I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4000

To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a program of financial 

assistance to enable more members of the National Guard of the District 

of Columbia to attend institutions of higher education. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 18, 2004

Mr. HOBSON (for himself and Ms. NORTON) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL

To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a program of financial assistance to enable more members 

of the National Guard of the District of Columbia to 

attend institutions of higher education.

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 ‘‘District of Columbia 

5 National Guard College Access Act’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COLLEGE FINANCIAL ASSIST2 ANCE PROGRAM FOR DISTRICT OF COLUM3 BIA NATIONAL GUARD. 

4 (a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—(1) Chapter 1611 of 

5 title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

6 end the following new section: 

7 ‘‘§ 16402. District of Columbia National Guard: col8 lege financial assistance program 

9 ‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary concerned may 

10 provide financial assistance to an eligible member of the 

11 National Guard of the District of Columbia for expenses 

12 of the member while the member is enrolled in an ap13 proved institution of higher education in a degree, certifi14 cate, or other program (including a program of study 

15 abroad approved for credit by the institution of higher 

16 education) leading to a recognized educational credential 

17 at the institution of higher education. 

18 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for financial assist19 ance under this section, a member of the National Guard 

20 of the District of Columbia must—

21 ‘‘(1) be a member of the National Guard of the 

22 District of Columbia for not less than the 12 con23 secutive months preceding the commencement of the 

24 tuition assistance; 
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1 ‘‘(2) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in 

2 a program of education referred to in subsection (a) 

3 at an institution of higher education; and 

4 ‘‘(3) if already enrolled, maintain satisfactory 

5 progress in the course of study the member is pur6 suing in accordance with section 484(c) of the High7 er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(c)). 

8 ‘‘(c) COVERED EXPENSES.—Expenses for which fi9 nancial assistance may be provided under this section 

10 are—

11 ‘‘(1) tuition and fees charged by an approved 

12 institution of higher education involved; 

13 ‘‘(2) the cost of books; and 

14 ‘‘(3) laboratory expenses. 

15 ‘‘(d) AMOUNT.—(1) The amount of financial assist16 ance provided to a member of the National Guard of the 

17 District of Columbia under this section shall be prescribed 

18 by the Secretary concerned, but may not exceed $2,500 

19 for any academic year. The Secretary concerned shall pro20 rate assistance under this section for members who pursue 

21 a program of education on less than a full-time basis. 

22 ‘‘(2) A member may not receive more than $12,500 

23 under this section. 

24 ‘‘(e) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall 

25 be construed to require an institution of higher education 
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1 to alter the institution’s admissions policies or standards 

2 in any manner to enable a member of the National Guard 

3 of the District of Columbia to enroll in the institution. 

4 ‘‘(f) GIFTS.—The Secretary concerned may accept, 

5 use, and dispose of donations of services or property for 

6 purposes of carrying out this section. 

7 ‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

8 ‘‘(1) The term ‘approved institution of higher 

9 education’ means an institution of higher education 

10 (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education 

11 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that—

12 ‘‘(A) is eligible to participate in the stu13 dent financial assistance programs under title 

14 IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

15 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.); and 

16 ‘‘(B) has entered into an agreement with 

17 the Secretary concerned containing such condi18 tions as the Secretary may specify, including a 

19 requirement that the institution use the funds 

20 made available under this section to supplement 

21 and not supplant assistance that otherwise 

22 would be provided to eligible students from the 

23 District of Columbia National Guard. 

24 ‘‘(2) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘Sec25 retary concerned’ means—
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1 ‘‘(A) the Secretary of the Army, in the 

2 case of the Army National Guard of the Dis3 trict of Columbia; and 

4 ‘‘(B) the Secretary of the Air Force, in the 

5 case of the Air National Guard of the District 

6 of Columbia.’’. 

7 (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such 

8 chapter is amended by adding at the end the following 

9 new item:

‘‘16402. District of Columbia National Guard: college financial assistance program.’’.

10 (b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENT.—Financial as11 sistance may be provided under section 16402 of title 10, 

12 United States Code, as added by subsection (a), to eligible 

13 members of the National Guard of the District of Colum14 bia described in such section for periods of instruction that 

15 begin on or after January 1, 2004.

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