i) the average annual cost of in22 State tuition, fees, and on-campus room 

23 and board in the State in which the insti24 tution is located at a public 4-year institu25 tion of higher education during the fiscal 


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1 year multiplied by the number of eligible 

2 students enrolled at the institution who 

3 apply for a grant under this section during 

4 the fiscal year; or 

5 ‘‘(ii) the actual annual cost of tuition, 

6 fees, and on-campus room and board at 

7 the eligible institution during the fiscal 

8 year multiplied by the number of eligible 

9 students enrolled at the institution who 

10 apply for a grant under this section during 

11 the fiscal year. 

12 ‘‘(B) NONTRADITIONAL CALENDAR.—The 

13 calculation of the cost of tuition, fees, and on14 campus room and board under subparagraph 

15 (A) with respect to an eligible student who ap16 plies for a grant under this section for enroll17 ment during the summer or other nontradi18 tional period shall be the cost of the cost of tui19 tion, fees, and on-campus room and board for 

20 such summer or other nontraditional period. 

21 ‘‘(4) APPLICATIONS.—The Secretary shall de22 sign an application for eligible institutions to partici23 pate in the grant program under this subsection that 

24 includes a description of how the eligible institution, 


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1 if awarded a grant under this subsection, will pro2 vide services to students as follows: 

3 ‘‘(A) Provide comprehensive academic and 

4 student support services for eligible students 

5 awarded grants under this section, including 

6 mentoring and advising, particularly for first7 generation and minority students. 

8 ‘‘(B) Provide accelerated learning opportu9 nities for eligible students awarded grants 

10 under this section to receive their baccalaureate 

11 degree and any required certificate or license to 

12 work in their respective public service job in 

13 less than 2 years if an eligible student seeks to 

14 complete the degree in less than 2 years. 

15 ‘‘(C) Foster opportunities for eligible stu16 dents awarded grants under this section to con17 nect with potential public service job employers 

18 through the Corporation for National and Com19 munity Service. 

20 ‘‘(D) Any additional information deter21 mined necessary by the Secretary. 

22 ‘‘(d) GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.— 

23 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible institution 

24 that receives a grant under subsection (c) shall 


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1 award grants to eligible students enrolled at the in2 stitution. 

3 ‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—An eligible student who 

4 desires to receive a grant under this section shall 

5 submit an application to the eligible institution that 

6 includes the following: 

7 ‘‘(A) An agreement to work for not less 

8 than 3 years in a public service job upon com9 pletion of their baccalaureate degree. 

10 ‘‘(B) Information that demonstrates that 

11 the student is an eligible student for purposes 

12 of section 484. 

13 ‘‘(C) Information that demonstrates that 

14 the student has received counseling from the 

15 Department that explains the terms and condi16 tions of the grant award. 

17 ‘‘(D) Any additional information deter18 mined necessary by the Secretary. 

19 ‘‘(3) GRANT AMOUNT.— 

20 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

21 subparagraph (B), an eligible institution shall 

22 award a grant to an eligible student enrolled at 

23 the institution for an academic year in an 

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1 section (c) for the fiscal year preceding the aca2 demic year divided by the number of students 

3 to whom the eligible institution awards grants 

4 under this subsection for such academic year. 

5 ‘‘(B) NONTRADITIONAL CALENDAR.—An 

6 eligible institution shall award a grant to an eli7 gible student who applies for a grant under this 

8 section for enrollment during the summer or 

9 other nontraditional period in an amount, from 

10 the total grant amount received by the eligible 

11 institution under subsection (c), that is pro12 rated to reflect the cost of tuition, fees, and on13 campus room and board for such summer or 

14 other nontraditional period. 

15 ‘‘(4) COST OF ATTENDANCE BEYOND GRANT

16 AMOUNT.— 

17 ‘‘(A) AMOUNTS NOT COVERED BY NPSEG

18 GRANTS.— 

19 ‘‘(i) PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.— 

20 ‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—An eligible 

21 institution that is a public institution 

22 of higher education shall cover the ex23 cess costs to meet the difference be24 tween the in-State tuition, fees, and 

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1 stitution and the amount awarded to 

2 the eligible student through the grant 

3 award under paragraph (3), through a 

4 combination of grant and work-study 

5 awards under this title for which the 

6 eligible student may be eligible, cam7 pus-based aid programs, State-based 

8 merit or need-based aid, or other in9 stitutional-based merit- or need-based 

10 aid. An eligible institution that is a 

11 public institution of higher education 

12 may cover, with respect to an eligible 

13 student, any amounts of the cost of 

14 attendance that are in excess of the 

15 total amount awarded to the eligible 

16 student through the grant award 

17 under paragraph (3) and the amount 

18 of excess costs provided under this 

19 subclause based on the demonstrated 

20 financial need of the student. 

21 ‘‘(II) STUDENT CONTRIBU22 TION.—The eligible student shall be 

23 responsible for any amounts of the 

24 cost of attendance that are in excess 

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1 igible student through the grant 

2 award under paragraph (3) and the 

3 amount of excess costs provided under 

4 subclause (I). The eligible student 

5 may be eligible for Federal student 

6 aid in accordance with subparagraph 

7 (B) for the remaining cost of attend8 ance amount for which the student is 

9 responsible. 

10 ‘‘(ii) PRIVATE INSTITUTION.— 

11 ‘‘(I) MATCHING AMOUNT.— 

12 ‘‘(aa) IN GENERAL.—An eli13 gible institution that is a private, 

14 nonprofit institution of higher 

15 education shall— 

16 ‘‘(AA) with respect to 

17 an eligible student described 

18 in item (bb), cover excess 

19 costs toward meeting an eli20 gible student’s cost of at21 tendance in an amount 

22 equal to or greater than the 

23 amount of the grant award 

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1 scribed in paragraph (3); 

2 and 

3 ‘‘(BB) with respect to 

4 an eligible student not de5 scribed in item (bb), not be 

6 obligated to provide addi7 tional institutional-based fi8 nancial aid to such student. 

9 ‘‘(bb) ELIGIBLE STU10 DENTS.—An eligible student is 

11 described in this item if the stu12 dent’s (or the student’s parents’ 

13 in the case of a dependent stu14 dent) adjusted gross income for 

15 the taxable year that is 1 year 

16 prior to the taxable year that 

17 ends immediately prior to the be18 ginning of the first award year of 

19 the program under this section is 

20 equal to or less than $125,000, 

21 indexed for inflation by regula22 tion of the Secretary. 

23 ‘‘(cc) SOURCE OF AID.—The 

24 required amount described in 

25 item (aa)(AA) may be provided 


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1 through a combination of grant 

2 and work-study awards under 

3 this title for which the eligible 

4 student may be eligible, campus5 based aid programs, State-based 

6 merit or need-based aid, or other 

7 institutional-based merit- or 

8 need-based aid. 

9 ‘‘(II) STUDENT CONTRIBU10 TION.—The eligible student shall be 

11 responsible for any amounts of the 

12 cost of attendance that are in excess 

13 of the total amount awarded to that 

14 eligible student through the grant 

15 award under paragraph (3) and the 

16 amount of excess costs provided under 

17 subclause (I). The eligible student 

18 may be eligible for Federal student 

19 aid in accordance with subparagraph 

20 (B) for the remaining cost of attend21 ance amount for which the student is 

22 responsible. 

23 ‘‘(iii) STUDENT CHOICE.—An eligible 

24 student who receives a Federal work-study 

25 award by an eligible institution to meet the 


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1 cost of attendance beyond a grant awarded 

2 under this section may choose to decline 

3 the Federal work-study award and take 

4 out a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Staf5 ford Loan. An eligible institution shall be 

6 considered to have met the institution’s re7 sponsibilities if a student chooses to take 

8 out such a loan in lieu of a Federal work9 study award. 

10 ‘‘(B) FIRST DOLLAR AWARD.—An eligible 

11 institution shall consider the grant award under 

12 this subsection as the first dollar award, to be 

13 available prior to other funds awarded by the 

14 Department of Education under this title, the 

15 State involved, or the institution. 

16 ‘‘(C) HOUSING.—An eligible student who 

17 receives a grant under this subsection may use 

18 the grant amounts for off-campus housing but 

19 the student may not use such grant amounts 

20 for any amounts for such off-campus housing 

21 that are in excess of the cost of on-campus 

22 room and board. 

23 ‘‘(5) CLASSES IN NONTRADITIONAL CAL24 ENDARS.—An eligible student who receives a grant 


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1 under this subsection may use the grant amounts for 

2 enrollment during any period of study. 

3 ‘‘(e) INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.— 

4 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible institution 

5 that receives a grant under subsection (c) shall— 

6 ‘‘(A) provide comprehensive academic and 

7 student support services for eligible students 

8 awarded grants under this section, including 

9 mentoring and advising, particularly for first10 generation and minority students; 

11 ‘‘(B) provide accelerated learning opportu12 nities for eligible students awarded grants 

13 under this section to receive their baccalaureate 

14 degree and any required certificate or license to 

15 work in their respective public service job in 

16 less than 2 years if an eligible student seeks to 

17 complete the degree in less than 2 years; and 

18 ‘‘(C) foster opportunities for eligible stu19 dents awarded grants under this section to con20 nect with potential public service job employers 

21 through the Corporation for National and Com22 munity Service. 

23 ‘‘(2) BIENNIAL REPORT.— 

24 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible institu25 tion that receives a grant under subsection (c) 


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1 shall submit a biennial report to the Secretary 

2 describing the following: 

3 ‘‘(i) Academic and student support 

4 services offered to eligible students award5 ed grants under this section. 

6 ‘‘(ii) Such students’ progress towards 

7 baccalaureate degree completion and grad8 uation. 

9 ‘‘(iii) Outreach to potential public 

10 service job employers for the eligible stu11 dents awarded grants under this section. 

12 ‘‘(B) CONTINUING GRANT AWARDS TO ELI13 GIBLE INSTITUTIONS.—The Secretary may con14 tinue grant awards to an eligible institution 

15 under subsection (c) after the initial 5-year 

16 grant period for additional 5-year periods if— 

17 ‘‘(i) the institution complies with the 

18 requirements of paragraph (1); and 

19 ‘‘(ii) the eligible students awarded 

20 grants under this section who are enrolled 

21 at the institution have a baccalaureate de22 gree graduation rate that meets or exceeds 

23 a rate determined appropriate by the Sec24 retary. 


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1 ‘‘(C) DISCONTINUING GRANT AWARDS TO

2 ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS.— 

3 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary 

4 may discontinue grant awards to an eligi5 ble institution under subsection (c) after 

6 the initial 5-year grant period based on the 

7 outcome of the biennial reports under sub8 paragraph (A). 

9 ‘‘(ii) NOTIFICATION.—Prior to the 

10 Secretary discontinuing a grant award 

11 under clause (i), the Secretary shall notify 

12 the institution, prior to the start of the 5th 

13 year of the 5-year grant period, in a pub14 lically available format, that the institution 

15 is, or is potentially, out of compliance with 

16 the requirements of the grant award and 

17 may have the institution’s grant awards 

18 discontinued. 

19 ‘‘(iii) MODIFICATIONS.—In the 5th 

20 year of the 5-year grant period, an eligible 

21 institution may make modifications to the 

22 institution’s grant program and appeal to 

23 the Secretary for a renewal of the institu24 tion’s grant. 


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1 ‘‘(iv) DECISION.—The Secretary, prior 

2 to the conclusion of the 5-year grant pe3 riod, shall render a decision on whether to 

4 continue grant awards to an eligible insti5 tution. 

6 ‘‘(v) REMAINING RESPONSIBILITY.—If 

7 the Secretary discontinues grant awards to 

8 an eligible institution under subsection (c), 

9 the institution shall be responsible for 

10 maintaining academic and student support 

11 services and providing the full remaining 

12 costs for eligible students awarded a grant 

13 under this section prior to such discontinu14 ation to receive their baccalaureate degree 

15 debt free. 

16 ‘‘(3) INSTITUTIONAL PROHIBITIONS.—Each eli17 gible institution that receives a grant under sub18 section (c) may not— 

19 ‘‘(A) use grant funds for administrative 

20 purposes; or 

21 ‘‘(B) establish different tuition prices be22 tween eligible students who receive grants 

23 under this section and students who do not re24 ceive grants under this section for pursing the 

25 same course of study. 


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1 ‘‘(f) STUDENT ACCOUNTABILITY.— 

2 ‘‘(1) ENROLLMENT; GPA; SERVICE.— 

3 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible student 

4 awarded a grant under this section shall— 

5 ‘‘(i) maintain full-time enrollment in 

6 order to complete the student’s bacca7 laureate degree in not more than 2 years; 

8 and 

9 ‘‘(ii) maintain satisfactory academic 

10 progress, defined as a 3.0 grade point av11 erage (GPA) or higher, and meet all other 

12 institutional standards for academic 

13 progress. 

14 ‘‘(B) TWO WEEKS OF SERVICE.— 

15 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as other16 wise provided in this subparagraph, an eli17 gible student awarded a grant under this 

18 section shall serve for 80 hours as a partic19 ipant in a Corporation for National and 

20 Community Service national service project 

21 for each year the eligible student receives 

22 the grant. The eligible institution shall as23 sist in placing the eligible student in such 

24 a project relevant to the eligible student’s 

25 course of study. Such required hours may 


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1 be completed at any point during the stu2 dent’s enrollment but shall be completed 

3 prior to the date the eligible student re4 ceives the student’s baccalaureate degree. 

5 ‘‘(ii) OTHER PROJECT.—If an eligible 

6 student resides in an area without a local 

7 Corporation for National and Community 

8 Service national service project available, 

9 the student may instead participate in a 

10 service project with a community action 

11 agency, a local government agency, or an 

12 organization described in section 501(c)(3) 

13 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 

14 ‘‘(iii) MEDICAL EXEMPTION.—The 

15 Secretary may grant an eligible student a 

16 medical exemption from the service com17 mitment under this subparagraph if the 

18 student becomes medically unable to com19 plete the service commitment over the 

20 course of the academic year. An eligible 

21 student granted such an exemption shall 

22 complete the service commitment upon re23 covery without risking eligibility status in 

24 the grant program under this section. 

25 ‘‘(2) SATISFACTORY PROGRESS.— 


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1 ‘‘(A) AFTER ONE YEAR.—In the case in 

2 which an eligible student awarded a grant 

3 under this section does not maintain satisfac4 tory academic progress, as described in para5 graph (1)(A)(ii), after the first academic year 

6 for which the student received the grant, the 

7 student shall— 

8 ‘‘(i) serve an additional year in a pub9 lic service job beyond the 3-year commit10 ment upon receiving the student’s bacca11 laureate degree; and 

12 ‘‘(ii) receive additional academic sup13 ports from the eligible institution in which 

14 the student is enrolled. 

15 ‘‘(B) AFTER TWO YEARS.—In the case in 

16 which an eligible student awarded a grant 

17 under this section does not receive a bacca18 laureate degree after the second academic year 

19 for which the student received the grant, the 

20 total of the grant award amount and remaining 

21 funds provided by the institution shall be treat22 ed as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford 

23 Loan under part D of title IV, and shall be sub24 ject to repayment, as described in paragraph 

25 (4). 


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1 ‘‘(C) APPEALS.—In the case in which an 

2 eligible student awarded a grant under this sec3 tion does not maintain satisfactory academic 

4 progress, as described in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), 

5 after the first academic year for which the stu6 dent received the grant, the student may appeal 

7 the decision to serve an additional year, as de8 scribed in subparagraph (A)(i). The appeal 

9 shall be made in writing to the eligible institu10 tion and include an academic plan approved by 

11 the student’s adviser. The academic plan shall 

12 show a clear pathway to graduation within 1 

13 year. 

14 ‘‘(3) PUBLIC SERVICE JOB WORK OBLIGA15 TION.— 

16 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

17 paragraph (2)(A)(i) and subparagraph (C), an 

18 eligible student awarded a grant under this sec19 tion shall work for not less than 3 years in a 

20 public service job after receiving the student’s 

21 baccalaureate degree. Such 3 years (or 4 years, 

22 in the case of a scenario described in paragraph 

23 (2)(A)(i)) may be consecutive or nonconsecutive 

24 but shall be completed not later than 5 years 

25 (or 6 years, in the case of a scenario described 


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1 in paragraph (2)(A)(i)) after the date the stu2 dent receives the student’s baccalaureate de3 gree. 

4 ‘‘(B) NOTIFICATION.—An eligible student 

5 awarded a grant under this section shall notify 

6 the Department, utilizing a form designed by 

7 the Secretary, of the student’s compliance or 

8 noncompliance with subparagraph (A) annually 

9 until such student completes the student’s work 

10 obligation. 

11 ‘‘(C) DEFERMENT FOR GRADUATE

12 SCHOOL.—The work obligation described in 

13 subparagraph (A) of an eligible student award14 ed a grant under this section who enrolls as a 

15 full-time student in a post-baccalaureate degree 

16 program not later than 3 years after the date 

17 the student receives the student’s baccalaureate 

18 degree shall be deferred during the period of 

19 such full-time enrollment. Any years of service 

20 completed prior to full-time enrollment in a 

21 post-baccalaureate degree program shall count 

22 toward such work obligation. 

23 ‘‘(4) REPAYMENT FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.—In 

24 the event that an eligible student awarded a grant 

25 under this section fails or refuses to comply with the 


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1 work obligation as described in paragraph (3), or the 

2 student does not receive a baccalaureate degree after 

3 the second academic year for which the student re4 ceived the grant, as described in paragraph (2)(B), 

5 the sum of the amounts of any grants received by 

6 the student shall, upon a determination of such a 

7 failure or refusal in such service obligation or failure 

8 to receive a baccalaureate degree, be treated as a 

9 Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan under 

10 part D of title IV, and shall be subject to repay11 ment, together with interest thereon accruing from 

12 the date of the grant award, in accordance with 

13 terms and conditions specified by the Secretary in 

14 regulations under this section. 

15 ‘‘(5) MEDICAL EXEMPTION.—The Secretary 

16 may grant an eligible student awarded a grant under 

17 this section a medical exemption— 

18 ‘‘(A) from the requirement of maintaining 

19 satisfactory academic progress under paragraph 

20 (1)(A)(ii); or 

21 ‘‘(B) from a term or condition of the work 

22 obligation of the student if the student becomes 

23 medically unable to complete the student’s stud24 ies or public service job work obligation. 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 420U. NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE EDUCATION 

2 GRANT PROGRAM FOR MINORITY-SERVING 

3 INSTITUTIONS AND HBCUS. 

4 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

5 ‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘eligi6 ble institution’ means a minority-serving institution 

7 or historically black college or university that is a 

8 public 4-year institution of higher education or a 

9 private, nonprofit 4-year institution of higher edu10 cation. 

11 ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE STUDENT.—The term ‘eligible 

12 student’ means a student who— 

13 ‘‘(A) has received an associate’s degree or 

14 has earned not less than 60 credits toward a 

15 baccalaureate degree; 

16 ‘‘(B) is enrolled, at an eligible institution 

17 awarded a grant under this section, on a full18 time basis in a course of study that will lead to 

19 employment in a public service job; and 

20 ‘‘(C) has submitted a Free Application for 

21 Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Depart22 ment. 

23 ‘‘(3) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE OR UNI24 VERSITY.—The term ‘historically black college or 

25 university’ means a part B institution described in 

26 section 322(2). 


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1 ‘‘(4) MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTION.—The 

2 term ‘minority-serving institution’ means any public 

3 or nonprofit institution of higher education— 

4 ‘‘(A) described in paragraphs (2) through 

5 (7) of section 371(a); and 

6 ‘‘(B) designated as a minority-serving in7 stitution by the Secretary. 

8 ‘‘(5) ON-CAMPUS ROOM AND BOARD.—The term 

9 ‘on-campus room and board’ means— 

10 ‘‘(A) the cost to a student of a double 

11 room on campus; and 

12 ‘‘(B) the cost of a resident student meal 

13 plan. 

14 ‘‘(6) PUBLIC SERVICE JOB.—The term ‘public 

15 service job’ has the meaning given the term in sec16 tion 455(m)(3)(B). 

17 ‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary 

18 shall establish a National Public Service Education Grant 

19 program for eligible institutions to provide a debt-free un20 dergraduate education to students who commit to work 

21 for not less than 3 years in a public service job upon com22 pletion of their baccalaureate degree. 

23 ‘‘(c) GRANTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO ELIGIBLE

24 INSTITUTIONS.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 

2 grants to eligible institutions to enable the eligible 

3 institutions to award grants to eligible students who 

4 commit to work for not less than 3 years in a public 

5 service job upon completion of their baccalaureate 

6 degree. 

7 ‘‘(2) DURATION.—Grants awarded to eligible 

8 institutions under this subsection shall be 5 years in 

9 duration. Subject to subsection (e), such a grant 

10 may be extended for additional 5-year periods. 

11 ‘‘(3) AMOUNTS.— 

12 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

13 subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall award a 

14 grant to an eligible institution under this sub15 section for a fiscal year in an amount equal to 

16 the actual annual cost of in-State tuition, fees, 

17 and on-campus room and board at the eligible 

18 institution during the fiscal year multiplied by 

19 the number of eligible students enrolled at the 

20 institution who apply for a grant under this 

21 section during the fiscal year. 

22 ‘‘(B) NONTRADITIONAL CALENDAR.—The 

23 calculation of the cost of tuition, fees, and on24 campus room and board under subparagraph 

25 (A) with respect to an eligible student who apVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Mar 16, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S686.IS S686

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1 plies for a grant under this section for enroll2 ment during the summer or other nontradi3 tional period shall be the cost of the cost of tui4 tion, fees, and on-campus room and board for 

5 such summer or other nontraditional period. 

6 ‘‘(4) APPLICATIONS.—The Secretary shall de7 sign an application for eligible institutions to partici8 pate in the grant program under this subsection that 

9 includes a description of how the eligible institution, 

10 if awarded a grant under this subsection, will pro11 vide services to students as follows: 

12 ‘‘(A) Provide comprehensive academic and 

13 student support services for eligible students 

14 awarded grants under this section, including 

15 mentoring and advising, particularly for first16 generation and minority students. 

17 ‘‘(B) Provide accelerated learning opportu18 nities for eligible students awarded grants 

19 under this section to receive their baccalaureate 

20 degree and any required certificate or license to 

21 work in their respective public service job in 

22 less than 2 years if an eligible student seeks to 

23 complete the degree in less than 2 years. 

24 ‘‘(C) Foster opportunities for eligible stu25 dents awarded grants under this section to conVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Mar 16, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S686.IS S686

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1 nect with potential public service job employers 

2 through the Corporation for National and Com3 munity Service. 

4 ‘‘(D) Any additional information deter5 mined necessary by the Secretary. 

6 ‘‘(d) GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.— 

7 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible institution 

8 that receives a grant under subsection (c) shall 

9 award grants to eligible students enrolled at the in10 stitution. 

11 ‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—An eligible student who 

12 desires to receive a grant under this section shall 

13 submit an application to the eligible institution that 

14 includes the following: 

15 ‘‘(A) An agreement to work for not less 

16 than 3 years in a public service job upon com17 pletion of their baccalaureate degree. 

18 ‘‘(B) Information that demonstrates that 

19 the student is an eligible student for purposes 

20 of section 484. 

21 ‘‘(C) Information that demonstrates that 

22 the student has received counseling from the 

23 Department that explains the terms and condi24 tions of the grant award. 


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1 ‘‘(D) Any additional information deter2 mined necessary by the Secretary. 

3 ‘‘(3) GRANT AMOUNT.— 

4 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible institution 

5 shall award a grant to an eligible student en6 rolled at the institution for an academic year in 

7 an amount equal to the total grant amount re8 ceived by the eligible institution under sub9 section (c) for the fiscal year preceding the aca10 demic year divided by the number of students 

11 to whom the eligible institution awards grants 

12 under this subsection for such academic year. 

13 ‘‘(B) NONTRADITIONAL CALENDAR.—An 

14 eligible institution shall award a grant to an eli15 gible student who applies for a grant under this 

16 section for enrollment during the summer or 

17 other nontraditional period in an amount, from 

18 the total grant amount received by the eligible 

19 institution under subsection (c), that is pro20 rated to reflect the cost of tuition, fees, and on21 campus room and board for such summer or 

22 other nontraditional period. 

23 ‘‘(4) COST OF ATTENDANCE BEYOND GRANT

24 AMOUNT.— 


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1 ‘‘(A) AMOUNTS NOT COVERED BY NPSEG

2 GRANTS.— 

3 ‘‘(i) PUBLIC INSTITUTION.—An eligi4 ble institution that is a public institution 

5 of higher education may cover, with re6 spect to an eligible student, any amounts 

7 of the cost of attendance that are in excess 

8 of the total amount awarded to the eligible 

9 student through the grant award under 

10 paragraph (3), based on the demonstrated 

11 financial need of the student. For the re12 maining costs, the eligible student enrolled 

13 at an eligible institution that is a public in14 stitution shall be responsible for any 

15 amounts of the cost of attendance that are 

16 in excess of the total amount awarded to 

17 that eligible student through the grant 

18 award under paragraph (3) and any 

19 amount provided pursuant to the preceding 

20 sentence. The eligible student may be eligi21 ble for Federal student aid in accordance 

22 with subparagraph (B) for the remaining 

23 cost of attendance amount for which the 

24 student is responsible. 

25 ‘‘(ii) PRIVATE INSTITUTION.— 


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1 ‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—An eligible 

2 institution that is a private, nonprofit 

3 institution of higher education shall— 

4 ‘‘(aa) with respect to an eli5 gible student described in sub6 clause (II), cover excess costs to7 ward meeting an eligible stu8 dent’s cost of attendance in an 

9 amount equal to or greater than 

10 the amount of the grant award to 

11 the eligible student described in 

12 paragraph (3); and 

13 ‘‘(bb) with respect to an eli14 gible student not described in 

15 subclause (II), not be obligated 

16 to provide additional institu17 tional-based financial aid to such 

18 student. 

19 ‘‘(II) ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.—An 

20 eligible student is described in this 

21 subclause if the student’s (or the stu22 dent’s parents’ in the case of a de23 pendent student) adjusted gross in24 come for the taxable year that is 1 

25 year prior to the taxable year that 


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1 ends immediately prior to the begin2 ning of the first award year of the 

3 program under this section is equal to 

4 or less than $125,000, indexed for in5 flation by regulation of the Secretary. 

6 ‘‘(III) SOURCE OF AID.—The re7 quired amount described in subclause 

8 (I)(aa) may be provided through a 

9 combination of grant and work-study 

10 awards under this title for which the 

11 eligible student may be eligible, cam12 pus-based aid programs, State-based 

13 merit or need-based aid, or other in14 stitutional-based merit- or need-based 

15 aid. 

16 ‘‘(IV) STUDENT CONTRIBU17 TION.—The eligible student shall be 

18 responsible for any amounts of the 

19 cost of attendance that are in excess 

20 of the total amount awarded to that 

21 eligible student through the grant 

22 award under paragraph (3) and the 

23 amount of excess costs provided under 

24 subclause (I). The eligible student 

25 may be eligible for Federal student 


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1 aid in accordance with subparagraph 

2 (B) for the remaining cost of attend3 ance amount for which the student is 

4 responsible. 

5 ‘‘(iii) STUDENT CHOICE.—An eligible 

6 student who receives a Federal work-study 

7 award by an eligible institution to meet the 

8 cost of attendance beyond a grant awarded 

9 under this section may choose to decline 

10 the Federal work-study award and take 

11 out a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Staf12 ford Loan. An eligible institution shall be 

13 considered to have met the institution’s re14 sponsibilities if a student chooses to take 

15 out such a loan in lieu of a Federal work16 study award. 

17 ‘‘(B) FIRST DOLLAR AWARD.—In calcu18 lating an eligible student’s financial need to 

19 cover excess costs described in subparagraph 

20 (A), the eligible institution shall consider the 

21 grant award under this subsection as the first 

22 dollar award, to be available prior to other 

23 funds awarded by the Department of Education 

24 under this title, the State involved, or the insti25 tution. If a grant awarded to an eligible student 


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1 under this section is equal to the cost of tuition, 

2 fees, and on-campus room and board for such 

3 student, the eligible institution shall not be re4 quired to provide additional institutional schol5 arship or grant based aid to the eligible stu6 dent. 

7 ‘‘(C) HOUSING.—An eligible student who 

8 receives a grant under this subsection may use 

9 the grant amounts for off-campus housing but 

10 the student may not use such grant amounts 

11 for any amounts for such off-campus housing 

12 that are in excess of the cost of on-campus 

13 room and board. 

14 ‘‘(5) CLASSES IN NONTRADITIONAL CAL15 ENDARS.—An eligible student who receives a grant 

16 under this subsection may use the grant amounts for 

17 enrollment during any period of study. 

18 ‘‘(e) INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.— 

19 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible institution 

20 that receives a grant under subsection (c) shall— 

21 ‘‘(A) provide comprehensive academic and 

22 student support services for eligible students 

23 awarded grants under this section, including 

24 mentoring and advising, particularly for first25 generation and minority students; 


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1 ‘‘(B) provide accelerated learning opportu2 nities for eligible students awarded grants 

3 under this section to receive their baccalaureate 

4 degree and any required certificate or license to 

5 work in their respective public service job in 

6 less than 2 years if an eligible student seeks to 

7 complete the degree in less than 2 years; and 

8 ‘‘(C) foster opportunities for eligible stu9 dents awarded grants under this section to con10 nect with potential public service job employers 

11 through the Corporation for National and Com12 munity Service. 

13 ‘‘(2) BIENNIAL REPORT.— 

14 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible institu15 tion that receives a grant under subsection (c) 

16 shall submit a biennial report to the Secretary 

17 describing the following: 

18 ‘‘(i) Academic and student support 

19 services offered to eligible students award20 ed grants under this section. 

21 ‘‘(ii) Such students’ progress towards 

22 baccalaureate degree completion and grad23 uation. 


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1 ‘‘(iii) Outreach to potential public 

2 service job employers for the eligible stu3 dents awarded grants under this section. 

4 ‘‘(B) CONTINUING GRANT AWARDS TO ELI5 GIBLE INSTITUTIONS.—The Secretary may con6 tinue grant awards to an eligible institution 

7 under subsection (c) after the initial 5-year 

8 grant period for additional 5-year periods if— 

9 ‘‘(i) the institution complies with the 

10 requirements of paragraph (1); and 

11 ‘‘(ii) the eligible students awarded 

12 grants under this section who are enrolled 

13 at the institution have a baccalaureate de14 gree graduation rate that meets or exceeds 

15 a rate determined appropriate by the Sec16 retary. 

17 ‘‘(C) DISCONTINUING GRANT AWARDS TO

18 ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS.— 

19 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary 

20 may discontinue grant awards to an eligi21 ble institution under subsection (c) after 

22 the initial 5-year grant period based on the 

23 outcome of the biennial reports under sub24 paragraph (A). 


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1 ‘‘(ii) NOTIFICATION.—Prior to the 

2 Secretary discontinuing a grant award 

3 under clause (i), the Secretary shall notify 

4 the institution, prior to the start of the 5th 

5 year of the 5-year grant period, in a pub6 lically available format, that the institution 

7 is, or is potentially, out of compliance with 

8 the requirements of the grant award and 

9 may have the institution’s grant awards 

10 discontinued. 

11 ‘‘(iii) MODIFICATIONS.—In the 5th 

12 year of the 5-year grant period, an eligible 

13 institution may make modifications to the 

14 institution’s grant program and appeal to 

15 the Secretary for a renewal of the institu16 tion’s grant. 

17 ‘‘(iv) DECISION.—The Secretary, prior 

18 to the conclusion of the 5-year grant pe19 riod, shall render a decision on whether to 

20 continue grant awards to an eligible insti21 tution. 

22 ‘‘(v) REMAINING RESPONSIBILITY.—If 

23 the Secretary discontinues grant awards to 

24 an eligible institution under subsection (c), 

25 the institution shall be responsible for 


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1 maintaining academic and student support 

2 services and providing the full remaining 

3 costs for eligible students awarded a grant 

4 under this section prior to such discontinu5 ation to receive their baccalaureate degree 

6 debt free. 

7 ‘‘(3) INSTITUTIONAL PROHIBITIONS.—Each eli8 gible institution that receives a grant under sub9 section (c) may not— 

10 ‘‘(A) use grant funds for administrative 

11 purposes; or 

12 ‘‘(B) establish different tuition prices be13 tween eligible students who receive grants 

14 under this section and students who do not re15 ceive grants under this section for pursing the 

16 same course of study. 

17 ‘‘(f) STUDENT ACCOUNTABILITY.— 

18 ‘‘(1) ENROLLMENT; GPA; SERVICE.— 

19 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible student 

20 awarded a grant under this section shall— 

21 ‘‘(i) maintain full-time enrollment in 

22 order to complete the student’s bacca23 laureate degree in not more than 2 years; 

24 and 


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1 ‘‘(ii) maintain satisfactory academic 

2 progress, defined as a 3.0 grade point av3 erage (GPA) or higher, and meet all other 

4 institutional standards for academic 

5 progress. 

6 ‘‘(B) TWO WEEKS OF SERVICE.— 

7 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as other8 wise provided in this subparagraph, an eli9 gible student awarded a grant under this 

10 section shall serve for 80 hours as a partic11 ipant in a Corporation for National and 

12 Community Service national service project 

13 for each year the eligible student receives 

14 the grant. The eligible institution shall as15 sist in placing the eligible student in such 

16 a project relevant to the eligible student’s 

17 course of study. Such required hours may 

18 be completed at any point during the stu19 dent’s enrollment but shall be completed 

20 prior to the date the eligible student re21 ceives the student’s baccalaureate degree. 

22 ‘‘(ii) OTHER PROJECT.—If an eligible 

23 student resides in an area without a local 

24 Corporation for National and Community 

25 Service national service project available, 


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1 the student may instead participate in a 

2 service project with a community action 

3 agency, a local government agency, or an 

4 organization described in section 501(c)(3) 

5 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 

6 ‘‘(iii) MEDICAL EXEMPTION.—The 

7 Secretary may grant an eligible student a 

8 medical exemption from the service com9 mitment under this subparagraph if the 

10 student becomes medically unable to com11 plete the service commitment over the 

12 course of the academic year. An eligible 

13 student granted such an exemption shall 

14 complete the service commitment upon re15 covery without risking eligibility status in 

16 the grant program under this section. 

17 ‘‘(2) SATISFACTORY PROGRESS.— 

18 ‘‘(A) AFTER ONE YEAR.—In the case in 

19 which an eligible student awarded a grant 

20 under this section does not maintain satisfac21 tory academic progress, as described in para22 graph (1)(A)(ii), after the first academic year 

23 for which the student received the grant, the 

24 student shall— 


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1 ‘‘(i) serve an additional year in a pub2 lic service job beyond the 3-year commit3 ment upon receiving the student’s bacca4 laureate degree; and 

5 ‘‘(ii) receive additional academic sup6 ports from the eligible institution in which 

7 the student is enrolled. 

8 ‘‘(B) AFTER TWO YEARS.—In the case in 

9 which an eligible student awarded a grant 

10 under this section does not receive a bacca11 laureate degree after the second academic year 

12 for which the student received the grant, the 

13 total of the grant award amount and remaining 

14 funds provided by the institution shall be treat15 ed as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford 

16 Loan under part D of title IV, and shall be sub17 ject to repayment, as described in paragraph 

18 (4). 

19 ‘‘(C) APPEALS.—In the case in which an 

20 eligible student awarded a grant under this sec21 tion does not maintain satisfactory academic 

22 progress, as described in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), 

23 after the first academic year for which the stu24 dent received the grant, the student may appeal 

25 the decision to serve an additional year, as deVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Mar 16, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S686.IS S686

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1 scribed in subparagraph (A)(i). The appeal 

2 shall be made in writing to the eligible institu3 tion and include an academic plan approved by 

4 the student’s adviser. The academic plan shall 

5 show a clear pathway to graduation within 1 

6 year. 

7 ‘‘(3) PUBLIC SERVICE JOB WORK OBLIGA8 TION.— 

9 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

10 paragraph (2)(A)(i) and subparagraph (C), an 

11 eligible student awarded a grant under this sec12 tion shall work for not less than 3 years in a 

13 public service job after receiving the student’s 

14 baccalaureate degree. Such 3 years (or 4 years, 

15 in the case of a scenario described in paragraph 

16 (2)(A)(i)) may be consecutive or nonconsecutive 

17 but shall be completed not later than 5 years 

18 (or 6 years, in the case of a scenario described 

19 in paragraph (2)(A)(i)) after the date the stu20 dent receives the student’s baccalaureate de21 gree. 

22 ‘‘(B) NOTIFICATION.—An eligible student 

23 awarded a grant under this section shall notify 

24 the Department, utilizing a form designed by 

25 the Secretary, of the student’s compliance or 


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1 noncompliance with subparagraph (A) annually 

2 until such student completes the student’s work 

3 obligation. 

4 ‘‘(C) DEFERMENT FOR GRADUATE

5 SCHOOL.—The work obligation described in 

6 subparagraph (A) of an eligible student award7 ed a grant under this section who enrolls as a 

8 full-time student in a post-baccalaureate degree 

9 program not later than 3 years after the date 

10 the student receives the student’s baccalaureate 

11 degree shall be deferred during the period of 

12 such full-time enrollment. Any years of service 

13 completed prior to full-time enrollment in a 

14 post-baccalaureate degree program shall count 

15 toward such work obligation. 

16 ‘‘(4) REPAYMENT FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.—In 

17 the event that an eligible student awarded a grant 

18 under this section fails or refuses to comply with the 

19 work obligation as described in paragraph (3), or the 

20 student does not receive a baccalaureate degree after 

21 the second academic year for which the student re22 ceived the grant, as described in paragraph (2)(B), 

23 the sum of the amounts of any grants received by 

24 the student shall, upon a determination of such a 

25 failure or refusal in such service obligation or failure 


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1 to meet satisfactory academic progress, be treated as 

2 a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan under 

3 part D of title IV, and shall be subject to repay4 ment, together with interest thereon accruing from 

5 the date of the grant award, in accordance with 

6 terms and conditions specified by the Secretary in 

7 regulations under this section. 

8 ‘‘(5) MEDICAL EXEMPTION.—The Secretary 

9 may grant an eligible student awarded a grant under 

10 this section a medical exemption— 

11 ‘‘(A) from the requirement of maintaining 

12 satisfactory academic progress under paragraph 

13 (1)(A)(ii); or 

14 ‘‘(B) from a term or condition of the work 

15 obligation of the student if the student becomes 

16 medically unable to complete the student’s stud17 ies or public service job work obligation.’’. 

18 TITLE III—DEBT-FREE PUBLIC 

19 SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS 

20 PROGRAM 

21 SEC. 301. DEBT-FREE PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS 

22 PROGRAM. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 455(m) of the Higher 

24 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(m)) is amended 

25 by adding at the end the following: 


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1 ‘‘(5) DEBT-FREE PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FOR2 GIVENESS PROGRAM.— 

3 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Beginning after the 

4 date of enactment of the Strengthening Amer5 ican Communities Act of 2019, after the con6 clusion of each employment period in a public 

7 service job, as described in subparagraph (B), 

8 the Secretary shall cancel the percent specified 

9 in such subparagraph of the total amount due 

10 on any eligible Federal Direct Loan made after 

11 the date of enactment of the Strengthening 

12 American Communities Act of 2019 for a bor13 rower who— 

14 ‘‘(i) is employed in such public service 

15 job; 

16 ‘‘(ii) submits an employment certifi17 cation form described in subparagraph (C); 

18 ‘‘(iii) is enrolled in a repayment plan 

19 described in paragraph (1)(A); and 

20 ‘‘(iv) notifies the Department that the 

21 borrower seeks loan cancellation under this 

22 paragraph. 

23 ‘‘(B) PERCENT AMOUNT.—The percent of 

24 a loan that shall be canceled under subpara25 graph (A) is as follows: 


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1 ‘‘(i) In the case of a borrower who 

2 completes 2 years of employment in a pub3 lic service job, 15 percent of the total 

4 amount due on the eligible Federal Direct 

5 Loan on the date the borrower commenced 

6 employment in such public service job. 

7 ‘‘(ii) In the case of a borrower who 

8 completes 4 years of employment in a pub9 lic service job, 15 percent of the total 

10 amount due on the eligible Federal Direct 

11 Loan on the date the borrower commenced 

12 employment in such public service job. 

13 ‘‘(iii) In the case of a borrower who 

14 completes 6 years of employment in a pub15 lic service job, 20 percent of the total 

16 amount due on the eligible Federal Direct 

17 Loan on the date the borrower commenced 

18 employment in such public service job. 

19 ‘‘(iv) In the case of a borrower who 

20 completes 8 years of employment in a pub21 lic service job, 20 percent of the total 

22 amount due on the eligible Federal Direct 

23 Loan on the date the borrower commenced 

24 employment in such public service job. 


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1 ‘‘(v) In the case of a borrower who 

2 completes 10 years of employment in a 

3 public service job, 30 percent of the total 

4 amount due on the eligible Federal Direct 

5 Loan on the date the borrower commenced 

6 employment in such public service job. 

7 ‘‘(C) EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATION

8 FORM.— 

9 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In order to receive 

10 loan cancellation under this paragraph, a 

11 borrower shall submit to the Secretary an 

12 employment certification form that is de13 veloped by the Secretary and includes at 

14 least self-certification of employment, a 

15 separate part for employer certification 

16 that indicates the dates of employment, 

17 and any additional information required by 

18 the Secretary. 

19 ‘‘(ii) DEFERMENT.—If a borrower 

20 submits to the Secretary the employment 

21 certification form described in clause (i), 

22 during the period in which the borrower is 

23 employed in a public service job for which 

24 loan cancellation is eligible under this 


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1 paragraph, the borrower’s eligible Federal 

2 Direct Loan shall be placed in deferment. 

3 ‘‘(D) INTEREST CANCELED.—If a portion 

4 of a loan is canceled under this paragraph for 

5 any year, the entire amount of interest on such 

6 loan that accrues for such year shall be can7 celed. 

8 ‘‘(E) NO RETROACTIVITY.—A borrower 

9 may not receive credit for purposes of loan for10 giveness under this paragraph for years of em11 ployment in a public service job that occurred 

12 before the date of enactment of the Strength13 ening American Communities Act of 2019. 

14 ‘‘(F) LEAVING PUBLIC SERVICE.— 

15 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—If a borrower who 

16 receives loan cancellation under this para17 graph leaves the public service job, either 

18 voluntarily or involuntarily, for which the 

19 borrower received loan cancellation before 

20 the total amount due on the eligible Fed21 eral Direct Loan is canceled under this 

22 paragraph, such borrower shall retain eligi23 bility for accelerated loan cancellation 

24 under this paragraph for such eligible Fed25 eral Direct Loan if the borrower comVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Mar 16, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S686.IS S686

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1 mences employment in a public service job 

2 not later than 3 years after the date the 

3 borrower left the public service job for 

4 which the borrower received loan cancella5 tion. 

6 ‘‘(ii) ELIGIBILITY STATUS.—If a bor7 rower described in clause (i) commences 

8 employment in a public service job within 

9 the time period described in clause (i), 

10 such borrower shall resume eligibility for 

11 accelerated loan cancellation under this 

12 paragraph for such eligible Federal Direct 

13 Loan. Such borrower upon resumption of 

14 eligibility shall be considered to have com15 pleted the number of years of employment 

16 in a public service job at the last completed 

17 loan cancellation period described in sub18 paragraph (B) for such borrower, even if 

19 the borrower had actually completed an ad20 ditional year of employment in a public 

21 service job. 

22 ‘‘(iii) LOSS OF ELIGIBILITY.—If a 

23 borrower described in clause (i) does not 

24 commence employment in a public service 

25 job within the time period described in 


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1 clause (i), such borrower shall no longer be 

2 eligible for loan cancellation under this 

3 paragraph but may be eligible for loan can4 cellation for such loan under paragraph 

5 (1).’’. 

6 (b) NOTIFICATION OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary of 

7 Education, in order to inform public servants of the bene8 fits of the debt-free public service loan cancellation pro9 gram established under section 455(m)(5) of the Higher 

10 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(m))— 

11 (1) shall make guidance publicly available to 

12 the employers of public servants to make public serv13 ants aware of such program; and 

14 (2) is encouraged to work in partnership with 

15 State licensing agencies to make recently licensed 

16 public servants aware of such program. 

Æ 


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