(2) in a machine readable, digital format that 
anyone can directly download, edit, and redistribute. 
(h) REPORT.—Upon an eligible entity’s completion of 
a project supported under this section, the eligible entity 
shall prepare and submit a report to the Secretary regard-
ing— 
(1) the effectiveness of the pilot program in ex-
panding the use of open textbooks and in achieving 
savings for students; 
(2) the impact of the pilot program on expand-
ing the use of open textbooks at institutions of high-
er education outside of the eligible entity; 
(3) educational resources created or adapted 
under the grant, including instructions on where the 
public can access each educational resource under 
the terms of subsection (g); and 
(4) all project costs, including the value of any 
volunteer labor and institutional capital used for the 
project. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section for each of the 5 suc-
ceeding fiscal years after the enactment of this Act. 
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SEC. 5. PRICE INFORMATION. 
Section 133(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1015b(b)) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (6); and 
(2) in paragraph (9); 
(A) by striking subparagraphs (A) and 
(B); and 
(B) by striking ‘‘a college textbook that— 
’’ and inserting ‘‘a college textbook that may in-
clude printed materials, computer disks, website 
access, and electronically distributed mate-
rials.’’. 
SEC. 6. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that institutions of higher 
education should encourage the consideration of open text-
books by faculty within the generally accepted principles 
of academic freedom that establishes the right and respon-
sibility of faculty members, individually and collectively, 
to select course materials that are pedagogically most ap-
propriate for their classes. 
SEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
Not later than July 1, 2016, the Secretary shall pre-
pare and submit a report to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House 
of Representatives detailing— 
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(1) the open textbooks created or adapted 
under this Act; 
(2) the adoption of such open textbooks; and 
(3) the savings generated for students, States, 
and the Federal Government through the use of 
open textbooks. 
SEC. 8. GAO REPORT. 
Not later than July 1, 2017, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall prepare and submit a report 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen-
sions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and 
the Workforce of the House of Representatives on the cost 
of textbooks to students at institutions of higher edu-
cation. The report shall particularly examine— 
(1) the change of the cost of textbooks; 
(2) the factors that have contributed to the 
change of the cost of textbooks; 
(3) the extent to which open textbooks are used 
at institutions of higher education; and 
(4) the impact of open textbooks on the cost of 
textbooks. 
Æ 
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