America RISING Act of 2015

To establish a grant program for stipends to assist in the cost of compensation paid by employers to certain recent college graduates and to provide funding for their further education in subjects relating to mathematics, science, engineering, and technology. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the America Realizing the Informational Skills and Initiative of New Graduates Act of 2015 America RISING Act of 2015 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2012 the national unemployment rate for individuals ages 25 years and older with a bachelor’s degree was 4.5 percent and 6.2 percent for individuals with an associate’s degree. For college graduates ages 18 to 25 the national unemployment rate in 2012 was higher at 7.7 percent. Because the typical college graduates leaves college owing an average of $29,400 in student loan debt, a rate that has increased 6 percent every year since 2008, the current job market offers exceedingly few opportunities for such graduates to obtain employment at a salary adequate to service their college loan debt. (2) There are more than 26 million small businesses in the United States. In the current economic climate, these small businesses are experiencing difficulty in finding the resources needed to increase sales, modernize operations, and hire new employees. (3) Recent college graduates need the experience that can be obtained only in the workplace to refine their skills and develop the entrepreneurial qualities that can lead to the creation of new businesses and jobs. (4) Existing small businesses and companies will benefit from the information and technology skills possessed by many of the Nation’s recent college graduates. (5) Enabling recent college graduates to obtain employment with small businesses benefits the national economy by providing such businesses the human capital and technical expertise needed to compete and win in the global economy of the 21st century. 3. Establishment of America RISING program (a) Establishment The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education shall, jointly, establish a program under which— (1) grants are paid to eligible employers to defray the cost of compensation paid by such employers to recent college graduates; and (2) grants are paid to recent college graduates to enable such graduates to defray the cost of undertaking further postsecondary courses at an institution of higher education for up to 24 months in subjects relating to mathematics, science, engineering, or technology. (b) Terms and conditions (1) In general A grant under this section may be made on such terms and conditions as the Secretary may determine. (2) Deferral of Federal student loan obligations Each recent college graduate participating in the program under this section (by benefitting from a grant awarded under paragraph (1), or receiving a grant under paragraph (2), of subsection (a)) may defer payment on Federal student loans made to the graduate under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) for the period of the graduate’s participation in the program. (3) Grants to eligible employers With respect to a grant awarded under subsection (a)(1)— (A) an eligible employer— (i) may use the grant to defray the cost of compensation for not more than 2 recent college graduates; and (ii) shall provide a compensation amount to each recent college graduate participating in the program that is equal to or greater than the grant amount received by the employer for the graduate; and (B) the Secretary may not award an eligible employer more than $25,000 per recent college graduate. (4) Grants to recent college graduates With respect to a grant awarded under subsection (a)(2) to a recent college graduate, the graduate shall be eligible to receive Federal student aid under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq. 20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible employer The term eligible employer (A) is a small business concern; or (B) is a major corporation that has an operation located in— (i) an enterprise zone; or (ii) an area in which, according to the most recent data available, the unemployment rate exceeds the national average unemployment rate by more than two percentage points. (2) Enterprise zone The term enterprise zone HUBzone 15 U.S.C. 632 (3) Institution of higher education Except as provided in paragraph (3)(B), the term institution of higher education (4) Major corporation The term major corporation (5) Recent college graduate (A) In general The term recent college graduate (i) who has received a baccalaureate or associate degree from an institution of higher education on or after the date that is 24 months before the grant benefitting the graduate is awarded under this section; and (ii) who has not previously received any such baccalaureate or associate degree. (B) Institution of higher education In subparagraph (A), the term institution of higher education (6) Small business concern The term small business concern 15 U.S.C. 632 (d) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $100,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2016, 2017, and 2018. (2) Availability Funds appropriated under paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.

Summary: America Realizing the Informational Skills and Initiative of New Graduates Act of 2015 or the America RISING Act of 2015 Directs the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education to jointly establish a program providing grants to: eligible employers to defray the cost of compensation they pay to recent graduates from institutions of higher education (IHEs); and such graduates to enable them to defray the cost of undertaking further postsecondary education at an IHE for up to 24 months in subjects relating to mathematics, science, engineering, or technology. Defines an "eligible employer" as a small business concern or a major corporation that has an operation located in an enterprise zone or in an area in which the unemployment rate exceeds the national average unemployment rate by more than 2%. Allows college graduates who are participating in the program, either as grantees or beneficiaries of grants to their employers, to defer payment on their federal student loans under title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 until their participation in the program ends. Requires graduates who are awarded a program grant to be eligible to receive federal student aid under title IV without regard to whether they have been or are delinquent on title IV loans.