```

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6585 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 6585

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend Federal Pell Grant 
         eligibility to certain short-term workforce programs.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 5, 2023

  Ms. Stefanik (for herself, Ms. Foxx, Mr. Scott of Virginia, and Mr. 
 DeSaulnier) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend Federal Pell Grant 
         eligibility to certain short-term workforce programs.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act''.

SEC. 2. WORKFORCE PELL GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1070a), as amended by section 703 of the FAFSA 
Simplification Act (title VII of division FF of Public Law 116-260), is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Workforce Pell Grant Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--For the award year beginning on July 1, 
        2025, and each subsequent award year, the Secretary shall award 
        grants (to be known as `Workforce Pell Grants') to eligible 
        students under paragraph (2) in accordance with this 
        subsection.
            ``(2) Eligible students.--To be eligible to receive a 
        Workforce Pell Grant under this subsection for any period of 
        enrollment, a student shall meet the eligibility requirements 
        for a Federal Pell Grant under this section, except that the 
        student--
                    ``(A) shall be enrolled, or accepted for 
                enrollment, in an eligible program under section 
                481(b)(3) (hereinafter referred to as an `eligible 
                workforce program'); and
                    ``(B) may not--
                            ``(i) be enrolled, or accepted for 
                        enrollment, in a program of study that leads to 
                        a master's degree, doctoral degree, or other 
                        post-graduate degree; or
                            ``(ii) have attained such a degree.
            ``(3) Terms and conditions of awards.--The Secretary shall 
        award Workforce Pell Grants under this subsection in the same 
        manner and with the same terms and conditions as the Secretary 
        awards Federal Pell Grants under this section, except that--
                    ``(A) each use of the term `eligible program' shall 
                be substituted by `eligible program under section 
                481(b)(3)', other than with respect to--
                            ``(i) paragraph (9)(A) of such subsection; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) subsection (d)(2); and
                    ``(B) a student who is eligible for a grant equal 
                to less than the amount of the minimum Federal Pell 
                Grant because the eligible workforce program in which 
                the student is enrolled or accepted for enrollment is 
                less than an academic year (in hours of instruction or 
                weeks of duration) may still be eligible for a 
                Workforce Pell Grant in an amount that is prorated 
                based on the length of the program.
            ``(4) Prevention of double benefits.--No eligible student 
        described in paragraph (2) may concurrently receive a grant 
        under both this subsection and--
                    ``(A) subsection (b); or
                    ``(B) subsection (c).
            ``(5) Duration limit.--Any period of study covered by a 
        Workforce Pell Grant awarded under this subsection shall be 
        included in determining a student's duration limit under 
        subsection (d)(5).''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect as if included in section 703 of the FAFSA Simplification 
Act (title VII of division FF of Public Law 116-260; 134 Stat. 3191) 
and in accordance with section 701(b) of such Act.

SEC. 3. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY FOR WORKFORCE PELL GRANTS.

    Section 481(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1088(b)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs 
        (4) and (5), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3)(A) A program is an eligible program for purposes of 
        the Workforce Pell Grant program under section 401(k) only if--
                    ``(i) it is a program of at least 150 clock hours 
                of instruction, but less than 600 clock hours of 
                instruction, or an equivalent number of credit hours, 
                offered during a minimum of 8 weeks, but less than 15 
                weeks;
                    ``(ii) it is not offered as a correspondence 
                course, as defined in 600.2 of title 34, Code of 
                Federal Regulations (as in effect on September 20, 
                2020);
                    ``(iii) the State board makes a determination that 
                the program--
                            ``(I) provides an education aligned with 
                        the requirements of high-skill, high-wage, or 
                        in-demand industry sectors or occupations (as 
                        used in section 122 of the Carl D. Perkins 
                        Career and Technical Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
                        2342));
                            ``(II) meets the hiring requirements of 
                        potential employers in the sectors or 
                        occupations described in subclause (I); and
                            ``(III) satisfies any applicable 
                        educational prerequisite requirement for 
                        professional licensure or certification in the 
                        State or States in which the program is 
                        offered, as applicable, such that a student who 
                        completes the program is qualified to--
                                    ``(aa) practice or find employment 
                                in the sectors or occupations described 
                                in subclause (I); and
                                    ``(bb) as applicable, take any 
                                licensure or certification examinations 
                                required to practice or find employment 
                                in such sectors or occupations;
                    ``(iv) after the State board makes the 
                determination that the program meets the requirements 
                under clause (iii), the accrediting agency or 
                association recognized by the Secretary pursuant to 
                section 496(a) determines that the program--
                            ``(I) either--
                                    ``(aa) leads to a recognized 
                                postsecondary credential that is 
                                stackable and portable across more than 
                                one employer; or
                                    ``(bb) with respect to students 
                                enrolled in the program--
                                            ``(AA) prepares such 
                                        students for employment in an 
                                        occupation for which there is 
                                        only one recognized 
                                        postsecondary credential; and
                                            ``(BB) provides such 
                                        students with such a credential 
                                        upon completion of such 
                                        program;
                            ``(II) prepares students to pursue 1 or 
                        more certificate or degree programs at 1 or 
                        more institutions of higher education (which 
                        may include the institution of higher education 
                        providing the program), including by ensuring--
                                    ``(aa) that a student, upon 
                                completion of the program and 
                                enrollment in such a related 
                                certificate or degree program, will 
                                receive academic credit for the program 
                                that will be accepted toward meeting 
                                such certificate or degree program 
                                requirements; and
                                    ``(bb) the acceptability of such 
                                credit toward meeting such certificate 
                                or degree program requirements; and
                            ``(III) publishes prominently on the 
                        website of the institution the recognized 
                        postsecondary credential that will be awarded 
                        to the student upon completion of the program, 
                        including the entity issuing the credential, 
                        any third-party endorsements of the credential, 
                        the occupation or occupations for which the 
                        credential prepares individuals for employment, 
                        the competencies achieved to earn the 
                        credential, the level of mastery of such 
                        competencies and how mastery is assessed, and 
                        specific information with respect to where, 
                        whether, and under what circumstances the 
                        credential is stackable or portable;
                            ``(IV) with respect to the information 
                        collected under section 131(i)--
                                    ``(aa) publishes such information 
                                prominently on the website of the 
                                institution; and
                                    ``(bb) provides such information in 
                                a written disclosure to each 
                                prospective student prior to entering 
                                into an enrollment agreement with such 
                                student for such program, and 
                                establishes procedures for each such 
                                student to confirm receipt of such 
                                disclosure;
                            ``(V) has established a plan to ensure 
                        students who completed the program have access 
                        to transcripts for completed coursework without 
                        a fee; and
                            ``(VI) has been offered by an eligible 
                        institution of higher education for not less 
                        than 1 year prior to the date on which such 
                        agency or association is to make a 
                        determination under this paragraph; and
                    ``(v) after the accrediting agency makes the 
                determination that the program meets the requirements 
                under clause (iv), the Secretary determines that--
                            ``(I) for each award year, the program has 
                        a verified completion rate of at least 70 
                        percent, within 150 percent of the normal time 
                        for completion;
                            ``(II) for each award year, the program has 
                        a verified job placement rate of at least 70 
                        percent, measured 180 days after completion;
                            ``(III) for each award year, the program 
                        charges to a Workforce Pell Grant recipient 
                        under section 401(k) a total amount of tuition 
                        and fees for the program for such year that 
                        does not exceed the value-added earnings of 
                        students for the most recent year for which 
                        data is available; and
                            ``(IV) for at least 2 of the 3 most recent 
                        consecutive award years for which data are 
                        available, the median earnings of students who 
                        completed the program, measured three years 
                        after students completed the program, exceeded 
                        the annual median earnings of individuals in 
                        the State in which the program is located--
                                    ``(aa) who are in the labor force;
                                    ``(bb) who are between 25 and 34 
                                years of age, inclusive; and
                                    ``(cc) for whom the highest degree 
                                attained is a high school diploma (or 
                                recognized equivalent).
            ``(B)(i) The Secretary shall establish an appeals process 
        wherein a program may request that, in making a determination 
        under subparagraph (A)(v) (other than with respect to the 
        median earnings of the individuals in the State described in 
        subclause (IV) of such subparagraph), the Secretary use 
        alternate earnings data, provided by the program, that is based 
        on local, State, or Federal administrative data sources and 
        that is statistically rigorous, accurate, comparable to, and 
        representative of such students, if such program objects to a 
        determination made by the Secretary under such subparagraph for 
        purposes of--
                    ``(I) eligibility under this paragraph; or
                    ``(II) the reporting or publishing of the rates or 
                earnings described in such a determination under 
                section 131(i).
            ``(ii) In the case of a program that is seeking to 
        establish initial eligibility under this paragraph that does 
        not have data available for the Secretary to make the 
        determinations required under subparagraph (A)(v), the 
        Secretary may, for a period that does not exceed 1 year, make 
        such determinations (other than the median earnings of the 
        individuals in the State described in subclause (IV) of such 
        subparagraph) with respect to the program using, as provided by 
        the program--
                    ``(I) alternate earnings data of students who 
                complete the program, provided such data are 
                statistically rigorous, accurate, comparable to, and 
                representative of such students; and
                    ``(II) alternate completion and job placement rates 
                of students who enroll in the program, provided such 
                data are statistically rigorous, accurate, comparable, 
                and representative of such students.
            ``(iii) If the Secretary determines that a program provided 
        inaccurate earnings data under clause (i)(I) or clause (ii), 
        such program shall return to the Secretary any funds received 
        under section 401(k) during the period beginning on the date 
        that is the first day of the provisional eligibility period and 
        ending on the date on which the Secretary makes such 
        determination.
            ``(C)(i) In the case of a program that is seeking to 
        establish initial eligibility under this paragraph, the 
        Secretary shall grant eligibility for the program if it meets 
        the requirements of this paragraph not more than 120 days after 
        the date on which the Secretary receives a submission from such 
        program for consideration as an eligible workforce program 
        under this paragraph.
            ``(ii) If a program that is an eligible workforce program 
        under this paragraph no longer meets one or more of the 
        requirements under this paragraph, as determined by the State 
        Board, accrediting agency, or the Secretary, the Secretary--
                    ``(I) may withdraw the eligibility of such program; 
                and
                    ``(II) shall prohibit such program, and any 
                substantially similar program of the institution, from 
                being considered an eligible workforce program under 
                this paragraph for a period of not less than 3 years.
            ``(D)(i) In the case of a program with a number of enrolled 
        students that is insufficient to provide the Secretary with 
        enough relevant data to make the determinations under 
        subparagraph (A)(v), the Secretary shall--
                            ``(I) aggregate up to 4 years of additional 
                        data for such program and use such aggregated 
                        data to make such determinations; or
                            ``(II) only if such aggregated data under 
                        subclause (I) is insufficient, aggregate up to 
                        4 years of data of students who completed or 
                        were enrolled in, as applicable, similar 
                        programs at the institution (as determined 
                        using the first 4 digits of the CIP codes of 
                        such programs) and use such data to make such 
                        determinations.
            ``(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term `CIP 
        code' means the 6-digit taxonomic identification code assigned 
        by an institution of higher education to a specific program of 
        study at the institution, determined by the institution in 
        accordance with the Classification of Instructional Programs 
        published by the National Center for Education Statistics.
            ``(E) In this paragraph:
                    ``(i) The term `eligible institution of higher 
                education' means an institution of higher education (as 
                defined in section 102) that--
                            ``(I) is approved by an accrediting agency 
                        or association that meets the requirements of 
                        section 496(a)(4)(C); and
                            ``(II) has not been subject, during any of 
                        the preceding 3 years, to--
                                    ``(aa) any suspension, emergency 
                                action, or termination under this 
                                title;
                                    ``(bb) any adverse action by the 
                                institution's accrediting agency or 
                                association that revokes or denies 
                                accreditation for the institution; or
                                    ``(cc) any final action by the 
                                State where the institution holds its 
                                legal domicile, authorization, and 
                                accreditation that revokes a license or 
                                other authority to operate.
                    ``(ii) The term `median earnings', when used with 
                respect to an eligible workforce program under this 
                paragraph--
                            ``(I) means the median annualized earnings, 
                        calculated using earnings for a pay period, 
                        month, quarter, or other time period deemed 
                        appropriate by the Secretary, of all students 
                        who received Federal financial assistance under 
                        this title and who completed the program in an 
                        academic year; and
                            ``(II) shall be measured a given number of 
                        years after such students completed the 
                        program, with the number of years determined in 
                        accordance with this Act based on the intended 
                        use of the median earnings data being 
                        calculated.
                    ``(iii) With respect to students who received 
                Federal financial aid under this title and who 
                completed an eligible workforce program under this 
                paragraph in a given year, the term `value-added 
                earnings' means--
                            ``(I) the median earnings of such students, 
                        measured one year after students completed the 
                        program; minus
                            ``(II) for the year median earnings are 
                        measured for such students under subclause (I), 
                        150 percent of the poverty line applicable to a 
                        single individual as determined under section 
                        673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant 
                        Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) for such year and, in 
                        the case of a program offered in-person, 
                        adjusted by the regional price parity index of 
                        the Bureau of Economic Analysis for the 
                        metropolitan statistical area in which the 
                        eligible institution of higher education 
                        offering such program is located.
                    ``(iv) The terms `industry or sector partnership', 
                `in-demand industry sector or occupation', `recognized 
                postsecondary credential', and `State board' have the 
                meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Workforce 
                Innovation and Opportunity Act.''.

SEC. 4. DATA COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION RELATED TO WORKFORCE PELL.

    Section 131 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Data Collection and Dissemination Related to Workforce 
Pell.--
            ``(1) Primary data source.--The Secretary shall use data 
        from the National Student Loan Data System or administrative 
        data maintained by the Department, matched with Internal 
        Revenue Service income data to collect data and make 
        calculations in accordance with this subsection and section 
        481(b)(3).
            ``(2) Publication.--The Secretary shall, on an annual 
        basis, collect, verify, and make publicly available on the 
        College Scorecard website (or any similar successor website), 
        the information required under section 481(b)(3)(A)(v), with 
        respect to each eligible program under section 481(b)(3) 
        (hereinafter referred to as an `eligible workforce program'), 
        including--
                    ``(A) the length of the program (as measured in 
                clock hours, credit hours, or weeks);
                    ``(B) the required tuition and fees of the program;
                    ``(C) the difference between the required tuition 
                and fees described in section 481(b)(3)(A)(v)(III) and 
                median amount of grant aid (which does not need to be 
                repaid) provided to students receiving Workforce Pell 
                Grants, disaggregated by source of such grant aid;
                    ``(D) the median earnings of students as such term 
                is defined in section 481(b)(3)(E);
                    ``(E) the median earnings of students who did not 
                complete the program and received Federal financial 
                assistance under this title;
                    ``(F) the ratio of the amount described in 
                subparagraph (C) to the value-added earnings (as such 
                term is defined in section 481(b)(3)(E)) of students 
                and an explanation, in clear and plain language, of 
                this ratio;
                    ``(G) in the case of a program that prepares 
                students for a professional licensure or certification 
                examination, the share of such students who pass such 
                examinations;
                    ``(H) the number of students enrolled in the 
                program during the most recent academic year for which 
                data is available;
                    ``(I) the percentage of students who enroll in the 
                program and who complete the program within--
                            ``(i) 100 percent of the normal time for 
                        completion of such program;
                            ``(ii) 150 percent of the normal time for 
                        completion of such program; and
                            ``(iii) 200 percent of the normal time for 
                        completion of such program;
                    ``(J) the percentage of students who are employed 
                not later than 180 days and 1 year, respectively, after 
                completing the program;
                    ``(K) the percentage of individuals--
                            ``(i) who have completed such program; and
                            ``(ii) 1 year after such completion, whose 
                        median earnings exceed 150 percent of the 
                        poverty line applicable to a single individual, 
                        as determined under section 673(2) of the 
                        Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 
                        9902(2));
                    ``(L) the percentage of students who enroll in a 
                certificate or degree program at any institution of 
                higher education within 1 year of completing such 
                program; and
                    ``(M) the percentage of students who complete a 
                subsequent certificate or degree program at any 
                institution of higher education within 6 years of 
                completing such program.
            ``(3) Data disaggregation.--The information in 
        subparagraphs (D), (E), and (H) through (M) shall be 
        disaggregated by--
                    ``(A) sex;
                    ``(B) race and ethnicity;
                    ``(C) income quintile, as defined by the Secretary; 
                and
                    ``(D) status as a recipient of a Workforce Pell 
                Grant.
            ``(4) Exceptions.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this subsection, if disclosure of any data under paragraph (1) 
        is prohibited under State or Federal privacy laws or 
        regulations, the Secretary shall take the steps described in 
        paragraph (5), and any other steps determined by the Secretary 
        to be necessary to make publicly available such data in 
        accordance with such laws and regulations.
            ``(5) Small programs.--
                    ``(A) Aggregation.--For purposes of publishing the 
                information described in this subsection with respect 
                to an eligible workforce program, for any year for 
                which the number of students is determined by the 
                Secretary to be of insufficient size to maintain the 
                privacy of student data, the Secretary shall, to obtain 
                data for a sufficient number of students to maintain 
                student privacy--
                            ``(i) aggregate up to 4 years of additional 
                        data for such program;
                            ``(ii) only if the aggregated data under 
                        clause (i) is insufficient to maintain student 
                        privacy or cannot be aggregated, aggregate data 
                        for students who completed or were enrolled in, 
                        as applicable, similar programs at the 
                        institution (as determined using the first 4 
                        digits of the CIP codes); or
                            ``(iii) only if the aggregated data under 
                        clause (ii) is insufficient to maintain student 
                        privacy or cannot be aggregated, aggregate data 
                        with respect to all students who completed or 
                        were enrolled in, as applicable, any program of 
                        the institution of the same credential level, 
                        in lieu of data specific to students in such 
                        program.
                    ``(B) Notification of aggregation.--The Secretary 
                shall prominently indicate whether data published under 
                this subsection has been aggregated in accordance with 
                subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) CIP code defined.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph, the term `CIP code' means the 6-digit 
                taxonomic identification code assigned by an 
                institution of higher education to a specific program 
                of study at the institution, determined by the 
                institution in accordance with the Classification of 
                Instructional Programs published by the National Center 
                for Education Statistics.''.

SEC. 5. ACCREDITING AGENCY DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 
              FOR THE WORKFORCE PELL GRANTS PROGRAM.

    (a) References.--Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever 
in this section an amendment or reference is expressed in terms of an 
amendment or reference to a section or other provision, the amendment 
or reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other 
provision of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
    (b) Recognition of Accrediting Agency or Association.--Section 
496(a)(4) (20 U.S.C. 1099b(a)(4)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by inserting ``and'' at the 
        end; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(C) if such agency or association has or seeks to include 
        within its scope of recognition the evaluation of the quality 
        of institutions offering an eligible program under section 
        481(b)(3), such agency or association shall, in addition to 
        meeting the other requirements of this subpart, demonstrate to 
        the Secretary that, with respect to such an eligible program--
                    ``(i) the agency or association's standards include 
                a process for determining if the institution has the 
                capability to effectively offer such program; and
                    ``(ii) the agency or association requires a 
                demonstration that the program satisfies the 
                requirements of section 481(b)(3)(A)(iv).''.
    (c) Prospective Accreditors.--The Secretary--
            (1) in the case of an accrediting agency or association 
        that is not recognized under section 496 (20 U.S.C. 1099b) and 
        that is seeking initial recognition to evaluate only eligible 
        programs under section 481(b)(3) (20 U.S.C. 1088(b)), may only 
        recognize such agency or association for such purpose if such 
        agency or association demonstrates, in the application 
        submitted under such section 496 for such recognition, 
        compliance with the requirements of such section for at least 1 
        year prior to the date on which such application is submitted;
            (2) shall, not later than 1 year after receiving such an 
        application, make a recommendation with respect to whether such 
        agency or association should be recognized for such purpose; 
        and
            (3) shall, after making the recommendation described in 
        paragraph (2), direct the National Advisory Committee on 
        Institutional Quality and Integrity (as established by section 
        114 (20 U.S.C. 1011c)) (hereinafter referred to as ``NACIQI'') 
        to, at the first scheduled meeting of such Committee following 
        such a recommendation--
                    (A) evaluate the recognition of the agency or 
                association; and
                    (B) advise the Secretary with respect to whether 
                the agency or association meets the criteria under 
                section 496(a)(4)(C) (20 U.S.C. 1099b(a)(4)) (as added 
                by subsection (b)).
    (d) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical 
assistance to any prospective accrediting agency or association seeking 
initial recognition by the Secretary under section 496 (20 U.S.C. 
1099b), including with respect to recognition to evaluate institutions 
with an eligible Workforce Pell Grants program.
    (e) Additional NACIQI Review Meetings.--For the purpose of 
preparing for the implementation of the Workforce Pell Grant program 
under section 401(k) (20 U.S.C. 1070a) (as added by section 2), and in 
addition to the meetings required under section 114(d)(1) (20 U.S.C. 
1011c(d)(1)), NACIQI shall, for the period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2030, hold meetings to 
evaluate the recognition of prospective accrediting agencies or 
associations described in subsection (c) and the addition to the scope 
of recognition of accrediting agencies and associations under section 
496(a)(4)(C) (20 U.S.C. 1099b(a)(4)).
    (f) Interim Accreditation Authority.--
            (1) Notification.--Beginning on the date of the enactment 
        of this Act, a recognized accrediting agency or association 
        that seeks, for the first time, to add to its scope of 
        recognition the evaluation of the quality of institutions 
        offering an eligible program under section 481(b)(3) (20 U.S.C. 
        1088(b)) may include within its scope of recognition the 
        evaluation of such institutions if such agency or association--
                    (A) submits to the Secretary a notification of the 
                agency or association's intent to add the evaluation of 
                such institutions to its scope of recognition; and
                    (B) includes with such notification an explanation 
                of how the agency or association intends to meet the 
                criteria under section 496(a)(4)(C) (20 U.S.C. 
                1099b(a)(4)) (as added by subsection (b)).
            (2) Review of scope of changes.--Upon receipt of a 
        notification from an accrediting agency or association 
        described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall direct 
        NACIQI to evaluate, at the next available meeting of such 
        Committee, the addition to the scope of recognition of the 
        agency or association and to advise the Secretary with respect 
        to whether the agency or association meets the criteria under 
        section 496(a)(4)(C) (20 U.S.C. 1099b(a)(4)) (as added by 
        subsection (b)).
            (3) Termination of interim authority.--The interim 
        authority granted to an agency or association under this 
        paragraph shall terminate on the earlier of--
                    (A) the date that is 5 years after the date of the 
                enactment of this Act; or
                    (B) the date on which the Secretary determines 
                whether such agency or association meets the criteria 
                under section 496(a)(4)(C) (20 U.S.C. 1099b(a)(4)) (as 
                added by subsection (b)).

SEC. 6. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to impose or increase an 
occupational licensing or certification requirement on eligible 
programs under this title.

SEC. 7. AGREEMENTS WITH APPLICABLE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

    (a) Direct Loans.--Section 454(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087d(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
            ``(6) notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, for 
        the award year beginning on July 1, 2024, and each subsequent 
        award year, if such institution is an applicable educational 
        institution (as defined in section 4968(b) of title 26, United 
        States Code), provide that such institution may not award--
                    ``(A) a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, a Federal 
                Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or a Federal Direct 
                Plus Loan to any eligible student; or
                    ``(B) a Federal Direct Plus Loan to a parent of an 
                eligible dependent undergraduate student if such 
                student is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.''.
    (b) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.--Section 
413C(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070b-2(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
        through (D) as clauses (i) through (iv), respectively;
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as 
        subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively;
            (3) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as so 
        redesignated, by striking ``Assistance may'' and inserting
            ``(1) In general.--Assistance may''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Exception.--(A) In addition to the requirements under 
        paragraph (1), for the award year beginning on July 1, 2024 and 
        each subsequent award year, an institution that is an 
        applicable educational institution (as defined in section 
        4968(b) of title 26, United States Code) may only receive 
        assistance under this subpart if such institution guarantees 
        that, for each such award year--
                    ``(i) the institution will make available to each 
                student who is enrolled at the institution and who is 
                eligible for a Federal Pell Grant under section 401, an 
                amount, derived from only non-Federal resources, that 
                is not less than the maximum amount that may be awarded 
                to a student under section 413B(a)(1), to be provided 
                to such a student as emergency financial assistance in 
                the event that the student is in need of such 
                assistance; and
                    ``(ii) the percentage of students enrolled at such 
                institution who are eligible for a Federal Pell grant 
                will be equal to or greater than the percentage of 
                students who were enrolled at such institution and were 
                eligible for a Federal Pell grant in the award year 
                during which the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act was 
                enacted.''.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to implement the amendments 
made by this Act $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and $30,000,000 for 
each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
                                 <all>
```