Title: Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise provisions related to financial aid and higher education programs for children and youths who are homeless or in foster care.


[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3740 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3740

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the financial aid 
 process for homeless children and youths and foster care children and 
                                 youth.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 12, 2017

Ms. Clark of Massachusetts (for herself, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Scott 
  of Virginia, and Mrs. Davis of California) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
                               Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the financial aid 
 process for homeless children and youths and foster care children and 
                                 youth.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Higher Education Access and Success 
for Homeless and Foster Youth Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Independent Student.--Section 480(d)(1)(H) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(d)(1)(H)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding clause (i)--
                    (A) by striking ``during the school year in which 
                the application is submitted'';
                    (B) by inserting ``age 23 or younger'' after 
                ``unaccompanied youth''; and
                    (C) by striking ``terms are'' and inserting ``term 
                is'';
            (2) in clause (i), by inserting ``, or a designee of the 
        liaison'' after ``Act'';
            (3) in clause (ii), by striking ``a program funded under 
        the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act'' and inserting ``an 
        emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, 
        homeless youth drop-in center, or other program serving 
        homeless youth,''; and
            (4) in clause (iii), by striking ``program funded under 
        subtitle B of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (relating to emergency shelter grants)'' and 
        inserting ``Federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early Awareness 
        and Readiness for Undergraduate program under chapter 1 or 2 of 
        subpart 2 of part A,''.
    (b) Foster Care Children and Youth.--Section 103 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
            ``(25) Foster care children and youth.--The term `foster 
        care children and youth'--
                    ``(A) means children and youth whose care and 
                placement are the responsibility of the State or Tribal 
                agency that administers a State or Tribal plan under 
                part B or E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 
                U.S.C. 621 et seq. and 670 et seq.), without regard to 
                whether foster care maintenance payments are made under 
                section 472 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 672) on behalf of 
                such children and youth; and
                    ``(B) includes individuals who were age 13 or older 
                when their care and placement were the responsibility 
                of a State or Tribal agency that administered a State 
                or Tribal plan under part B or E of title IV of the 
                Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq. and 670 et 
                seq.) and who are no longer under the care and 
                responsibility of such a State or tribal agency, 
                without regard to any such individual's subsequent 
                adoption, guardianship arrangement, or other form of 
                permanency outcome.''.

SEC. 3. STREAMLINING DETERMINATIONS AND VERIFICATION.

    Section 480(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1087vv(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Simplifying the determination process for 
        unaccompanied youth.--
                    ``(A) Verification.--A financial aid administrator 
                shall accept a homelessness determination made by any 
                individual authorized to make such determinations under 
                clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of paragraph (1)(H) in the 
                absence of conflicting information. A documented phone 
                call with, or a written statement from, one of the 
                authorized individuals is sufficient verification when 
                needed. For purposes of this paragraph, a financial aid 
                administrator's disagreement with the determination 
                made by an authorized individual shall not be 
                considered conflicting information.
                    ``(B) Determination of independence.--A financial 
                aid administrator shall make a determination of 
                independence under paragraph (1)(H) if a student does 
                not have, and cannot get, documentation from any of the 
                other designated authorities described in such 
                paragraph. Such a determination shall be--
                            ``(i) based on the definitions outlined in 
                        paragraph (1)(H);
                            ``(ii) distinct from a determination of 
                        independence under paragraph (1)(I);
                            ``(iii) based on a documented interview 
                        with the student; and
                            ``(iv) limited to whether the student meets 
                        the definitions in paragraph (1)(H) and not 
                        about the reasons for the student's 
                        homelessness.
            ``(4) Simplifying the verification process for foster 
        children and youth.--
                    ``(A) Verification of independence.--If an 
                institution requires documentation to verify that a 
                student is independent based on a status described in 
                paragraph (1)(B), a financial aid administrator shall 
                consider any of the following as adequate verification:
                            ``(i) Submission of a court order or 
                        official State documentation that the student 
                        received Federal or State support in foster 
                        care.
                            ``(ii) A documented phone call with, or a 
                        written statement from,--
                                    ``(I) a child welfare agency 
                                authorized by a State or county;
                                    ``(II) a tribal child welfare 
                                authority;
                                    ``(III) an Independent Living case 
                                worker;
                                    ``(IV) a public or private foster 
                                care placing agency or foster care 
                                facility or placement;
                                    ``(V) another program serving 
                                orphans, foster children and youth, or 
                                wards of the court; or
                                    ``(VI) a probation officer.
                            ``(iii) A documented phone call with, or a 
                        written statement from, an attorney, a guardian 
                        ad litem, or a Court Appointed Special 
                        Advocate, documenting that person's 
                        relationship to the student.
                            ``(iv) A documented phone call with, or a 
                        written statement from, a representative of a 
                        Federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early 
                        Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate 
                        program under chapter 1 or 2 of subpart 2 of 
                        part A.
                            ``(v) Verification of the student's 
                        eligibility for an education and training 
                        voucher under the John H. Chafee Foster Care 
                        Independence Program (42 U.S.C. 677).
                            ``(vi) Submission of a copy of the 
                        student's biological or adoptive parents'--
                                    ``(I) Certificates of Death; or
                                    ``(II) newspaper obituaries.
                            ``(vii) An attestation from the student, 
                        which includes a description of why the student 
                        may qualify for a status described in paragraph 
                        (1)(B), including the approximate dates that 
                        the student was in foster care, dependent, or a 
                        ward of the court, to the best of the student's 
                        knowledge after making reasonable efforts to 
                        provide any requested documentation.
                    ``(B) Additional streamlining permitted.--Nothing 
                in this paragraph prohibits an institution from 
                implementing polices that streamline the determination 
                of independent status and improve a student's access to 
                financial aid because that student is an orphan, in 
                foster care, or a ward of the court, or was an orphan, 
                in foster care, or a ward of the court at any time when 
                the student was 13 years of age or older.
            ``(5) Timing; use of earlier determination.--
                    ``(A) Timing.--A determination under subparagraph 
                (B) or (H) of paragraph (1) for a student--
                            ``(i) shall be made as quickly as 
                        practicable;
                            ``(ii) may be made as early as the year 
                        before the award year for which the student 
                        initially submits an application; and
                            ``(iii) shall be made no later than during 
                        the award year for which the student initially 
                        submits an application.
                    ``(B) Use of earlier determination.--Any student 
                who is determined to be independent under subparagraph 
                (B) or (H) of paragraph (1) for a preceding award year 
                at an institution shall be presumed to be independent 
                for a subsequent award year at the same institution 
                unless--
                            ``(i) the student informs the institution 
                        that circumstances have changed; or
                            ``(ii) the institution has specific 
                        conflicting information about the student's 
                        independence, and has informed the student of 
                        this information and the opportunity to 
                        challenge such information through a documented 
                        interview or an impartial review by the Student 
                        Loan Ombudsman pursuant to section 
                        141(f)(3)(C).
            ``(6) Retention of documents.--A financial aid 
        administrator shall retain all documents related to the 
        determination of independence under subparagraph (B) or (H) of 
        paragraph (1), including documented interviews, for the 
        duration of the student's enrollment at the institution and for 
        a minimum of 1 year after the student is no longer enrolled at 
        the institution.''.

SEC. 4. STUDENT LOAN OMBUDSMAN.

    Section 141(f)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1018(f)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) receive, review, and resolve expeditiously 
                complaints regarding a student's independence under 
                subparagraph (B) or (H) of section 480(d)(1), in 
                consultation with knowledgeable parties, including 
                child welfare agencies, local educational agency 
                liaisons for homeless children and youths designated 
                under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento 
                Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)), 
                or State Coordinators for Education of Homeless 
                Children and Youths established in accordance with 
                section 722 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 11432).''.

SEC. 5. HOUSING AND SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT.

    (a) Access to Housing.--Section 487(a)(19) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(19)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The institution will not'' and inserting 
        the following: ``The institution--
                    ``(A) will not'';
            (2) by inserting ``housing facilities,'' after 
        ``libraries,'';
            (3) by striking ``institution.'' and inserting 
        ``institution; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) will provide a means for students to access 
                institutionally owned or operated housing if a student 
                is temporarily unable to meet financial obligations 
                related to housing, including deposits, due to delayed 
                disbursement of vouchers for education and training 
                made available under section 477 of part E of title IV 
                of the Social Security Act or delays attributable to 
                the institution.''.
    (b) Single Point of Contact.--Section 485 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(n) Each institution of higher education participating in any 
program under this title shall--
            ``(1) have designated an appropriate staff person as a 
        single point of contact to assist homeless children and youths 
        (as such term is defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento 
        Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)) and foster care 
        children and youth in accessing and completing postsecondary 
        education, including by ensuring that such homeless children 
        and youths and foster care children and youth are connected to 
        applicable and available student support services, programs, 
        and community resources in areas such as financial aid, 
        academic advising, housing, food, public benefits, health care, 
        health insurance, mental health, and mentoring;
            ``(2) post public notice about student financial assistance 
        and other assistance available to homeless children and youths 
        and foster care children and youth, including their eligibility 
        as independent students under subparagraphs (B) and (H) of 
        section 480(d)(1);
            ``(3) give priority for any institutionally owned or 
        operated housing facilities, including student housing 
        facilities that remain open for occupation during school breaks 
        or on a year-round basis, to--
                    ``(A) homeless children and youths (as such term is 
                defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a));
                    ``(B) youths who are unaccompanied, at risk of 
                homelessness, and self-supporting; and
                    ``(C) foster care children and youth;
            ``(4) have developed a plan for how homeless children and 
        youths, youths who are unaccompanied, at risk of homelessness, 
        and self-supporting, and foster care children and youth can 
        access housing resources during and between academic terms, 
        through means that may include access to institutionally owned 
        or operated housing during breaks and a list of housing 
        resources in the community that provide short-term housing; and
            ``(5) include, in its application for admission, questions 
        (to be answered voluntarily) regarding the applicant's status 
        as a homeless child or youth or foster care child or youth, 
        that--
                    ``(A) can be answered by the applicant voluntarily 
                for the limited purpose of being provided information 
                about financial aid or any other available assistance; 
                and
                    ``(B) explain the key terms in the question in a 
                manner children and youth can understand in order to 
                self-identify and declare eligibility as a homeless 
                child or youth or foster care child or youth.''.

SEC. 6. FEDERAL TRIO PROGRAMS.

    Section 402A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-
11) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)(6), by striking the last sentence and 
        inserting the following: ``The Secretary shall require each 
        applicant for funds under the programs authorized by this 
        chapter to identify and conduct outreach to foster care 
        children and youth and homeless children and youths (as such 
        term is defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)), and make available to 
        foster care children and youth and homeless children and youths 
        services under such programs, including mentoring, tutoring, 
        and other services provided by such programs.''; and
            (2) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ``college students, 
        and'' and inserting ``college students, foster care children 
        and youth, homeless children and youth, and''.

SEC. 7. TALENT SEARCH.

    Section 402B(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a-12(d)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) require an assurance that the entity carrying out the 
        project has reviewed and revised policies and practices as 
        needed to remove barriers to the participation and retention in 
        the project of homeless children and youths (as such term is 
        defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)), including unaccompanied 
        youths, and foster care children and youth;
            ``(6) require that such entity submit, as part of the 
        application for the project, a description of the activities 
        that will be undertaken to reach out to homeless children and 
        youths and foster care children and youth as part of the 
        project; and
            ``(7) require an assurance that such entity will prepare 
        and submit the report required under section 402H(e) at the 
        conclusion of the project regarding homeless children and 
        youths and foster care children and youth.''.

SEC. 8. UPWARD BOUND.

    Section 402C(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a-13(e)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) require an assurance that the entity carrying out the 
        project has reviewed and revised policies and practices as 
        needed to remove barriers to the participation and retention in 
        the project of homeless children and youths (as such term is 
        defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)), including unaccompanied 
        youths, and foster care children and youth;
            ``(7) require that such entity submit, as part of the 
        application, a description of the activities that will be 
        undertaken to reach out to homeless children and youths and 
        foster care children and youth regarding the project; and
            ``(8) require an assurance that such entity will prepare 
        and submit the report required under section 402H(e) at the 
        conclusion of the project regarding homeless children and 
        youths and foster care children and youth.''.

SEC. 9. STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES.

    Section 402D(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a-14(e)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) require an assurance that the entity carrying out the 
        project has reviewed and revised policies and practices as 
        needed to remove barriers to the participation and retention in 
        the project of homeless children and youths (as such term is 
        defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)), including unaccompanied 
        youths, and foster care children and youth;
            ``(8) require that such entity submit, in the application 
        for the project, a description of the activities that will be 
        undertaken to reach out to homeless children and youths, and 
        foster care children and youth, who are enrolled or accepted 
        for enrollment at the institution; and
            ``(9) require an assurance that such entity will prepare 
        and submit the report required under section 402H(e) at the 
        conclusion of the project regarding homeless children and 
        youths and foster care children and youth.''.

SEC. 10. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTERS.

    Section 402F(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a-16(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) require an assurance that the entity carrying out the 
        project has reviewed and revised policies and practices as 
        needed to remove barriers to the participation and retention in 
        the project of homeless children and youths (as such term is 
        defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)), including unaccompanied 
        youths, and foster care children and youth;
            ``(6) require that such entity submit, as part of the 
        application, a description of the activities that will be 
        undertaken to reach out to homeless children and youths and 
        foster care children and youth regarding the project; and
            ``(7) require an assurance that such entity will prepare 
        and submit the report required under section 402H(e) at the 
        conclusion of the project regarding homeless children and 
        youths and foster care children and youth.''.

SEC. 11. REPORTS AND EVALUATIONS.

    Section 402H of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-
18) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Report Regarding Homeless Children and Youths and Foster Care 
Children and Youth.--Each entity carrying out a project under section 
402B, 402C, 402D, or 402F shall, at the conclusion of the project, 
prepare and submit a report to the Secretary that includes--
            ``(1) data on the number of homeless children and youths 
        (as such term is defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento 
        Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)) and foster care 
        children and youth served through the project; and
            ``(2) a description of any strategies or program 
        enhancements that were used in the project and that were 
        effective in meeting the needs of homeless children and youths 
        and foster care children and youth.''.

SEC. 12. GAINING EARLY AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE 
              PROGRAMS.

    Section 404C(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a-23(a)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(K) describe how the eligible entity will 
                facilitate the participation of foster care children 
                and youth and homeless children and youths (as such 
                term is defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento 
                Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)), 
                including--
                            ``(i) how the eligible entity will identify 
                        foster care children and youth and homeless 
                        children and youths, in collaboration with 
                        child welfare agencies, homeless shelters, and 
                        local educational agency liaisons for homeless 
                        children and youths designated under section 
                        722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
                        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii));
                            ``(ii) how the eligible entity will collect 
                        and submit to the Secretary data on the number 
                        of homeless children and youths and foster care 
                        children and youth served; and
                            ``(iii) the policies and practices the 
                        eligible entity will adopt to remove barriers 
                        to the participation of homeless children and 
                        youths and foster care children and youth, 
                        including policies to facilitate continued 
                        participation despite changes in residence 
                        resulting from homelessness or foster care 
                        placement and policies consistent with the 
                        McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
                        U.S.C. 11301 et seq.).''.

SEC. 13. GRANT FOR FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS.

    Section 443(b)(6) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1087-53(b)(6)) is amended by inserting ``, and prioritize employment 
for students who are currently or formerly homeless children and youths 
(as such term is defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)) or foster care children and youth'' 
after ``thereof''.

SEC. 14. EXCLUDABLE INCOME.

    Section 480(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1087vv(e)) is amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the 
following:
            ``(5) payments made and services provided under part E of 
        title IV of the Social Security Act to or on behalf of any 
        child or youth over whom the State agency has responsibility 
        for placement, care, or supervision, including the value of 
        vouchers for education and training and amounts expended for 
        room and board for youth who are not in foster care but are 
        receiving services under section 477 of such Act; and''.

SEC. 15. CONSOLIDATING QUESTIONS REGARDING HOMELESS STATUS ON THE 
              FAFSA.

    Section 483(a)(4) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1090(a)(4)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Single question regarding homeless status.--
                The Secretary shall ensure that, on each form developed 
                under this section for which the information is 
                applicable, there is a single, easily understood 
                screening question to identify an applicant for aid who 
                is--
                            ``(i) an unaccompanied homeless child or 
                        youth (as such term is defined in section 725 
                        of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act); 
                        or
                            ``(ii) an unaccompanied youth who is self-
                        supporting and at risk of homelessness.''.

SEC. 16. DATA TRANSPARENCY ON THE NUMBER OF FINANCIAL AID APPLICANTS.

    Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Data Transparency on the Number of Applicants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall annually publish 
        data on the number of individuals who apply for Federal student 
        aid pursuant to this section who are homeless children and 
        youths (as such term is defined in section 725 of the McKinney-
        Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)), including 
        unaccompanied youths, and foster care children and youth.
            ``(2) Contents.--The data described in paragraph (1) with 
        respect to homeless children and youths shall include, at a 
        minimum, for each application cycle--
                    ``(A) the total number of all applicants who were 
                determined to be (or to be at risk of becoming) 
                unaccompanied homeless youth, under section 
                480(d)(1)(H);
                    ``(B) the number of applicants described in 
                subparagraph (A), disaggregated--
                            ``(i) by State; and
                            ``(ii) by the sources of determination as 
                        described in clauses (i) through (iv) of 
                        section 480(d)(1)(H); and
                    ``(C) the number of undetermined requests for 
                homelessness consideration, including statuses that 
                remain unknown because no determination had been made 
                in response the applicant's request for the institution 
                to consider the applicant's special circumstance of 
                being homeless.''.

SEC. 17. IN-STATE TUITION RATES FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN OR YOUTHS AND 
              FOSTER CARE CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

    Section 135 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015d) 
is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``, homeless 
        children or youths, and foster care children and youth'' after 
        ``children'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``(a) Requirement.--In the case'' 
                and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Requirement.--
            ``(1) Armed forces.--In the case''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Homeless children or youths and foster care children 
        or youth.--In the case of a homeless child or youth or a foster 
        care child or youth, such State shall not charge such 
        individual tuition for attendance at a public institution of 
        higher education in the State at a rate that is greater than 
        the rate charged for residents of the State.''; and
            (3) by striking subsections (c) and (d) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(c) Effective Date.--
            ``(1) Armed forces.--With respect to an individual 
        described in subsection (a)(1), this section shall take effect 
        at each public institution of higher education in a State that 
        receives assistance under this Act for the first period of 
        enrollment at such institution that begins after July 1, 2009.
            ``(2) Homeless children or youths and foster care children 
        or youth.--With respect to an individual described in 
        subsection (a)(2), this section shall take effect at each 
        public institution of higher education in a State that receives 
        assistance under this Act for the first period of enrollment at 
        such institution that begins during the first full award year 
        following the date of enactment of the Higher Education Access 
        and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act.
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Armed forces.--The terms `armed forces' and `active 
        duty for a period of more than 30 days' have the meanings given 
        those terms in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
            ``(2) Homeless children and youths.--The term `homeless 
        children and youths' has the meaning given the term in section 
        725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        11434a).''.
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