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

<DOC>

                                                 Union Calendar No. 276
118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 6585

                          [Report No. 118-337]

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

                           December 22, 2023

 Additional sponsors: Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. Owens, Ms. Tenney, Mrs. 
McClain, Mr. Smucker, Mrs. Houchin, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Thompson 
of Pennsylvania, Mr. James, Mr. Bergman, Ms. Letlow, Mr. Landsman, Ms. 
Blunt Rochester, Mr. Allred, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Sablan, Ms. Norton, Mr. 
       Courtney, Mr. Flood, Mr. Trone, Ms. Maloy, and Mr. Walberg

                           December 22, 2023

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]
    [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on 
                           December 5, 2023]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 workforce 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 (as identified by 
                the State pursuant to section 122 of the Carl D. 
                Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
                2342), or in-demand industry sectors or occupations;
                    ``(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) posts 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) posts 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;
            ``(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); and
            ``(vi) in the case of a program that has been an eligible 
        workforce program under this paragraph for 3 or more years, it 
        uses common, linked, open, and interoperable data formats when 
        posting on the website of the institution the data required 
        under subclauses (III) and (IV) of clause (iv).
    ``(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 that is an organization subject to taxation under 
        section 4968 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 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.''; and
    (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.--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 that is an organization 
        subject to taxation under section 4968 of the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986, may only receive assistance under this subpart if 
        such institution guarantees that, for each such award year--
                    ``(A) the total amount of grants and scholarships, 
                including other financial assistance not received under 
                this title as defined in section 480(i), awarded to a 
                student who receives a Federal Pell Grant under this 
                title shall not be less than the student's cost of 
                attendance (as defined in section 472); and
                    ``(B) 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.

    In addition to funds made available for payment of Workforce Pell 
Grants under section 401(k) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as 
added by section 2 of this Act), there are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Education $40,000,000 for fiscal year 
2025 and $30,000,000 for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years for the 
costs of implementing such section 401(k) and the other amendments to 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) made by this 
Act.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 276

118th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H. R. 6585

                          [Report No. 118-337]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                           December 22, 2023

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
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