I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3721 
To expand the use of open textbooks in order to achieve savings for students. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 8, 2015 
Mr. HINOJOSA (for himself, Mr. POLIS, and Mr. GRIJALVA) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce 
A BILL 
To expand the use of open textbooks in order to achieve 
savings for students. 
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 ‘‘Affordable College 
Textbook Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The high cost of college textbooks continues 
to be a barrier for many students in achieving high-
er education. 
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(2) According to the College Board, during the 
2014–2015 academic year, the average student 
budget for college books and supplies at 4-year pub-
lic institutions of higher education was $1,225. 
(3) The Government Accountability Office 
found that new textbook prices increased 82 percent 
between 2002 and 2012 and that although Federal 
efforts to increase price transparency have provided 
students and families with more and better informa-
tion, more must be done to address rising costs. 
(4) The growth of the Internet has enabled the 
creation and sharing of digital content, including 
open educational resources that can be freely used 
by students, teachers, and members of the public. 
(5) Using open educational resources in place of 
traditional materials in large-enrollment college 
courses can reduce textbook costs by 80 to 100 per-
cent. 
(6) Federal investment in expanding the use of 
open educational resources could significantly lower 
college textbook costs and reduce financial barriers 
to higher education, while making efficient use of 
taxpayer funds. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE.—The term ‘‘edu-
cational resource’’ means an educational material 
that can be used in postsecondary instruction, in-
cluding textbooks and other written or audiovisual 
works. 
(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(3) OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE.—The term 
‘‘open educational resource’’ means an educational 
resource that either is in the public domain or is 
made available under a permanent copyright license 
to the public to freely adapt, distribute, and other-
wise use the work with attribution to the author as 
designated. 
(4) OPEN TEXTBOOK.—The term ‘‘open text-
book’’ means an open educational resource or set of 
open educational resources that either is a textbook 
or can be used in place of a textbook for a postsec-
ondary course at an institution of higher education. 
(5) RELEVANT FACULTY.—The term ‘‘relevant 
faculty’’ means both tenure track and contingent 
faculty members who may be involved in the creation 
of open educational resources or the use of open 
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educational resources created as part of the grant 
application. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Education. 
SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—From the amounts ap-
propriated under subsection (i), the Secretary shall make 
grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to sup-
port pilot programs that expand the use of open textbooks 
in order to achieve savings for students. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—In this section, the term ‘‘el-
igible entity’’ means an institution of higher education or 
group of institutions of higher education. 
(c) APPLICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible entity desiring 
a grant under this section, after consultation with 
relevant faculty, shall submit an application to the 
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accom-
panied by such information as the Secretary may 
reasonably require. 
(2) CONTENTS.—Each application submitted 
under paragraph (1) shall include a description of 
the project to be completed with grant funds and— 
(A) a plan for promoting and tracking the 
use of open textbooks in postsecondary courses 
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