I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1970
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the establishment
of the Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 19, 1997
Mr. CUMMINGS (for himself, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, Mr. CONYERS, Mr.
TOWNS, Mr. WYNN, Mr. DELLUMS, Ms. CHRISTIAN-GREEN, Mr. EVANS,
Ms. MILENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. FORD, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. FROST, Ms.
NORTON, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. DIXON, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia,
Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Ms. WATERS, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. KIL-
PATRICK, Mr. BISHOP, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. THOMPSON, Mr. SCOTT, Mr.
BARRETT of Wisconsin, Mr. STOKES, Mr. CLAY, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois,
Ms. 
ESHOO, 
Mr. 
HASTINGS
of 
Florida, 
Mr. 
GONZALEZ, 
Mr.
UNDERWOOD, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. FILNER, Mr. STARK, and Mr.
FATTAH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Commit-
tee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide
for the establishment of the Thurgood Marshall Legal
Educational Opportunity Program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. THURGOOD MARSHALL LEGAL EDUCATION OP-
PORTUNITY PROGRAM.
Chapter 1 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting
after section 402H (20 U.S.C. 1070a-18) the following
new section:
SEC. 402I. LEGAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall
carry out a program to be known as the ‘Thurgood Mar-
shall Legal Educational Opportunity Program’ designed
to provide low-income, minority, and disadvantaged college
students with the information, preparation, and financial
assistance to gain access to and complete law school study.
‘‘(b) CONTRACT AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary is au-
thorized to enter into a contract with, or make a grant
to, the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, for a pe-
riod of no less than 5 years—
‘‘(1) to identify individuals from low-income,
minority, and disadvantaged backgrounds;
‘‘(2) to prepare such individuals for study at ac-
credited law schools;
‘‘(3) to assist students to select the appropriate
law school, make application for entry into law
school, and receive financial assistance for such
study;
‘‘(4) to provide support services to first-year
law students to improve retention and success in law
school studies; and
‘‘(5) to motivate and prepare such students in
law school studies and practice in low-income com-
munities.
‘‘(c) SERVICES PROVIDED.—In carrying out the pur-
poses described in subsection (b), the contract or grant
shall provide for the delivery of services through prelaw
information resource centers, summer institutes, and mid-
year seminars conducted under this section. Such services
may include—
‘‘(1) information and counseling regarding—
‘‘(A) accredited law school academic pro-
grams, especially tuition, fees, and admission
requirements;
‘‘(B) course work offered and required for
graduation;
‘‘(C) faculty specialties and areas of legal
emphasis;
‘‘(D) undergraduate preparatory courses
and curriculum selection;
‘‘(2) tutoring and academic counseling, includ-
ing assistance in preparing for bar examinations;
‘‘(3) prelaw mentoring programs, involving law
school faculty, members of State and local bar asso-
ciations, and retired and sitting judges, justices, and
magistrates;
‘‘(4) assistance in identifying preparatory
courses and material for the law school aptitude or
admissions tests;
‘‘(5) summer institutes for Thurgood Marshall
Fellows which expose them to a rigorous curriculum
that emphasizes abstract thinking, legal analysis, re-
search, writing, and examination techniques; and
‘‘(6) midyear seminars and other educational
activities designed to reinforce reading, writing, and
studying skills of Thurgood Marshall Fellows during
the first year of law school study.
‘‘(d) SUBGRANTS
AND SUBCONTRACTS.—For the
purposes of planning, developing, or delivering one or
more of the services described in subsection (c), the Coun-
cil on Legal Education Opportunity shall make subgrants
to, and subcontracts with, institutions of higher education,
law schools, public and private agencies and organizations,
and combinations of such institutions, schools, agencies,
and organizations.
‘‘(e) STIPENDS.—The Secretary shall annually estab-
lish the maximum stipend to be paid (including allowances
for participant travel and for their dependents) to
Thurgood Marshall Fellows for the period of prelaw prepa-
ration in summer institutes and midyear seminar prior to
and during the period of law school study. A Fellow may
be eligible for such a stipend only if the Fellow maintains
satisfactory academic progress toward the Juris Doctor or
Bachelor of Laws degree, as determined by the respective
institutions.
‘‘(f) MAXIMUM GRANT LEVEL.—For any year for
which an appropriation is made to carry out this chapter,
the Secretary shall allocate not more than $5,000,000 for
the purpose of providing the services described in sub-
section (c).’’.
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