I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5560 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a grant program 
for undergraduate students with financial need to assist such students 
in completing degrees at institutions of higher education. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 
Mr. BRALEY of Iowa introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish 
a grant program for undergraduate students with finan-
cial need to assist such students in completing degrees 
at institutions of higher education. 
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 ‘‘Helping College Stu-
dents Cross the Finish Line Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Sep 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5560.IH
H5560
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE AWARDS TO 
UNDERGRADUATE AND VOCATIONAL STU-
DENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEED TO ASSIST IN 
COMPLETION OF DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE 
PROGRAMS. 
Part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) is amended by inserting 
after subpart 7 the following new subpart: 
‘‘Subpart 
8—Grants 
to 
Institutions 
To 
Provide 
Awards to Undergraduate and Vocational Stu-
dents With Financial Need To Assist in Comple-
tion of Degree and Certificate Programs 
‘‘SEC. 420. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE AWARDS 
TO UNDERGRADUATE AND VOCATIONAL STU-
DENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEED TO ASSIST IN 
COMPLETION OF DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE 
PROGRAMS. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF FINANCIAL 
ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall award 
grants to institutions of higher education to establish pro-
grams of financial assistance for students in accordance 
with this section. 
‘‘(b) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—An institution of high-
er education receiving a grant under subsection (a) 
shall establish a financial assistance program to 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Sep 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5560.IH
H5560
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
award funds to not less than 100 eligible students 
per academic year in accordance with this sub-
section. 
‘‘(2) STUDENT ELIGIBILITY.—A student shall 
be eligible for an award under a financial assistance 
program established by an institution of higher edu-
cation in accordance with this subsection if— 
‘‘(A) such student is enrolled as an under-
graduate or vocational student at such institu-
tion on a not less than half-time basis; 
‘‘(B) such student is academically able to 
complete the degree or certificate program for 
which such student is enrolled within an aca-
demic year; 
‘‘(C) such student is in good academic 
standing at such institution (as determined by 
such institution) at the time of the distribution 
of the award; 
‘‘(D) in the case of a student who pre-
viously received an award under this section, 
such student maintained good academic stand-
ing during the academic period for which the 
student received such previous award under this 
section; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Sep 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5560.IH
H5560
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(E) such student has an outstanding tui-
tion payment due to such institution and is un-
able to fully pay the amount due; and 
‘‘(F) the institution determines that with-
out financial assistance, such student will dis-
continue the degree or certificate program for 
which such student is enrolled due to an inabil-
ity to pay tuition. 
‘‘(3) GRANT
AMOUNT.—The amount of an 
award to a student under a financial assistance pro-
gram established by an institution of higher edu-
cation in accordance with this subsection for a se-
mester or equivalent shall be the lesser of— 
‘‘(A) $1,000; or 
‘‘(B) the amount of tuition such institution 
determines the student is unable to pay for 
such semester or equivalent. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF GRANTS.—A 
student may only receive an award under a financial 
assistance program established by an institution of 
higher education in accordance with this subsection 
for a total of two semesters or the equivalent of two 
semesters. 
‘‘(5) INFORMATION ON OTHER FINANCIAL AS-
SISTANCE.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Sep 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5560.IH
H5560
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(A) INFORMATION REQUIRED.—Each in-
stitution of higher education receiving a grant 
under subsection (a) shall provide information 
to each covered student attending such institu-
tion on financial assistance available from any 
source other than this section. 
‘‘(B) COVERED
STUDENT
DEFINED.—In 
this paragraph, the term ‘covered student’ 
means a student receiving an award under a fi-
nancial assistance program established by an 
institution of higher education in accordance 
with this subsection in an amount that does not 
fully pay an outstanding tuition payment due to 
such institution. 
‘‘(c) FINANCIAL LITERACY SURVEY.—The Secretary 
shall create, and each student receiving an award under 
a financial assistance program established by an institu-
tion of higher education in accordance with subsection (b) 
shall complete, an online survey concerning financial lit-
eracy. Such survey shall include matters relating to budg-
eting and saving, student loan debt, and career planning. 
‘‘(d) REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
Each institution of higher education receiving a 
grant under subsection (a) shall annually submit to 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:57 Sep 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5560.IH
H5560
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS