II 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2483 

To provide greater access to higher education for America’s students. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 1, 2018 

Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mr. BROWN, Mr. CARDIN, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. 

DURBIN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. HEINRICH, Ms. HIRONO, 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, and 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE) introduced the following bill; which was read twice 

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

A BILL 

To provide greater access to higher education for America’s 

students. 

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 ‘‘America’s College 

5 Promise Act of 2018’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 

7 The purpose of this Act is to help all individuals of 

8 the United States earn the education and skills the indi9 viduals need— 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 2483 IS

1 (1) by making 2 years of community college 

2 free, through a new partnership with States and In3 dian Tribes to help the States and Indian Tribes— 

4 (A) waive resident community college tui5 tion and fees for eligible students; 

6 (B) maintain State and Indian Tribe sup7 port for higher education; and 

8 (C) promote key reforms to improve stu9 dent outcomes; and 

10 (2) through a new partnership with minority11 serving institutions to— 

12 (A) encourage eligible students to enroll 

13 and successfully complete a baccalaureate de14 gree at participating institutions; and 

15 (B) promote key reforms to improve stu16 dent outcomes. 

17 TITLE I—STATE AND INDIAN 

18 TRIBE GRANTS FOR COMMU19 NITY COLLEGES 

20 SEC. 101. IN GENERAL. 

21 From amounts appropriated under section 107(a) for 

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

23 States and Indian Tribes to pay the Federal share of ex24 penditures needed to carry out the activities and services 

25 described in section 105. 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 2483 IS

1 SEC. 102. FEDERAL SHARE; NON-FEDERAL SHARE. 

2 (a) FEDERAL SHARE.— 

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

4 Federal share of a grant under this title shall be 

5 based on a formula, determined by the Secretary, 

6 that— 

7 (A) accounts for the State or Indian 

8 Tribe’s share of eligible students; and 

9 (B) provides, for each eligible student in 

10 the State or Indian Tribe, a per-student 

11 amount that is— 

12 (i) not less than 300 percent of the 

13 per-student amount of the State or Indian 

14 Tribe share, determined under subsection 

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

16 (ii) not greater than 75 percent of— 

17 (I) for the 2019–2020 award 

18 year, the average resident community 

19 college tuition and fees per student in 

20 all States for the most recent year for 

21 which data are available; and 

22 (II) for each subsequent award 

23 year, the average resident community 

24 college tuition and fees per student in 

25 all States calculated under this subVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:55 Mar 07, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2483.IS S2483

SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 2483 IS

1 clause for the preceding year, in2 creased by the lesser of— 

3 (aa) the percentage by which 

4 the average resident community 

5 college tuition and fees per stu6 dent in all States for the most re7 cent year for which data are 

8 available increased as compared 

9 to such average for the preceding 

10 year; or 

11 (bb) 3 percent. 

12 (2) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN INDIAN

13 TRIBES.—In any case in which not less than 75 per14 cent of the students at the community colleges oper15 ated or controlled by an Indian Tribe are low-income 

16 students, the amount of the Federal share for such 

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

18 total amount needed to waive tuition and fees for all 

19 eligible students enrolled in such community col20 leges. 

21 (b) STATE OR TRIBAL SHARE.— 

22 (1) FORMULA.— 

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

24 share of a grant under this title for each fiscal 

25 year shall be the amount needed to pay 25 perVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:55 Mar 07, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2483.IS S2483

SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
5 

•S 2483 IS

1 cent of the average community college resident 

2 tuition and fees per student in all States in the 

3 2019–2020 award year for all eligible students 

4 in the State or Indian Tribe, respectively, for 

5 such fiscal year, except as provided in subpara6 graph (B). 

7 (B) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN INDIAN

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

9 percent of the students at the community col10 leges operated or controlled by an Indian Tribe 

11 are low-income students, the amount of such 

12 Indian Tribe’s tribal share shall not exceed 5 

13 percent of the total amount needed to waive tui14 tion and fees for all eligible students enrolled in 

15 such community colleges. 

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

17 may include any need-based financial aid provided 

18 through State or Tribal funds to eligible students as 

19 part of the State or Tribal share. 

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

21 Indian Tribe shall not include in-kind contributions 

22 for purposes of the State or Tribal share described 

23 in paragraph (1). 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
6 

•S 2483 IS

1 SEC. 103. ELIGIBILITY. 

2 To be eligible for a grant under this title, a State 

3 or Indian Tribe shall agree to waive community college 

4 resident tuition and fees for all eligible students for each 

5 year of the grant. 

6 SEC. 104. APPLICATIONS. 

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

8 State or Indian Tribe desires a grant under this title, an 

9 application shall be submitted to the Secretary at such 

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

11 the Secretary may require. Such application shall be sub12 mitted by— 

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

14 State agency with jurisdiction over higher education, 

15 or another agency designated by the Governor to ad16 minister the program under this title; or 

17 (2) in the case of an Indian Tribe, the gov18 erning body of such Tribe. 

19 (b) CONTENTS.—Each State or Indian Tribe applica20 tion shall include, at a minimum— 

21 (1) an estimate of the number of eligible stu22 dents in the State or Indian Tribe and the cost of 

23 waiving community college resident tuition and fees 

24 for all eligible students for each fiscal year covered 

25 by the grant, with annual increases of an amount 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
7 

•S 2483 IS

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

2 average resident community college tuition and fees; 

3 (2) an assurance that all community colleges in 

4 the State or under the jurisdiction of the Indian 

5 Tribe, respectively, will waive resident tuition and 

6 fees for eligible students in programs that are— 

7 (A) academic programs with credits that 

8 can fully transfer via articulation agreement to9 ward a baccalaureate degree or post-baccalaure10 ate degree at any public institution of higher 

11 education in the State; or 

12 (B) occupational skills training programs 

13 that lead to a recognized postsecondary creden14 tial that is in an in-demand industry sector or 

15 occupation in the State; 

16 (3) a description of the promising and evidence17 based institutional reforms and innovative practices 

18 to improve student outcomes, including completion 

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

20 by the participating community colleges, such as— 

21 (A) providing comprehensive academic and 

22 student support services, including mentoring 

23 and advising, especially for low-income, first24 generation, adult, and other underrepresented 

25 students; 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
8 

•S 2483 IS

1 (B) providing accelerated learning opportu2 nities, such as dual or concurrent enrollment 

3 programs, including early college high school 

4 programs; 

5 (C) advancing competency-based education; 

6 (D) strengthening remedial education, es7 pecially for low-income, first-generation, adult 

8 and other underrepresented students; 

9 (E) implementing course redesigns of high10 enrollment courses to improve student outcomes 

11 and reduce cost; or 

12 (F) utilizing career pathways or degree 

13 pathways; 

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

15 Tribe will promote alignment between its public sec16 ondary school and postsecondary education systems, 

17 including between 2-year and 4-year public institu18 tions of higher education and with minority-serving 

19 institutions described in section 371(a) of the High20 er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)), to 

21 expand awareness of and access to postsecondary 

22 education, reduce the need for remediation and re23 peated coursework, and improve student outcomes; 

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

25 Tribe will ensure that programs leading to a recogVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:55 Mar 07, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2483.IS S2483

SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
9 

•S 2483 IS

1 nized postsecondary credential meet the quality cri2 teria established by the State under section 123(a) 

3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 

4 (29 U.S.C. 3153(a)) or other quality criteria deter5 mined appropriate by the State or Indian Tribe; 

6 (6) an assurance that all participating commu7 nity colleges in the State or under the authority of 

8 the Indian Tribe have entered into program partici9 pation agreements under section 487 of the Higher 

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

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

12 grant, the State or Indian Tribe will notify each eli13 gible student of the student’s remaining eligibility 

14 for assistance under this title. 

15 SEC. 105. ALLOWABLE USES OF FUNDS. 

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

17 a grant under this title only to provide funds to partici18 pating community colleges to waive resident tuition and 

19 fees for eligible students who are enrolled in— 

20 (1) academic programs with credits that can 

21 fully transfer via articulation agreement toward a 

22 baccalaureate degree or postbaccalaureate degree at 

23 any public institution of higher education in the 

24 State; or 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
10 

•S 2483 IS

1 (2) occupational skills training programs that 

2 lead to a recognized postsecondary credential that is 

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

4 State. 

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

6 demonstrates to the Secretary that it has grant funds re7 maining after meeting the demand for activities described 

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

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

10 (1) Expanding the waiver of resident tuition 

11 and fees at community college to students who are 

12 returning students or otherwise not enrolling in 

13 postsecondary education for the first time, and who 

14 meet the student eligibility requirements of clauses 

15 (i) through (v) of section 106(5)(A). 

16 (2) Expanding the scope and capacity of high17 quality academic and occupational skills training 

18 programs at community colleges. 

19 (3) Improving postsecondary education readi20 ness in the State or Indian Tribe, through outreach 

21 and early intervention. 

22 (4) Expanding access to dual or concurrent en23 rollment programs, including early college high 

24 school programs. 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
11 

•S 2483 IS

1 (5) Improving affordability at 4-year public in2 stitutions of higher education. 

3 (c) USE OF FUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PUR4 POSES.—A State or Indian Tribe that receives a grant 

5 under this title may not use any funds provided under this 

6 title for administrative purposes relating to the grant 

7 under this title. 

8 (d) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.—A State or Indian 

9 Tribe receiving a grant under this title is entitled to re10 ceive its full allotment of funds under this title for a fiscal 

11 year only if, for each year of the grant, the State or Indian 

12 Tribe provides financial support for public higher edu13 cation at a level equal to or exceeding the average amount 

14 provided per full-time equivalent student for public institu15 tions of higher education for the 3 consecutive preceding 

16 State or Indian Tribe fiscal years. In making the calcula17 tion under this subsection, the State or Indian Tribe shall 

18 exclude capital expenses and research and development 

19 costs and include need-based financial aid for students 

20 who attend public institutions of higher education. 

21 (e) ANNUAL REPORT.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—A State or Indian Tribe re23 ceiving a grant under this title shall submit an an24 nual report to the Secretary describing the uses of 

25 grant funds under this title, the progress made in 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
12 

•S 2483 IS

1 fulfilling the requirements of the grant, and rates of 

2 graduation, transfer and attainment of recognized 

3 postsecondary credentials at participating commu4 nity colleges, and including any other information as 

5 the Secretary may require. 

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

7 the discretion of the Secretary, the information re8 quired in the report under paragraph (1) may be in9 cluded in an annual report on higher education re10 quired under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

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

12 (f) REPORTING BY SECRETARY.—The Secretary an13 nually shall— 

14 (1) compile and analyze the information de15 scribed in subsection (e); and 

16 (2) prepare and submit a report to the Com17 mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

18 of the Senate and the Committee on Education and 

19 the Workforce of the House of Representatives con20 taining the analysis described in paragraph (1) and 

21 an identification of State and Indian Tribe best 

22 practices for achieving the purpose of this title. 

23 (g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 

24 provide technical assistance to eligible States and Indian 

25 Tribes concerning best practices regarding the promising 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
13 

•S 2483 IS

1 and evidence-based institutional reforms and innovative 

2 practices to improve student outcomes as described in sec3 tion 104(b)(3) and shall disseminate such best practices 

4 among the States and Indian Tribes. 

5 (h) CONTINUATION OF FUNDING.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—A State or Indian Tribe re7 ceiving a grant under this title for a fiscal year may 

8 continue to receive funding under this title for fu9 ture fiscal years conditioned on the availability of 

10 budget authority and on meeting the requirements 

11 of the grant, as determined by the Secretary. 

12 (2) DISCONTINUATION.—The Secretary may 

13 discontinue funding of the Federal share of a grant 

14 under this title if the State or Indian Tribe has vio15 lated the terms of the grant or is not making ade16 quate progress in implementing the reforms de17 scribed in the application submitted under section 

18 104. 

19 SEC. 106. DEFINITIONS. 

20 In this title: 

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

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

23 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 

24 (29 U.S.C. 3102). 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
14 

•S 2483 IS

1 (2) COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—The term ‘‘commu2 nity college’’ means a public institution of higher 

3 education at which the highest degree that is pre4 dominantly awarded to students is an associate’s de5 gree, including 2-year tribally controlled colleges 

6 under section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 

7 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c) and public 2-year State in8 stitutions of higher education. 

9 (3) DUAL OR CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT PRO10 GRAM.—The term ‘‘dual or concurrent enrollment 

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

12 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 

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

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

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

16 the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec17 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

18 (5) ELIGIBLE STUDENT.— 

19 (A) DEFINITION.—The term ‘‘eligible stu20 dent’’ means a student who— 

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

22 after the date of enactment of this Act; or 

23 (II) is enrolled in a community college 

24 as of the date of enactment of this Act; 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
15 

•S 2483 IS

1 (ii) attends the community college on 

2 not less than a half-time basis; 

3 (iii) is maintaining satisfactory 

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

5 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

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

7 study; 

8 (iv) qualifies for resident tuition, as 

9 determined by the State or Indian Tribe; 

10 and 

11 (v) is enrolled in an eligible program 

12 described in section 104(b)(2). 

13 (B) SPECIAL RULE.—An otherwise eligible 

14 student shall lose eligibility 3 calendar years 

15 after first receiving benefits under this title. 

16 (6) IN-DEMAND INDUSTRY SECTOR OR OCCUPA17 TION.—The term ‘‘in-demand industry sector or oc18 cupation’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

19 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 

20 (29 U.S.C. 3102). 

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

22 has the meaning given the term (without regard to 

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

24 Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 

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


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
16 

•S 2483 IS

1 (8) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 

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

3 meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 

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

5 (9) RECOGNIZED POSTSECONDARY CREDEN6 TIAL.—The term ‘‘recognized postsecondary creden7 tial’’ has the meaning as described in section 3 of 

8 the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 

9 U.S.C. 3102). 

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

11 means the Secretary of Education. 

12 (11) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean13 ing given the term in section 103 of the Higher 

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

15 SEC. 107. APPROPRIATIONS. 

16 (a) AUTHORIZATION AND APPROPRIATIONS.—For 

17 the purpose of making grants under this title, there are 

18 authorized to be appropriated, and there are appro19 priated— 

20 (1) $1,515,150,000 for fiscal year 2019; 

21 (2) $3,352,200,000 for fiscal year 2020; 

22 (3) $4,277,940,000 for fiscal year 2021; 

23 (4) $5,988,450,000 for fiscal year 2022; 

24 (5) $7,837,710,000 for fiscal year 2023; 

25 (6) $8,974,350,000 for fiscal year 2024; 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
17 

•S 2483 IS

1 (7) $11,302,020,000 for fiscal year 2025; 

2 (8) $14,451,090,000 for fiscal year 2026; 

3 (9) $15,077,130,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 

4 (10) $15,729,810,000 for fiscal year 2028 and 

5 each succeeding fiscal year. 

6 (b) AVAILABILITY.—Funds appropriated under sub7 section (a) shall remain available to the Secretary until 

8 expended. 

9 (c) INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.—If the amount appro10 priated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year is not suffi11 cient to award each participating State and Indian Tribe 

12 a grant under this title that is equal to the minimum 

13 amount of the Federal share described in section 102(a), 

14 the Secretary may ratably reduce the amount of each such 

15 grant or take other actions necessary to ensure an equi16 table distribution of such amount. 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
18 

•S 2483 IS

1 TITLE II—GRANTS TO HISTORI2 CALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND 

3 UNIVERSITIES, HISPANIC4 SERVING INSTITUTIONS, 

5 ASIAN AMERICAN AND NA6 TIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC IS7 LANDER-SERVING INSTITU8 TIONS, TRIBAL COLLEGES 

9 AND UNIVERSITIES, ALASKA 

10 NATIVE-SERVING INSTITU11 TIONS, NATIVE HAWAIIAN12 SERVING INSTITUTIONS, PRE13 DOMINANTLY BLACK INSTI14 TUTIONS, AND NATIVE AMER15 ICAN-SERVING NONTRIBAL 

16 INSTITUTIONS 

17 SEC. 201. PATHWAYS TO STUDENT SUCCESS FOR HISTORI18 CALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—From amounts appropriated 

20 under section 204(a) for any fiscal year, the Secretary 

21 shall award grants to participating 4-year historically 

22 Black colleges or universities that meet the requirements 

23 of subsection (b) to— 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
19 

•S 2483 IS

1 (1) encourage students to enroll and success2 fully complete a bachelor’s degree at institutions eli3 gible under subsection (b); 

4 (2) provide incentives to community college stu5 dents to transfer to institutions eligible under sub6 section (b) through strong transfer pathways to 

7 complete a bachelor’s degree program; and 

8 (3) support institutions eligible under sub9 section (b) to better serve new and existing students 

10 by engaging in reforms and innovations designed to 

11 improve completion rates and other student out12 comes. 

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

14 under the program under this section, an institution shall 

15 be a historically Black college or university that— 

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

17 35 percent are low-income students; 

18 (2) commits to maintaining or adopting and im19 plementing promising and evidence-based institu20 tional reforms and innovative practices to improve 

21 the completion rates and other student outcomes, 

22 such as— 

23 (A) providing comprehensive academic and 

24 student support services, including mentoring 

25 and advising; 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
20 

•S 2483 IS

1 (B) providing accelerated learning opportu2 nities and degree pathways, such as dual or 

3 concurrent enrollment programs and pathways 

4 to graduate and professional degree programs; 

5 (C) advancing distance and competency6 based education; 

7 (D) partnering with employers, industry, 

8 nonprofit associations, and other groups to pro9 vide opportunities to advance learning outside 

10 the classroom, including work-based learning 

11 opportunities such as internships or apprentice12 ships or programs designed to improve inter13 cultural development and personal growth, such 

14 as foreign exchange and study abroad pro15 grams; 

16 (E) reforming remedial education, espe17 cially for low-income students, first generation 

18 college students, adult students, and other 

19 underrepresented students; or 

20 (F) implementing course redesigns of high21 enrollment courses to improve student outcomes 

22 and reduce cost; 

23 (3) sets performance goals for improving stu24 dent outcomes for the duration of the grant; and 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
21 

•S 2483 IS

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

2 has articulation agreements with community colleges 

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

4 community college credits can fully transfer to the 

5 institution. 

6 (c) GRANT AMOUNT.— 

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

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

9 participates in the grant program under this section 

10 and subject to paragraph (3), such eligible institu11 tion shall receive a grant in an amount based on the 

12 product of— 

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

14 the eligible institution in such year (referred to 

15 in this section as the per-student rebate); multi16 plied by 

17 (B) the number of eligible students en18 rolled in the eligible institution for the pre19 ceding year. 

20 (2) SUBSEQUENT INCREASES.—For each suc21 ceeding year after the first year of the grant pro22 gram under this section, each eligible institution, as 

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

24 grant program shall receive a grant in the amount 

25 determined under paragraph (1) for such year, exVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:55 Mar 07, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2483.IS S2483

SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
22 

•S 2483 IS

1 cept that in no case shall the amount of the per-stu2 dent rebate for an eligible institution increase by 

3 more than 3 percent as compared to the amount of 

4 such rebate for the preceding year. 

5 (3) LIMITATIONS.— 

6 (A) MAXIMUM PER-STUDENT REBATE.— 

7 No eligible institution, as described in sub8 section (b), participating in the grant program 

9 under this section shall receive a per-student re10 bate amount for any year that is greater than 

11 the national average of annual tuition and fees 

12 at public 4-year institutions of higher education 

13 for such year, as determined by the Secretary. 

14 (B) FIRST YEAR TUITION AND FEES.— 

15 During the first year of participation in the 

16 grant program under this section, no eligible in17 stitution, as described in subsection (b), may in18 crease tuition and fees at a rate greater than 

19 any annual increase at the eligible institution in 

20 the previous 5 years. 

21 (d) APPLICATION.—An eligible institution, as de22 scribed in subsection (b), that desires a grant under this 

23 section shall submit an application to the Secretary at 

24 such time, in such manner, and containing such informa25 tion as the Secretary may require. 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
23 

•S 2483 IS

1 (e) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds awarded under this sec2 tion to an eligible institution, as described in subsection 

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

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

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

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

7 student enrolls in the eligible institution. 

8 SEC. 202. PATHWAYS TO STUDENT SUCCESS FOR HISPANIC9 SERVING INSTITUTIONS, ASIAN AMERICAN 

10 AND NATIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER11 SERVING INSTITUTIONS, TRIBAL COLLEGES 

12 AND UNIVERSITIES, ALASKA NATIVE-SERV13 ING INSTITUTIONS, NATIVE HAWAIIAN-SERV14 ING INSTITUTIONS, PREDOMINANTLY BLACK 

15 INSTITUTIONS, AND NATIVE AMERICAN-SERV16 ING NONTRIBAL INSTITUTIONS. 

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—From amounts appropriated 

18 under section 204(a) for any fiscal year, the Secretary 

19 shall award grants to eligible minority-serving institutions 

20 to— 

21 (1) encourage students to enroll and success22 fully complete a bachelor’s degree at institutions eli23 gible under subsection (b); 

24 (2) provide incentives to community college stu25 dents to transfer to institutions eligible under subVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:55 Mar 07, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2483.IS S2483

SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
24 

•S 2483 IS

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) INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to 

9 participate and receive a grant under this section, an insti10 tution shall be a minority-serving institution 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; 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
25 

•S 2483 IS

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; and 

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 levels to ensure that 

24 community college credits can fully transfer to the 

25 institution. 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
26 

•S 2483 IS

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 increase by more than 3 percent as com23 pared to the amount of such rebate for the pre24 ceding year. 

25 (3) LIMITATIONS.— 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
27 

•S 2483 IS

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 a grant year greater than the 

6 national average of public 4-year institutional 

7 tuition and fees, as determined by the Sec8 retary. 

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 made by the institution in 

15 the previous 5 years. 

16 (d) APPLICATION.—An eligible institution, as de17 scribed in subsection (b), shall submit an application to 

18 the Secretary at such time, in such a manner, and con19 taining such information as determined by the Secretary. 

20 (e) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds awarded under this sec21 tion to an eligible institution, as described in subsection 

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

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

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


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
28 

•S 2483 IS

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

2 student enrolls in the eligible institution. 

3 SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this title: 

5 (1) ELIGIBLE STUDENT.— 

6 (A) DEFINITION.—The term ‘‘eligible stu7 dent’’ means a student, regardless of age, 

8 who— 

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

10 college or university, or minority-serving 

11 institution; or 

12 (II) transfers from a community col13 lege into a historically Black college or uni14 versity, or minority-serving institution; 

15 (ii) attends the historically Black col16 lege or university, or minority-serving in17 stitution, on at least a half-time basis; 

18 (iii) is maintaining satisfactory 

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

20 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

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

22 study; and 

23 (iv) is a low-income student. 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
29 

•S 2483 IS

1 (B) SPECIAL RULE.—An otherwise eligible 

2 student shall lose eligibility 3 calendar years 

3 after first receiving benefits under this title. 

4 (2) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE OR UNI5 VERSITY.—The term ‘‘historically Black college or 

6 university’’ means a part B institution described in 

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

8 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)). 

9 (3) LOW-INCOME STUDENT.—The term ‘‘low-in10 come student’’— 

11 (A) shall include any student eligible for a 

12 Federal Pell Grant under section 401 of the 

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

14 1070a); and 

15 (B) may include a student ineligible for a 

16 Federal Pell Grant under section 401 of the 

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

18 1070a) who is determined by the institution of 

19 higher education in which the student is en20 rolled to be a low-income student based on an 

21 analysis of the student’s ability to afford the 

22 cost of attendance at the institution. 

23 (4) MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTION.—The 

24 term ‘‘minority-serving institution’’ means any pub25 lic or nonprofit institution of higher education— 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
30 

•S 2483 IS

1 (A) described in paragraphs (2) through 

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

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

4 (B) designated as a minority-serving insti5 tution by the Secretary. 

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

7 the Secretary of Education. 

8 SEC. 204. APPROPRIATIONS. 

9 (a) AUTHORIZATION AND APPROPRIATIONS FOR

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

11 out sections 201 and 202, there are authorized to be ap12 propriated, and there are appropriated— 

13 (1) $61,050,000 for fiscal year 2019; 

14 (2) $199,800,000 for fiscal year 2020; 

15 (3) $1,189,920,000 for fiscal year 2021; 

16 (4) $1,237,650,000 for fiscal year 2022; 

17 (5) $1,287,600,000 for fiscal year 2023; 

18 (6) $1,338,660,000 for fiscal year 2024; 

19 (7) $1,359,750,000 for fiscal year 2025; 

20 (8) $1,449,660,000 for fiscal year 2026; 

21 (9) $1,508,490,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 

22 (10) $1,569,540,000 for fiscal year 2028 and 

23 each succeeding fiscal year. 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
31 

•S 2483 IS

1 (b) AVAILABILITY.—Funds appropriated under sub2 section (a) are to remain available to the Secretary until 

3 expended. 

4 (c) INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.—If the amount appro5 priated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year is not suffi6 cient to award each participating institution in the grant 

7 programs under sections 201 and 202 a grant under this 

8 part that is equal to 100 percent of the grant amount de9 termined under sections 201(c) and 202(c), as applicable, 

10 the Secretary may ratably reduce the amount of each such 

11 grant or take other actions necessary to ensure an equi12 table distribution of such amount. 

Æ 


SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS