I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2142 
To establish a program that enables college-bound residents of the Northern 
Mariana Islands to have greater choices among institutions of higher 
education, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 3, 2011 
Mr. SABLAN (for himself, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. NORTON, Mr. 
GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. HONDA, and Mr. BACA) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
the Workforce 
A BILL 
To establish a program that enables college-bound residents 
of the Northern Mariana Islands to have greater choices 
among institutions of higher education, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Northern Mariana Is-
lands College Access Act of 2011’’. 
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SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
It is the purpose of this Act to establish a program 
that enables college-bound residents of the Northern Mar-
iana Islands to have greater choices among institutions of 
higher education. 
SEC. 3. PUBLIC SCHOOL GRANTS. 
(a) GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts appropriated 
under subsection (i), the Governor shall award 
grants to eligible institutions that enroll eligible stu-
dents to pay the difference between the tuition and 
fees charged for in-State students and the tuition 
and fees charged for out-of-State students on behalf 
of each eligible student enrolled in the eligible insti-
tution. 
(2) 
MAXIMUM
STUDENT
AMOUNTS.—The 
amount paid on behalf of an eligible student under 
this section shall be— 
(A) not more than $15,000 for any one 
award year (as defined in section 481 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1088)); and 
(B) not more than $75,000 in the aggre-
gate. 
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(A) the financial need of the eligible stu-
dents to avoid undue hardship to the eligible 
students; or 
(B) undue administrative burdens on the 
Governor. 
(3) FURTHER
ADJUSTMENTS.—Notwithstand-
ing paragraphs (1) and (2), the Governor may 
prioritize the making or amount of tuition and fee 
payments under this subsection based on the income 
and need of eligible students. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘eligi-
ble institution’’ means an institution that— 
(A) is a public four-year institution of 
higher education located in one of the several 
States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 
or Guam; 
(B) is eligible to participate in the student 
financial assistance programs under title IV of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070 et seq.); and 
(C) enters into an agreement with the Gov-
ernor containing such conditions as the Gov-
ernor may specify, including a requirement that 
the institution use the funds made available 
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under this section to supplement and not sup-
plant assistance that otherwise would be pro-
vided to eligible students from the Northern 
Mariana Islands. 
(2) ELIGIBLE
STUDENT.—The term ‘‘eligible 
student’’ means an individual who— 
(A) was domiciled in the Northern Mar-
iana Islands for not less than the 12 consecu-
tive months preceding the commencement of the 
freshman year at an institution of higher edu-
cation; 
(B) graduated from a secondary school in 
the Northern Mariana Islands, or received the 
recognized equivalent of a secondary school di-
ploma while domiciled in the Northern Mariana 
Islands, on or after January 1, 2008; 
(C) begins the individual’s undergraduate 
course of study within the three calendar years 
(excluding any period of service on active duty 
in the Armed Forces, or service under the 
Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.) or 
subtitle D of title I of the National and Com-
munity Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 
et seq.)) of graduation from a secondary school, 
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or obtaining the recognized equivalent of a sec-
ondary school diploma; 
(D) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment, 
on at least a half-time basis, in a baccalaureate 
degree or other program (including a program 
of study abroad approved for credit by the insti-
tution at which such student is enrolled) lead-
ing to a recognized educational credential at an 
eligible institution; 
(E) if enrolled in an eligible institution, is 
maintaining satisfactory progress in the course 
of study the student is pursuing in accordance 
with section 484(c) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(c)); and 
(F) has not completed the individual’s first 
undergraduate baccalaureate course of study. 
(3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(4) GOVERNOR.—The term ‘‘Governor’’ means 
the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands. 
(5) SECONDARY
SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘sec-
ondary school’’ has the meaning given that term 
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under section 14101 of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801). 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Education. 
(d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed to require an institution of higher education to 
alter the institution’s admissions policies or standards in 
any manner to enable an eligible student to enroll in the 
institution. 
(e) APPLICATIONS.—Each student desiring a tuition 
payment under this section shall submit an application to 
the eligible institution at such time, in such manner, and 
accompanied by such information as the eligible institution 
may require. 
(f) ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Governor shall carry 
out the program under this section in consultation 
with the Secretary. The Governor may enter into a 
grant, contract, or cooperative agreement with an-
other public or private entity to administer the pro-
gram under this section if the Governor determines 
that doing so is a more efficient way of carrying out 
the program. 
(2) POLICIES
AND
PROCEDURES.—The Gov-
ernor, in consultation with institutions of higher 
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education eligible for participation in the program 
authorized under this section, shall develop policies 
and procedures for the administration of the pro-
gram. 
(3) MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT.—The Gov-
ernor and the Secretary shall enter into a Memo-
randum of Agreement that describes— 
(A) the manner in which the Governor 
shall consult with the Secretary with respect to 
administering the program under this section; 
and 
(B) any technical or other assistance to be 
provided to the Governor by the Secretary for 
purposes of administering the program under 
this section (which may include access to the in-
formation in the common financial reporting 
form developed under section 483 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090)). 
(g) GOVERNOR’S REPORT.—The Governor shall re-
port to Congress annually regarding— 
(1) the number of eligible students attending 
each eligible institution and the amount of the grant 
awards paid to those institutions on behalf of the eli-
gible students; 
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