I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4415 
To establish an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 1, 2016 
Mrs. LAWRENCE (for herself, Ms. MOORE, Mr. HASTINGS, Mrs. WATSON 
COLEMAN, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Ms. LEE, and Mr. HONDA) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
the Workforce 
A BILL 
To establish an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment 
Program. 
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 ‘‘Early Pell Promise 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. EARLY FEDERAL PELL GRANT COMMITMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
Subpart 1 of part A of title IV of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 401B. EARLY FEDERAL PELL GRANT COMMITMENT 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORITY.—The Secretary is au-
thorized to carry out an Early Federal Pell Grant Com-
mitment Program (referred to in this section as the ‘Pro-
gram’) under which the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) award grants to State educational agencies 
to pay the administrative expenses incurred in par-
ticipating in the Program; and 
‘‘(2) make a commitment to award Federal Pell 
Grants to eligible students in accordance with this 
section. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—The Program shall 
meet the following requirements: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A student shall be eli-
gible to receive a commitment from the Sec-
retary to receive a Federal Pell Grant early in 
the student’s academic career if the student— 
‘‘(i) is in 8th grade; and 
‘‘(ii) is eligible for a free or reduced 
price lunch under the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
1751 et seq.). 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL PELL GRANT COMMITMENT.— 
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), each eligible student who 
participates in the Program shall receive a com-
mitment from the Secretary to receive a Fed-
eral Pell Grant during the first 2 academic 
years that the student is in attendance at an in-
stitution of higher education as an under-
graduate student, if the student— 
‘‘(i) applies for Federal financial aid 
(via the FAFSA) during the student’s sen-
ior year of secondary school and during the 
succeeding academic year; and 
‘‘(ii) enrolls at such institution of 
higher education— 
‘‘(I) not later than 3 years after 
such student receives a secondary 
school diploma or its recognized equiv-
alent; or 
‘‘(II) if such student becomes a 
member of the Armed Forces (includ-
ing the National Guard or Reserves), 
not later than 3 years after such stu-
dent is discharged, separated, or re-
leased from the Armed Forces (includ-
ing the National Guard or Reserves). 
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‘‘(B) EXCEPTION TO COMMITMENT.—If an 
eligible student receives a commitment from the 
Secretary to receive a Federal Pell Grant dur-
ing the first 2 academic years that the student 
is in attendance at an institution of higher edu-
cation as an undergraduate student and the 
student applies for Federal financial aid (via 
the FAFSA) during the student’s senior year of 
secondary school or during the succeeding aca-
demic year, and the expected family contribu-
tion of the student for either of such years is 
more than 2 times the threshold amount for 
Federal Pell Grant eligibility for such year, 
then such student shall not receive a Federal 
Pell Grant under this section for the succeeding 
academic year. Such student shall continue to 
be eligible for any other Federal student finan-
cial aid for which the student is otherwise eligi-
ble. 
‘‘(3) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL PELL GRANT 
REQUIREMENTS.—The requirements of section 401 
shall apply to Federal Pell Grants awarded pursuant 
to this section, except that with respect to each eligi-
ble student who participates in the Program and is 
not subject the exception under paragraph (2)(B), 
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the amount of each such eligible student’s Federal 
Pell Grant only shall be calculated by deeming such 
student to have an expected family contribution 
equal to zero. 
‘‘(c) 
STATE
EDUCATIONAL
AGENCY
APPLICA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each State educational 
agency desiring to participate in the Program shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time 
and in such manner as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—Each application shall in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) a description of the proposed targeted 
information campaign for the Program and a 
copy of the plan described in subsection (e)(2); 
‘‘(B) an assurance that the State edu-
cational agency will fully cooperate with the on-
going evaluation of the Program; and 
‘‘(C) such other information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(d) EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—From amounts appro-
priated under subsection (f) for a fiscal year, the 
Secretary shall reserve not more than $1,000,000 to 
award a grant or contract to an organization outside 
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