Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Territorial Fellowship Act

To encourage students from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands to become civically engaged through local and Federal Government fellowships. 1. Short title This Act may be referred to as the Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Territorial Fellowship Act 2. Fellowship program for students from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands (a) Establishment of fellowship program To encourage civic engagement among students from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands, the Secretary of the Interior shall carry out a program, to be known as the Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Territorial Fellowship Program (b) Types of fellowship The fellowships that may be awarded under the program are as follows: (1) A local government fellowship with a cooperating agency or entity of the territory in which the qualified student is domiciled. (2) A Federal Government fellowship with a cooperating— (A) Executive agency (as defined in section 105 (B) office of a Representative or Senator in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress. (c) Qualified student For purposes of this section, the term qualified student (1) a citizen of the United States; (2) domiciled in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, or the United States Virgin Islands; and (3) enrolled in a degree or certificate program at an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 (d) Term of fellowship The term of a fellowship under the program shall be an academic semester or a summer, as designated by the Secretary. (e) Fellowship award (1) In general Under the program, a fellowship award shall consist of either a stipend described in paragraph (2) or academic credit toward graduation. Such award may also include a travel stipend of not more than $1,500 for each fellowship term, based on the distance of the student awarded the fellowship from the site of the fellowship. (2) Stipend Subject to paragraph (3), a stipend described in this paragraph is as follows: (A) $6,000 for an academic semester fellowship. (B) $4,000 for a summer fellowship. (3) Fiscal years after 2013 In the case of any fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2013, each dollar amount in paragraph (2) shall be such dollar amount in effect for the preceding fiscal year, increased by the sum of— (A) the percentage of the dollar amount in effect for such preceding fiscal year that is equal to the percentage (if any) by which— (i) the Consumer Price Index for the most recent calendar year ending prior to the beginning of the fiscal year, exceeds (ii) the Consumer Price Index for the next previous calendar year; plus (B) one percent of the dollar amount in effect for such previous year. (f) Application and selection (1) In general The Secretary shall develop and administer an application and selection process for awarding a fellowship under the program. (2) Priority In awarding a fellowship under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to a qualified student who has already completed one such fellowship. (3) Limitation on number of fellowships awarded to each student Under the program, a qualified student may be awarded no more than— (A) one local government fellowship; and (B) one Federal Government fellowship. (g) Reporting The Secretary shall submit to Congress, not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, a report on the Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Territorial Fellowship Program. The report shall include information on— (1) the use of funds appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the program; and (2) barriers to participation in the program. (h) Other definitions In this section: (1) The term Consumer Price Index (2) The term program (3) The term Secretary (i) Funding To carry out the fellowship program, the Secretary may use amounts appropriated to the Department of the Interior for technical assistance to territories under the heading assistance to territories

Summary: Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Territorial Fellowship Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Fellowship Program to award local government and federal government fellowships to qualified students from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Allows a fellow to receive either a specified stipend or academic credit toward graduation for participating in an internship. Defines a &quot;qualified student&quot; as a student who is a U.S. citizen, domiciled in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and enrolled in a degree or certificate program at an institution of higher education.