Title: AID Act
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Achieving Independence through Degrees Act or the AID Act
This bill provides assistance to students of institutions of higher education, including by increasing the maximum amount of and access to Pell Grants, expanding loan counseling requirements, simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and expanding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) benefits to students.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5550 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5550

   To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the maximum 
           Federal Pell Grant amount, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 18, 2018

 Mr. DeFazio introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the 
Committee on Agriculture, 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 amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the maximum 
           Federal Pell Grant amount, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This section may be cited as the ``Achieving Independence through 
Degrees Act'' or the ``AID Act''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
              TITLE I--ADJUSTMENTS TO FEDERAL PELL GRANTS

Sec. 101. Increase in maximum Federal Pell Grant amount.
Sec. 102. Increase in total semesters of Federal Pell Grant 
                            eligibility.
Sec. 103. Extending Federal Pell Grant eligibility of certain short-
                            term programs.
            TITLE II--FINANCIAL AID COUNSELING FOR BORROWERS

Sec. 201. Annual financial aid counseling.
Sec. 202. Exit counseling.
Sec. 203. Online counseling tools.
Sec. 204. Longitudinal study on the effectiveness of student loan 
                            counseling.
    TITLE III--REPEAL OF SUSPENSION OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE HIGHER 
 EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 FOR GRANTS, LOANS, AND WORK ASSISTANCE FOR DRUG-
                            RELATED OFFENSES

Sec. 301. Repeal.
Sec. 302. Revision of FAFSA form.
                 TITLE IV--FINANCIAL AID SHOPPING SHEET

Sec. 401. Secretarial requirements.
Sec. 402. Requirements for institutions of higher education.
                   TITLE V--SNAP AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Sec. 501. SNAP treatment of living expenses included in educational 
                            loans.
Sec. 502. Eligibility of students to participate in the supplemental 
                            nutrition assistance program.

              TITLE I--ADJUSTMENTS TO FEDERAL PELL GRANTS

SEC. 101. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM FEDERAL PELL GRANT AMOUNT.

    Section 401(b)(7)(C) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a(b)(7)(C)) is amended by striking clauses (ii) and (iii) and 
inserting the following:
                            ``(ii) Award year 2019-2020.--For award 
                        year 2019-2020, the amount determined under 
                        this subparagraph for purposes of subparagraph 
                        (B)(iii) shall be increased to $9,970.
                            ``(iii) Subsequent award years.--For award 
                        year 2020-2021 and each subsequent award year, 
                        the amount determined under this subparagraph 
                        for purposes of subparagraph (B)(iii) shall be 
                        equal to--
                                    ``(I) the amount determined under 
                                this subparagraph for the preceding 
                                award year; increased by
                                    ``(II) a percentage equal to the 
                                annual adjustment percentage for the 
                                award year for which the amount under 
                                this subparagraph is being determined; 
                                and
                                    ``(III) rounded to the nearest 
                                $5.''.

SEC. 102. INCREASE IN TOTAL SEMESTERS OF FEDERAL PELL GRANT 
              ELIGIBILITY.

    Section 401(c)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a(c)(5)) is amended by striking ``12'' both places it appears and 
inserting ``15''.

SEC. 103. EXTENDING FEDERAL PELL GRANT ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN SHORT-
              TERM PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1070a), as amended by section 4, is further amended by 
inserting after subsection (j) the following:
    ``(k) Job Training Federal Pell Grant Program.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Eligible career pathway program.--The term 
                `eligible career pathway program' means a program 
                that--
                            ``(i) meets the requirements of section 
                        484(d)(2);
                            ``(ii) is a program of training services 
                        listed under included on the list established 
                        under section 122(d) of the Workforce 
                        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
                        3152(d)); and
                            ``(iii) is part of a career pathway, as 
                        defined in section 3 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
                        3102).
                    ``(B) Job training program.--The term `job training 
                program' means a career and technical education program 
                at an institution of higher education that--
                            ``(i) provides not less than 150, and not 
                        more than 600, clock hours of instructional 
                        time over a period of not less than 8, and not 
                        more than 15, weeks;
                            ``(ii) provides training aligned with the 
                        requirements of employers in the State or local 
                        area, which may include in-demand industry 
                        sectors or occupations, as defined in section 3 
                        of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
                        (29 U.S.C. 3102), in the State or local area 
                        (as defined in such section);
                            ``(iii) is a program of training services 
                        that is provided through an eligible provider 
                        of training services listed under section 
                        122(d) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 3152(d));
                            ``(iv) provides a student, upon completion 
                        of the program, with a recognized postsecondary 
                        credential, as defined in section 3 of such 
                        Act, that is recognized by employers in the 
                        relevant industry, including credentials 
                        recognized by industry or sector partnerships 
                        in the State or local area where the industry 
                        is located;
                            ``(v) has been determined, by the 
                        institution of higher education, to provide 
                        academic content, an amount of instructional 
                        time, and a recognized postsecondary credential 
                        that are sufficient to--
                                    ``(I) meet the hiring requirements 
                                of potential employers; and
                                    ``(II) satisfy any applicable 
                                educational prerequisite requirement 
                                for professional licensure or 
                                certification, so that the student who 
                                completes the program and seeks 
                                employment qualifies to take any 
                                licensure or certification examination 
                                needed to practice or find employment 
                                in an occupation that the program 
                                prepares students to enter;
                            ``(vi) may include integrated or basic 
                        skills courses; and
                            ``(vii) may be offered as part of an 
                        eligible career pathway program.
            ``(2) Grant program.--For the award year beginning on July 
        1, 2019, and each subsequent award year, the Secretary shall 
        carry out a program through which the Secretary shall award job 
        training Federal Pell Grants to students in job training 
        programs. Each job training Federal Pell Grant awarded under 
        this subsection shall have the same terms and conditions, and 
        be awarded in the same manner, as a Federal Pell Grant awarded 
        under subsection (a), except as follows:
                    ``(A) A student who is eligible to receive a job 
                training Federal Pell Grant under this subsection is a 
                student who--
                            ``(i) has not yet attained a baccalaureate 
                        degree or postbaccalaureate degree;
                            ``(ii) attends an institution of higher 
                        education;
                            ``(iii) is enrolled, or accepted for 
                        enrollment, in a job training program at such 
                        institution of higher education; and
                            ``(iv) meets all other eligibility 
                        requirements for a Federal Pell Grant (except 
                        with respect to the type of program of study, 
                        as provided in clause (iii)).
                    ``(B) The amount of a job training Federal Pell 
                Grant for an eligible student shall be determined under 
                subsection (b)(1), except that--
                            ``(i) the maximum Federal Pell Grant 
                        awarded under this subsection for an award year 
                        shall be 50 percent of the maximum Federal Pell 
                        Grant awarded under subsection (b)(5) 
                        applicable to that award year; and
                            ``(ii) subsection (b)(4) shall not apply.
            ``(3) Inclusion in total eligibility period.--Any period 
        during which a student receives a job training Federal Pell 
        Grant under this subsection shall be included in calculating 
        the student's period of eligibility for Federal Pell Grants 
        under subsection (c), and any regulations under such subsection 
        regarding students who are enrolled in an undergraduate program 
        on less than a full-time basis shall similarly apply to 
        students who are enrolled in a job training program at an 
        eligible institution on less than a full-time basis.''.
    (b) Additional Safeguards.--Section 496(a)(4) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099b(a)(4)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by inserting ``and'' after the 
        semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) if such agency or association has or seeks to 
                include within its scope of recognition the evaluation 
                of the quality of institutions of higher education 
                participating in the job training Federal Pell Grant 
                program under section 401(k), such agency or 
                association shall, in addition to meeting the other 
                requirements of this subpart, demonstrate to the 
                Secretary that, with respect to such job training 
                programs--
                            ``(i) the agency or association's standards 
                        include a process for determining whether the 
                        program provides training aligned with the 
                        requirements of employers in the State or local 
                        area served by the program; and
                            ``(ii) the agency or association requires a 
                        demonstration that the program--
                                    ``(I) has identified each 
                                recognized postsecondary credential 
                                offered and the corresponding industry 
                                or sector partnership that actively 
                                recognizes each credential in the 
                                relevant industry in the State or local 
                                area where the industry is located; and
                                    ``(II) provides the academic 
                                content and amount of instructional 
                                time that is sufficient to--
                                            ``(aa) meet the hiring 
                                        requirements of potential 
                                        employers; and
                                            ``(bb) satisfy any 
                                        applicable educational 
                                        prerequisites for professional 
                                        licensure or certification 
                                        requirements so that the 
                                        student who completes the 
                                        program and seeks employment 
                                        qualifies to take any licensure 
                                        or certification examination 
                                        that is needed to practice or 
                                        find employment in an 
                                        occupation that the program 
                                        prepares students to enter;''.

            TITLE II--FINANCIAL AID COUNSELING FOR BORROWERS

SEC. 201. ANNUAL FINANCIAL AID COUNSELING.

    Section 485(l) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1092(l)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(l) Annual Financial Aid Counseling.--
            ``(1) Annual disclosure required.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each eligible institution shall 
                ensure that each individual who receives a loan made 
                under part D (other than a Federal Direct Consolidation 
                Loan) receives comprehensive information on the terms 
                and conditions of such loan and the responsibilities 
                the individual has with respect to such loan. Such 
                information shall be provided, for each award year for 
                which the individual receives such loan, in a simple 
                and understandable manner--
                            ``(i) during a counseling session conducted 
                        in person;
                            ``(ii) online, with the individual 
                        acknowledging receipt of the information; or
                            ``(iii) through the use of the online 
                        counseling tool described in subsection 
                        (k)(1)(B).
                    ``(B) Use of interactive programs.--In the case of 
                institutions not using the online counseling tool 
                described in subsection (k)(1)(B), the Secretary shall 
                require such institutions to carry out the requirements 
                of subparagraph (A) through the use of interactive 
                programs, during an annual counseling session that is 
                in-person or online, that test the individual's 
                understanding of the terms and conditions of the loan 
                awarded to the individual, using simple and 
                understandable language and clear formatting.
            ``(2) All individuals.--The information to be provided 
        under paragraph (1)(A) to each individual receiving counseling 
        under this subsection shall include the following:
                    ``(A) An explanation of how the individual may 
                budget for typical educational expenses and a sample 
                budget based on the cost of attendance for the 
                institution.
                    ``(B) An explanation that an individual has a right 
                to annually request a disclosure of information 
                collected by a consumer reporting agency pursuant to 
                section 612(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 
                U.S.C. 1681j(a)).
                    ``(C) Based on the most recent data available from 
                the American Community Survey available from the 
                Department of Commerce, the estimated average income 
                and percentage of employment in the State of domicile 
                of the individual for individuals with--
                            ``(i) a high school diploma or equivalent;
                            ``(ii) some post-secondary education 
                        without completion of a degree or certificate; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) a bachelor's degree.
                    ``(D) An introduction to the financial management 
                resources provided by the Financial Literacy and 
                Education Commission.
            ``(3) Borrowers receiving loans made under part d (other 
        than parent plus loans).--The information to be provided under 
        paragraph (1)(A) to a borrower of a loan made under part D 
        (other than a Federal Direct PLUS Loan made on behalf of a 
        dependent student) shall include the following:
                    ``(A) To the extent practicable, the effect of 
                accepting the loan to be disbursed on the eligibility 
                of the borrower for other forms of student financial 
                assistance.
                    ``(B) An explanation of the use of the master 
                promissory note.
                    ``(C) An explanation that the borrower is not 
                required to accept the full amount of the loan offered 
                to the borrower.
                    ``(D) An explanation that the borrower should 
                consider accepting any grant, scholarship, or State or 
                Federal work-study jobs for which the borrower is 
                eligible prior to accepting Federal student loans.
                    ``(E) A recommendation to the borrower to exhaust 
                the borrower's Federal student loan options prior to 
                taking out private education loans, an explanation that 
                Federal student loans typically offer better terms and 
                conditions than private education loans, an explanation 
                of treatment of loans made under part D and private 
                education loans in bankruptcy, and an explanation that 
                if a borrower decides to take out a private education 
                loan--
                            ``(i) the borrower has the ability to 
                        select a private educational lender of the 
                        borrower's choice;
                            ``(ii) the proposed private education loan 
                        may impact the borrower's potential eligibility 
                        for other financial assistance, including 
                        Federal financial assistance under this title; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) the borrower has a right--
                                    ``(I) to accept the terms of the 
                                private education loan within 30 
                                calendar days following the date on 
                                which the application for such loan is 
                                approved and the borrower receives the 
                                required disclosure documents, pursuant 
                                to section 128(e) of the Truth in 
                                Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1638(e)); and
                                    ``(II) to cancel such loan within 3 
                                business days of the date on which the 
                                loan is consummated, pursuant to 
                                section 128(e)(7) of such Act (15 
                                U.S.C. 1638(e)(7)).
                    ``(F) An explanation of the approved educational 
                expenses for which the borrower may use a loan made 
                under part D.
                    ``(G) Information on the annual and aggregate loan 
                limits for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal 
                Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans.
                    ``(H) Information on how interest accrues and is 
                capitalized during periods when the interest is not 
                paid by either the borrower or the Secretary.
                    ``(I) In the case of a Federal Direct PLUS Loan or 
                a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, the option 
                of the borrower to pay the interest while the borrower 
                is in school.
                    ``(J) The definition of half-time enrollment at the 
                institution, during regular terms and summer school, if 
                applicable, and the consequences of not maintaining at 
                least half-time enrollment.
                    ``(K) An explanation of the importance of 
                contacting the appropriate offices at the institution 
                of higher education if the borrower withdraws prior to 
                completing the borrower's program of study so that the 
                institution can provide exit counseling, including 
                information regarding the borrower's repayment options 
                and loan consolidation.
                    ``(L) For a first-time borrower--
                            ``(i) a statement of the anticipated 
                        balance on the loan for which the borrower is 
                        receiving counseling under this subsection;
                            ``(ii) based on such anticipated balance, 
                        the anticipated monthly payment amount under, 
                        at minimum--
                                    ``(I) the standard repayment plan; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) an income-based repayment 
                                plan under section 493C, as determined 
                                using regionally available data from 
                                the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the 
                                average starting salary for the 
                                occupation in which the borrower has an 
                                interest in or intends to be employed; 
                                and
                            ``(iii) an estimate of the projected 
                        monthly payment amount under each repayment 
                        plan described in clause (ii), based on the 
                        average cumulative indebtedness at graduation 
                        for borrowers of loans made under part D who 
                        are in the same program of study as the 
                        borrower.
                    ``(M) For a borrower with an outstanding balance of 
                principal or interest due on a loan made under this 
                title--
                            ``(i) a current statement of the amount of 
                        such outstanding balance and interest accrued;
                            ``(ii) based on such outstanding balance, 
                        the anticipated monthly payment amount under, 
                        at minimum, the standard repayment plan and, 
                        using regionally available data from the Bureau 
                        of Labor Statistics of the average starting 
                        salary for the occupation the borrower intends 
                        to be employed, an income-based repayment plan 
                        under section 493C; and
                            ``(iii) an estimate of the projected 
                        monthly payment amount under each repayment 
                        plan described in clause (ii), based on--
                                    ``(I) the outstanding balance 
                                described in clause (i);
                                    ``(II) the anticipated outstanding 
                                balance on the loan for which the 
                                student is receiving counseling under 
                                this subsection; and
                                    ``(III) a projection for any other 
                                loans made under part D that the 
                                borrower is reasonably expected to 
                                accept during the borrower's program of 
                                study based on at least the expected 
                                increase in the cost of attendance of 
                                such program.
                    ``(N) The obligation of the borrower to repay the 
                full amount of the loan, regardless of whether the 
                borrower completes or does not complete the program in 
                which the borrower is enrolled within the regular time 
                for program completion.
                    ``(O) The likely consequences of default on the 
                loan, including adverse credit reports, delinquent debt 
                collection procedures under Federal law, and 
                litigation, and a notice of the institution's most 
                recent cohort default rate (defined in section 435(m)), 
                an explanation of the cohort default rate, the most 
                recent national average cohort default rate, and the 
                most recent national average cohort default rate for 
                the category of institution described in section 
                435(m)(4) to which the institution belongs.
                    ``(P) Information on the National Student Loan Data 
                System and how the borrower can access the borrower's 
                records.
                    ``(Q) The contact information for the institution's 
                financial aid office or other appropriate office at the 
                institution the borrower may contact if the borrower 
                has any questions about the borrower's rights and 
                responsibilities or the terms and conditions of the 
                loan.
            ``(4) Borrowers receiving parent plus loans for dependent 
        students.--The information to be provided under paragraph 
        (1)(A) to a borrower of a Federal Direct PLUS Loan made on 
        behalf of a dependent student shall include the following:
                    ``(A) The information described in subparagraphs 
                (A) through (C) and (N) through (Q) of paragraph (3).
                    ``(B) The option of the borrower to pay the 
                interest on the loan while the loan is in deferment.
                    ``(C) For a first-time borrower of such loan--
                            ``(i) a statement of the anticipated 
                        balance on the loan for which the borrower is 
                        receiving counseling under this subsection;
                            ``(ii) based on such anticipated balance, 
                        the anticipated monthly payment amount under 
                        the standard repayment plan; and
                            ``(iii) an estimate of the projected 
                        monthly payment amount under the standard 
                        repayment plan, based on the average cumulative 
                        indebtedness of other borrowers of Federal 
                        Direct PLUS Loans made on behalf of dependent 
                        students who are in the same program of study 
                        as the student on whose behalf the borrower 
                        borrowed the loan.
                    ``(D) For a borrower with an outstanding balance of 
                principal or interest due on such loan--
                            ``(i) a statement of the amount of such 
                        outstanding balance;
                            ``(ii) based on such outstanding balance, 
                        the anticipated monthly payment amount under 
                        the standard repayment plan; and
                            ``(iii) an estimate of the projected 
                        monthly payment amount under the standard 
                        repayment plan, based on--
                                    ``(I) the outstanding balance 
                                described in clause (i);
                                    ``(II) the anticipated outstanding 
                                balance on the loan for which the 
                                borrower is receiving counseling under 
                                this subsection; and
                                    ``(III) a projection for any other 
                                Federal Direct PLUS Loan made on behalf 
                                of the dependent student that the 
                                borrower is reasonably expected to 
                                accept during the program of study of 
                                such student based on at least the 
                                expected increase in the cost of 
                                attendance of such program.
                    ``(E) Debt management strategies that are designed 
                to facilitate the repayment of such indebtedness.
                    ``(F) An explanation that the borrower has the 
                options to prepay each loan, pay each loan on a shorter 
                schedule, and change repayment plans.
                    ``(G) For each Federal Direct PLUS Loan made on 
                behalf of a dependent student for which the borrower is 
                receiving counseling under this subsection, the contact 
                information for the loan servicer of the loan and a 
                link to such servicer's Website.
            ``(5) Annual loan acceptance.--Prior to making the first 
        disbursement of a loan made under part D (other than a Federal 
        Direct Consolidation Loan) to a borrower for an award year, an 
        eligible institution, shall, as part of carrying out the 
        counseling requirements of this subsection for the loan, ensure 
        that after receiving the applicable counseling under paragraphs 
        (2), (3), and (4) for the loan the borrower accepts the loan 
        for such award year by--
                    ``(A) signing the master promissory note for the 
                loan;
                    ``(B) signing and returning to the institution a 
                separate written statement that affirmatively states 
                that the borrower accepts the loan; or
                    ``(C) electronically signing an electronic version 
                of the statement described in subparagraph (B).''.

SEC. 202. EXIT COUNSELING.

    Section 485(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1092(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(A)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 
                ``through financial aid offices or otherwise'' and 
                inserting ``through the use of an interactive program, 
                during an exit counseling session that is in-person or 
                online, or through the use of the online counseling 
                tool described in subsection (k)(1)(A)'';
                    (B) by redesignating clauses (i) through (ix) as 
                clauses (iv) through (xii), respectively;
                    (C) by inserting before clause (iv), as so 
                redesignated, the following:
            ``(i) a summary of the outstanding balance of principal and 
        interest due on the loans made to the borrower under part B, D, 
        or E;
            ``(ii) an explanation of the grace period preceding 
        repayment and the expected date that the borrower will enter 
        repayment; and
            ``(iii) an explanation that the borrower has the option to 
        pay any interest that has accrued while the borrower was in 
        school or that may accrue during the grace period preceding 
        repayment or during an authorized period of deferment or 
        forbearance, prior to the capitalization of the interest;'';
                    (D) in clause (iv), as so redesignated--
                            (i) by striking ``sample information 
                        showing the average'' and inserting 
                        ``information, based on the borrower's 
                        outstanding balance described in clause (i), 
                        showing the borrower's''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``of each plan'' and 
                        inserting ``of at least the standard repayment 
                        plan and the income-based repayment plan under 
                        section 493C'';
                    (E) in clause (ix), as so redesignated--
                            (i) by inserting ``decreased credit 
                        score,'' after ``credit reports,''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``reduced ability to rent 
                        or purchase a home or car, potential difficulty 
                        in securing employment,'' after ``Federal 
                        law,'';
                    (F) in clause (x), as so redesignated, by striking 
                ``consolidation loan under section 428C or a'';
                    (G) in clauses (xi) and (xii), as so redesignated, 
                by striking ``and'' at the end; and
                    (H) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(xiii) for each of the borrower's loans made under part 
        B, D, or E for which the borrower is receiving counseling under 
        this subsection, the contact information for the loan servicer 
        of the loan and a link to such servicer's Website; and
            ``(xiv) an explanation that an individual has a right to 
        annually request a disclosure of information collected by a 
        consumer reporting agency pursuant to section 612(a) of the 
        Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681j(a)).'';
            (2) in paragraph (1)(B)--
                    (A) by inserting ``online or'' before ``in 
                writing''; and
                    (B) by adding before the period at the end the 
                following: ``, except that in the case of an 
                institution using the online counseling tool described 
                in subsection (k)(1)(A), the Secretary shall attempt to 
                provide such information to the student in the manner 
                described in subsection (k)(3)(C)''; and
            (3) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting ``, such as the 
        online counseling tool described in subsection (k)(1)(A),'' 
        after ``electronic means''.

SEC. 203. ONLINE COUNSELING TOOLS.

    Section 485(k) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092) 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(k) Online Counseling Tools.--
            ``(1) In general.--Beginning not later than 1 year after 
        the date of enactment of the Achieving Independence through 
        Degrees Act, the Secretary shall maintain--
                    ``(A) an online counseling tool that provides the 
                exit counseling required under subsection (b) and meets 
                the applicable requirements of this subsection; and
                    ``(B) an online counseling tool that provides the 
                annual counseling required under subsection (l) and 
                meets the applicable requirements of this subsection.
            ``(2) Requirements of tools.--In maintaining the online 
        counseling tools described in paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        shall ensure that each such tool is--
                    ``(A) consumer tested, in consultation with other 
                relevant Federal agencies, to ensure that the tool is 
                effective in helping individuals understand their 
                rights and obligations with respect to borrowing a loan 
                made under part D;
                    ``(B) understandable to students who are borrowers 
                of loans made under part D; and
                    ``(C) freely available to all eligible 
                institutions.
            ``(3) Record of counseling completion.--The Secretary 
        shall--
                    ``(A) use each online counseling tool described in 
                paragraph (1) to keep a record of which individuals 
                have received counseling using the tool, and notify the 
                applicable institutions of the individual's completion 
                of such counseling;
                    ``(B) in the case of a borrower who receives annual 
                counseling for a loan made under part D using the tool 
                described in paragraph (1)(B), notify the borrower by 
                when the borrower should accept, in a manner described 
                in subsection (l)(6), the loan for which the borrower 
                has received such counseling; and
                    ``(C) in the case of a borrower described in 
                subsection (b)(1)(B) at an institution that uses the 
                online counseling tool described in paragraph (1)(A) of 
                this subsection, the Secretary shall attempt to provide 
                the information described in subsection (b)(1)(A) to 
                the borrower through such tool.''.

SEC. 204. LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STUDENT LOAN 
              COUNSELING.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Education, acting through the Director of 
the Institute of Education Sciences, shall begin conducting a rigorous, 
longitudinal study of the impact and effectiveness of the student loan 
counseling--
            (1) provided under subsections (b), (l), and (k) of section 
        485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092), as 
        amended by this Act; and
            (2) provided through such other means as the Secretary of 
        Education may determine.
    (b) Contents.--
            (1) Borrower information.--The longitudinal study carried 
        out under subsection (a) shall include borrower information, in 
        the aggregate and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, 
        income, and status as an individual with a disability, on--
                    (A) student persistence;
                    (B) degree attainment;
                    (C) program completion;
                    (D) successful entry into student loan repayment;
                    (E) cumulative borrowing levels; and
                    (F) such other factors as the Secretary of 
                Education may determine.
            (2) Exception.--The disaggregation under paragraph (1) 
        shall not be required in a case in which the number of 
        borrowers in a category is insufficient to yield statistically 
        reliable information or the results would reveal personally 
        identifiable information about an individual borrower.
    (c) Interim Reports.--Not later than 18 months after the 
commencement of the study under subsection (a), and annually 
thereafter, the Secretary of Education shall evaluate the progress of 
the study and report any short-term findings to the appropriate 
committees of Congress.

    TITLE III--REPEAL OF SUSPENSION OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE HIGHER 
 EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 FOR GRANTS, LOANS, AND WORK ASSISTANCE FOR DRUG-
                            RELATED OFFENSES

SEC. 301. REPEAL.

    (a) In General.--Section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1091) is amended by striking subsection (r).
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 484 of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091) is amended by redesignating subsections (s), 
(t), and (u) as subsections (r), (s), and (t), respectively.

SEC. 302. REVISION OF FAFSA FORM.

    Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Convictions.--The Secretary shall not include any question 
about the conviction of an applicant for the possession or sale of 
illegal drugs on the FAFSA (or any other form developed under 
subsection (a)).''.

                 TITLE IV--FINANCIAL AID SHOPPING SHEET

SEC. 401. SECRETARIAL REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the 
Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, shall develop and finalize 
a financial shopping sheet that ensures each institution of higher 
education provides meaningful information about the financial cost and 
quality of such institution to students (including students who have 
authorized the Department of Education to send the student's 
Institutional Student Information Record to such institution) to assist 
such students in determining how to use financial aid to attend such 
institution, and which--
            (1) is standardized so that it can be used by all 
        institutions of higher education;
            (2) is consumer tested, and presented in a manner that is 
        simple and easily understandable; and
            (3) is personalized for each student who receives such 
        sheet by including--
                    (A) the cost of attendance of the educational 
                program in which the student is enrolled or seeks to be 
                enrolled;
                    (B) the type of Federal educational benefits 
                available to assist in covering such cost of 
                attendance, including loans and grants under title IV 
                of the Higher Education Act of 1965;
                    (C) the amount of financial aid, including Federal, 
                State, institutional, or other aid that can be used to 
                assist in covering such cost of attendance;
                    (D) information about student outcomes for students 
                who graduate from such educational program, including, 
                based upon the most recent data available--
                            (i) the graduation rate;
                            (ii) the loan repayment rate; and
                            (iii) the estimated loan debt upon 
                        graduation; and
                    (E) any other information that facilitates 
                comparison of aid packages offered by different 
                institutions of higher education.
    (b) Definitions.--In this subsection:
            (1) Cost of attendance.--The term ``cost of attendance'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 472 of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1002).

SEC. 402. REQUIREMENTS FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

    Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1094(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(30) The institution will use a financial aid shopping 
        sheet described in 401(a) of the Achieving Independence through 
        Degrees Act as its sole financial award letter or include such 
        sheet as a supplemental cover to such financial award 
        letter.''.

                   TITLE V--SNAP AND HIGHER EDUCATION

SEC. 501. SNAP TREATMENT OF LIVING EXPENSES INCLUDED IN EDUCATIONAL 
              LOANS.

    Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3)(B) by striking ``other than'' 
                and inserting ``including''; and
                    (B) in the proviso of paragraph (5) by striking ``, 
                and no portion'' and all that follows through 
                ``expenses,''; and
            (2) in subsection (k)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (3); and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph 
                (3).

SEC. 502. ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL 
              NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    Section 6(e) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2015(e)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (7) by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (8) by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) has an expected family contribution of zero, as 
        determined by the procedures established in part F of title IV 
        of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087kk-1087vv); 
        or
            ``(10) is determined to be `independent' based on one of 
        the criteria specified in subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), (G), and 
        (H) of section 480(d)(1) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
        1087vv).''.
                                 <all>