I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2659 
To establish a grant program to issue grants to institutions of higher 
education to support student internships. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 11, 2013 
Ms. BONAMICI introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a grant program to issue grants to institutions 
of higher education to support student internships. 
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 ‘‘Opportunities for Suc-
cess Act of 2013’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Internships are increasingly important to 
the ability of college students to gain skills, make 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
01:30 Jul 12, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2659.IH
H2659
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
professional connections, and find jobs after gradua-
tion. 
(2) In 2011, according to the National Associa-
tion of Colleges and Employers, employers offered 
full-time positions to 61.2 percent of their interns 
with an acceptance rate of 86.5 percent. 
(3) Many students struggle to make ends meet; 
66 percent of young community college students 
dedicate more than 20 hours a week to an outside 
job, and the need of many students to maintain a 
part-time or full-time job reduces or eliminates the 
time available for an internship. 
(4) Internships often require significant time 
commitments or temporary relocation, which many 
students are unable to afford; these additional living 
expenses include housing, meals, and travel, and 
these costs make unpaid internships with employers 
like non-profit organizations and government even 
more inaccessible for those with low and middle in-
comes. 
(5) In 2011, 46 percent of students who had 
completed an internship were offered jobs, compared 
with 31 percent of students who did not complete an 
internship; more than 76 percent of employers rank 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
01:30 Jul 12, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2659.IH
H2659
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
relevant experience as the most important quality 
when hiring. 
(6) Many university officials and employers ac-
knowledge that participating in an undergraduate 
internship is extremely helpful for finding meaning-
ful employment in today’s job market. 
SEC. 3. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—From the amounts 
made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary of Edu-
cation shall establish a grant program to award grants to 
qualifying educational institutions in accordance with this 
section in order to support eligible students attending such 
institutions during internships. 
(b) APPLICATION.—To receive a grant under this sec-
tion, a qualifying educational institution shall submit to 
the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may re-
quire. 
(c) USE OF FUNDS BY QUALIFYING EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS.—A qualifying educational institution re-
ceiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds 
in accordance with the following: 
(1) ACTIVITIES.—Such institution may only use 
the grant to fund internship awards in accordance 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
01:30 Jul 12, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2659.IH
H2659
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS