I 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4000
To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a program of financial 
assistance to enable more members of the National Guard of the District 
of Columbia to attend institutions of higher education. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 18, 2004
Mr. HOBSON (for himself and Ms. NORTON) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a pro-
gram of financial assistance to enable more members 
of the National Guard of the District of Columbia to 
attend 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 ‘‘District of Columbia 
National Guard College Access Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COLLEGE FINANCIAL ASSIST-
ANCE PROGRAM FOR DISTRICT OF COLUM-
BIA NATIONAL GUARD. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—(1) Chapter 1611 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 16402. District of Columbia National Guard: col-
lege financial assistance program 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary concerned may 
provide financial assistance to an eligible member of the 
National Guard of the District of Columbia for expenses 
of the member while the member is enrolled in an ap-
proved institution of higher education in a degree, certifi-
cate, or other program (including a program of study 
abroad approved for credit by the institution of higher 
education) leading to a recognized educational credential 
at the institution of higher education. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for financial assist-
ance under this section, a member of the National Guard 
of the District of Columbia must—
‘‘(1) be a member of the National Guard of the 
District of Columbia for not less than the 12 con-
secutive months preceding the commencement of the 
tuition assistance;
‘‘(2) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in 
a program of education referred to in subsection (a) 
at an institution of higher education; and 
‘‘(3) if already enrolled, maintain satisfactory 
progress in the course of study the member is pur-
suing in accordance with section 484(c) of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(c)). 
‘‘(c) COVERED EXPENSES.—Expenses for which fi-
nancial assistance may be provided under this section 
are—
‘‘(1) tuition and fees charged by an approved 
institution of higher education involved; 
‘‘(2) the cost of books; and 
‘‘(3) laboratory expenses. 
‘‘(d) AMOUNT.—(1) The amount of financial assist-
ance provided to a member of the National Guard of the 
District of Columbia under this section shall be prescribed 
by the Secretary concerned, but may not exceed $2,500 
for any academic year. The Secretary concerned shall pro-
rate assistance under this section for members who pursue 
a program of education on less than a full-time basis. 
‘‘(2) A member may not receive more than $12,500 
under this section. 
‘‘(e) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed to require an institution of higher education
to alter the institution’s admissions policies or standards 
in any manner to enable a member of the National Guard 
of the District of Columbia to enroll in the institution. 
‘‘(f) GIFTS.—The Secretary concerned may accept, 
use, and dispose of donations of services or property for 
purposes of carrying out this section. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘approved institution of higher 
education’ means an institution of higher education 
(as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that—
‘‘(A) is eligible to participate in the stu-
dent financial assistance programs under title 
IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1070 et seq.); and 
‘‘(B) has entered into an agreement with 
the Secretary concerned containing such condi-
tions as the Secretary may specify, including a 
requirement that the institution use the funds 
made available under this section to supplement 
and not supplant assistance that otherwise 
would be provided to eligible students from the 
District of Columbia National Guard. 
‘‘(2) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘Sec-
retary concerned’ means—