Student Food Security Act of 2024

Bill: 118-s-5004
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2024-09-10
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Latest action: action_date: 2024-09-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5004 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 10, 2024 Ms. Warren (for herself, Mr. Padilla , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Fetterman , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Durbin , Ms. Smith , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Welch , Mr. Wyden , and Mr. Markey ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand the eligibility of students to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, establish college student food insecurity demonstration programs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Student Food Security Act of 2024 . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. TITLE I—Student eligibility for nutrition assistance programs Sec. 101. Eligibility of students to participate in supplemental nutrition assistance program. Sec. 102. Communication of information on student eligibility for nutrition assistance programs. Sec. 103. Demonstration program. TITLE II—Reducing student food insecurity Sec. 201. Data sharing. Sec. 202. Questions on basic needs in national postsecondary student aid study. Sec. 203. Grants to support the basic needs of students. Sec. 204. Effective date. I Student eligibility for nutrition assistance programs 101. Eligibility of students to participate in supplemental nutrition assistance program (a) Definition of household Section 3(m)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2012(m)(4) ) is amended— (1) by striking (4) In no event and inserting the following: (4) Institution or boarding house (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in no event ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (B) Students An individual (including any dependents of the individual) may constitute a household if the individual is a student and resident of an institution of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 )). . (b) Eligibility of students Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015 ) is amended— (1) in the section heading, by inserting qualifications and after Eligibility ; (2) in subsection (d)(2)(C)— (A) by inserting who is after student ; (B) by striking half time and inserting half-time ; and (C) by striking (except and all that follows through section) and inserting (as determined by the school, training program, or institution of higher education, as applicable) and meets the requirements for eligibility under subsection (e) ; and (3) in subsection (e)— (A) in paragraph (3)— (i) in subparagraph (B), by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and indenting appropriately; and (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D) as clauses (i) through (iv), respectively, and indenting appropriately; (B) in paragraph (5), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting appropriately; (C) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (8) as subparagraphs (A) through (H), respectively, and indenting appropriately; (D) in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated), by striking 20 and inserting 10 ; (E) in subparagraph (E)(ii) (as so redesignated), by striking paragraph (4) and inserting subparagraph (D) ; (F) in subparagraph (G) (as so redesignated), by striking or at the end after the semicolon; (G) in subparagraph (H) (as so redesignated), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; (H) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by striking (e) No individual and all that follows through individual— and inserting the following: (e) Qualifications for students A student enrolled in any recognized school, training program, or institution of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 )) shall be eligible to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program if— (1) the student satisfies the other requirements of this section; and (2) the student— ; and (I) in paragraph (2) (as so designated), by adding at the end the following: (I) is eligible to participate in a State or federally financed work study program, including the program authorized under part C of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087–51 et seq. ); (J) (i) is not an independent student (as defined in section 480(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087vv(d) )); and (ii) (I) has a student aid index of not more than 0, as determined in accordance with part F of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087kk et seq. ); or (II) meets the financial eligibility criteria for receiving a maximum Federal Pell Grant under subpart 1 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq. )— (aa) regardless of whether the student has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid described in section 483 of that Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1090 ); and (bb) which may be determined by a State using the income of the student, as determined under— (AA) the supplemental nutrition assistance program or another Federal or State means-tested program; or (BB) another reasonable simplifying assumption; or (K) (i) is an independent student (as defined in section 480(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087vv(d) )); and (ii) is a member of a household otherwise eligible to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. . 102. Communication of information on student eligibility for nutrition assistance programs (a) Definitions In this section: (1) College student The term college student means a student enrolled in an institution of higher education. (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 ). (3) Program The term program means the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ). (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. (b) Strategies report Not later than 180 days after the effective date of this title, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes the strategy to be used by the Secretary— (1) to increase the awareness of State agencies and institutions of higher education about— (A) college student food insecurity; (B) the eligibility of college students and their families for the program; and (C) the procedures and resources available to college students who are not participating in the program to access benefits under the program; (2) to identify— (A) existing or potential informational, educational, policy, and psychological barriers to enrolling in the program and barriers to complying with program requirements; (B) mitigation strategies with respect to those barriers; and (C) opportunities for collaboration with the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other relevant Federal agencies; and (3) to update the State Outreach Plan Guidance under subsection (c). (c) Updated State Outreach Plan Guidance Not later than 90 days after the Secretary submits to Congress a report under subsection (b), the Secretary shall publish an updated State Outreach Plan Guidance that— (1) describes existing data on college student food insecurity; (2) describes the manner in which college students can access the supplemental nutrition assistance program; (3) recommends outreach activities to address college student food insecurity and encourages States to conduct those and other outreach activities; (4) provides a template for a State to submit information to the Secretary describing the outreach activities being carried out by the State to address college student food insecurity; and (5) contains updated guidance based on the contents of that report. 103. Demonstration program Section 17 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2026 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (o) College student food insecurity demonstration program (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) College student The term college student means a student enrolled in an institution of higher education. (B) Demonstration program The term demonstration program means the demonstration program established under paragraph (2). (C) Institution of higher education (i) In general 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 ). (ii) Inclusion The term institution of higher education includes a postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 )). (2) Demonstration program Pursuant to subsection (b), the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, shall establish a demonstration program under which the Secretary shall carry out demonstration projects in accordance with paragraph (3)— (A) to decrease student food insecurity at institutions of higher education; and (B) to reduce barriers to college students fully utilizing supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits at institutions of higher education available to college students and their families. (3) Demonstration projects To carry out the demonstration program, the Secretary shall carry out demonstration projects that test the following new supplemental nutrition assistance program delivery methods: (A) Allowing a college student receiving supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits— (i) to use those benefits to purchase prepared foods from a campus dining hall, on-campus store, or other on-campus merchant or provider that typically sells prepared meals and participates in the student meal program at the institution of higher education at which the student is enrolled; and (ii) to be exempt from requirements to purchase a campus meal plan as part of the attendance of the college student at the institution of higher education. (B) Allowing a college student to use an EBT card or a campus-specific card at any of the locations described in subparagraph (A)(i) or a retailer authorized under section 9. (4) Project limit (A) In general The Secretary shall carry out not more than 10 demonstration projects under the demonstration program simultaneously. (B) Institutions The Secretary shall carry out not more than 1 demonstration project under the demonstration program at any single institution of higher education. (5) Priority In selecting an institution of higher education at which to carry out a demonstration project, the Secretary shall give priority to an institution of higher education— (A) at which not less than 25 percent of enrolled students are students that are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant under subpart 1 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq. ); or (B) that is described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) ). (6) Project administration (A) In general The Secretary shall establish criteria and parameters for selecting, operating, monitoring, and terminating each demonstration project under the demonstration program. (B) Prices charged The Secretary shall ensure that prices charged by food providers participating in a demonstration project under the demonstration program are comparable to prices charged by those food providers prior to participation. (7) Project termination To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that the termination of a demonstration project under the demonstration program shall not cause sudden adverse changes, including a reduction of institutional financial aid or the elimination of benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, for students participating in the demonstration project. (8) Program termination The demonstration program shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date on which the demonstration program is established. (9) Evaluation For the duration of the demonstration program, the Secretary shall, in collaboration with the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, conduct an annual evaluation of each demonstration project carried out under the demonstration program during the year covered by the evaluation, including an analysis of the extent to which the project is meeting the desired outcomes, which include reduction in food insecurity and improved academic performance. (10) Report For the duration of the demonstration program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committees on Agriculture and Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives an annual report that includes— (A) a description of each demonstration project carried out under the demonstration program during the year covered by the report; (B) the evaluation conducted under paragraph (9); and (C) recommendations for legislation to improve the supplemental nutrition assistance program to better serve college students. (11) Waiver and modification authority (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary may, as may be necessary solely to carry out the demonstration program— (i) waive any provision under this Act, including— (I) the requirement relating to local sales tax under section 4(a); (II) requirements relating to the issuance and use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits under section 7; and (III) requirements for approval of retail food stores under section 9; and (ii) modify the definitions under this Act for the purposes of the demonstration program, including the definitions of the terms food , household , and retail food store under section 3. (B) Limitation The Secretary may not waive a provision or modify a definition under subparagraph (A) if the waiver or modification will— (i) cause increased difficulty for any household to apply for or access supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; or (ii) reduce the value of those benefits for any household. (12) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection. . II Reducing student food insecurity 201. Data sharing (a) Agreements The Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the head of any other applicable Federal or State agency, shall maintain agreements— (1) to securely share data among the respective Federal agencies of such Secretaries in order to identify students who have applied for Federal financial aid and who are enrolled at institutions of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 )) who may be eligible for federally funded programs to support basic needs through— (A) the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ), a nutrition assistance program carried out under section 19 of such Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2028 ), or a nutrition assistance program carried out by the Secretary of Agriculture in the Northern Mariana Islands; (B) the supplemental security income program under title XVI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq. ); (C) the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq. ); (D) the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786 ); (E) the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ); (F) Federal housing assistance programs, including tenant-based assistance under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o) ), and public housing, as defined in section 3(b)(1) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(1) ); (G) Federal child care assistance programs, including assistance under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq. ) and the Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program under section 419N of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070e ); (H) the free and reduced price school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq. ); (I) refundable credit for coverage under a qualified health plan under section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; (J) the Earned Income Tax Credit under section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; (K) the Child Tax Credit under section 24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or (L) any other federally funded program determined by the Secretary to be appropriate; and (2) to coordinate efforts to provide assistance to institutions of higher education to facilitate the enrollment of eligible students in the programs described in paragraph (1). (b) Information on federally funded programs To support basic needs (1) In general Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1090 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (e) Information on federally funded programs To support basic needs (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Benefit program The term benefit program means a program described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (L) of section 201(a)(1) of the Student Food Security Act of 2024 . (B) Eligible student The term eligible student means any student who, as a result of information submitted on the application for Federal student financial aid, has been determined by the Secretary (in consultation with the heads of applicable Federal agencies) to be potentially eligible for a benefit program. (2) Provision of information For each year for which an eligible student submits an application for Federal student financial aid, the Secretary shall send, in written and electronic form, to the eligible student information regarding potential eligibility for assistance under, and application process for, benefit programs. (3) Inclusion The information provided under paragraph (2) shall include a description of the appropriate State or Federal resources to which to apply for each benefit program. . (2) Consultation The Secretary of Education shall consult with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the head of any other applicable Federal or State agency, in designing the written and electronic communication regarding potential eligibility for assistance under, and application process for, the benefit programs (as defined in subsection (e)(1) of section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1090 )). (c) Further information on federally funded programs To support basic needs Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1090 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2)(E)— (A) in clause (i), by striking and after the semicolon; (B) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (iii) an authorization under subparagraph (D) and disclosing the information as described in clause (ii), the Secretary shall provide the applicant with notification of the appropriate Federal or State resources necessary to apply for Federal and State programs that support basic needs. ; and (2) in subsection (c)(3)— (A) by striking may enter and inserting shall enter ; and (B) by inserting , and shall consult with the heads of applicable Federal agencies in designing the written and electronic communication regarding potential eligibility for assistance under such programs after may be eligible . (d) Report The Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the head of any other applicable Federal or State agency, shall prepare and submit to Congress a report that presents summary statistics on students who have applied for Federal financial aid and who are enrolled at institutions of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 )) and are experiencing student food insecurity and housing insecurity, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, income quintile, status as a first generation college student, Federal Pell Grant eligibility status, disability status, status as a student parent, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), and other subgroups, as determined by such heads of agencies. 202. Questions on basic needs in national postsecondary student aid study The Secretary of Education shall permanently add to the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study validated questions that measure food security, housing security, and homelessness. 203. Grants to support the basic needs of students Title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1161a et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: BB Grants to support the basic needs of students 899. Grants to support the basic needs of students (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Basic needs The term basic needs , with respect to a student, means the physiological and safety necessities that are central conditions for the student to learn, including— (A) nutritious and sufficient food; (B) safe, secure, and adequate housing (including to sleep, to study, to cook, and to shower); (C) health care to promote sustained mental and physical well-being; (D) high-quality and affordable childcare; (E) affordable technology and internet access; (F) accessible transportation; (G) personal hygiene and clothing; and (H) other costs described in paragraphs (2) through (14) of section 472(a). (2) Community college (A) In general The term community college means— (i) a public institution of higher education at which— (I) the highest degree awarded is an associate degree; or (II) an associate degree is the most frequently awarded degree, including a 2-year Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316); (ii) a public postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in section 102(c)); or (iii) at the designation of the Secretary, in the case of a State in which there is no community college operated or controlled by the State that meets a definition under clause (i) or (ii), a college or similarly defined and structured academic entity— (I) that was in existence on July 1, 2023; (II) within a public 4-year institution of higher education; and (III) at which— (aa) the highest degree awarded is an associate degree; or (bb) an associate degree is the most frequently awarded degree. (3) Eligible institution The term eligible institution means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 or 102(a)(1)(B)). (b) Planning grants (1) In general The Secretary shall award planning grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible institutions to enable the eligible institutions to conduct research and planning in accordance with paragraph (2)— (A) to reduce incidences of— (i) student food insecurity; (ii) student housing insecurity; and (iii) students experiencing homelessness; and (B) to meet other basic needs of students. (2) Activities An eligible institution receiving a grant under this subsection shall use grant funds to carry out the following activities: (A) Establish a basic needs steering committee that will be— (i) responsible for developing and approving the basic needs strategy described in subparagraph (C); and (ii) comprised of relevant campus stakeholders, such as— (I) students who have experienced challenges in meeting basic needs; (II) student government representatives; (III) staff of the eligible institution representing the areas of student financial aid, housing, dining, student affairs, academic advising, equity support services, accessibility services, campus security, legal services, and health and well-being services (including counseling or psychological services); (IV) faculty; (V) relevant administrators, including local human services administrators; (VI) community-based and other nonprofit organizations; and (VII) representatives from local governmental agencies. (B) Conduct research regarding— (i) the level of unmet basic needs at the eligible institution, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, income quintile, status as a first generation college student (as defined in section 402A(h)), Federal Pell Grant eligibility status, disability status, status as a student parent, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), or other subgroup as determined by the eligible institution; (ii) the presence of institutional barriers (such as award displacement) and current institutional interventions to address basic needs insecurity; (iii) the presence of administrative barriers for students in applying, certifying eligibility, and renewing applications for means-tested benefits, and interventions to address such barriers; (iv) (I) the resources and activities available to address basic needs of students, both on campus and off campus, as of the date of the research; and (II) the impact of such resources and activities; and (v) opportunities for coordination and collaboration between the eligible institution and government or community-based organizations, such as— (I) the local office that administers benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ) and carries out employment and training programs under that Act, or the temporary assistance for needy families program and subsidized programs that meet the work requirements under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq. ); (II) organizations that participate in the Federal work-study program under part C of title IV; or (III) low-income housing assistance organizations, including such organizations assisting with tenant-based assistance under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o) ), and public housing (as defined in section 3(b) of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b) )). (C) Develop a basic needs strategy that describes the means by which the eligible institution will— (i) seek to address or meet the basic needs of students through on-campus and off-campus providers; and (ii) incorporate the research conducted under subparagraph (B), including with respect to the subgroups identified under clause (i) of that subparagraph, into the basic needs strategy. (D) Implement the strategy described in subparagraph (C), including by— (i) conducting outreach to encourage students to participate in programs that provide basic needs or reduce basic needs insecurity; (ii) educating students about Federal, State, local, and Tribal assistance programs, supporting student applications for those programs, and providing case management and training for students to maximize the assistance that students and their families receive to reduce basic needs insecurity; (iii) coordinating and collaborating with Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies or community-based organizations; (iv) hiring and training personnel to build infrastructure and implement programming to reduce basic needs insecurity at the eligible institution; and (v) carrying out other matters determined to be appropriate by the Secretary. (3) Grant amounts; duration (A) Amount The amount of a grant under this subsection shall be not more than $75,000. (B) Duration A grant under this subsection shall be for a period of not more than 2 years. (4) Report Not later than 60 days after the end of the planning grant period under this subsection, each eligible institution that receives such a grant shall submit to the Secretary a report that describes the outcomes of the planning grant, regardless of whether the eligible institution intends to apply for an implementation grant. (c) Implementation grants (1) Award (A) In general The Secretary shall award implementation grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible institutions to enable the eligible institutions to develop infrastructure to meet the basic needs of students by— (i) implementing— (I) a basic needs strategy developed under subsection (b)(2)(C); or (II) another existing basic needs plan approved by the Secretary; and (ii) carrying out the activities described in paragraph (2). (B) Ongoing external funding To be eligible to receive an implementation grant under this paragraph, an eligible institution shall identify, in the application for the grant, an ongoing non-Federal funding mechanism to support the activities carried out using grant funds after the expiration of the grant period. (2) Activities An eligible institution receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to carry out at least 2 of the following activities: (A) Providing to eligible students free or subsidized food, secure sleeping arrangements, temporary housing, priority access to existing on-campus child care, and other basic needs. (B) Conducting outreach to students to reduce stigma associated with, and educate and encourage students to participate in, programs and services (including programs and services provided through grant funding) to meet basic needs. (C) Educating students about public assistance programs (including State and local public assistance programs, the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ), Federal housing assistance programs, and other income-based Federal assistance programs), supporting student applications for those programs, and providing case management and training for students to maximize the public assistance that students and their families receive to meet basic needs. (D) Coordination and collaboration between the eligible institution and government or community-based organizations, such as the local office that administers benefits through the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ) or a low-income housing assistance organization. (E) Purchasing materials, equipment, transportation, or facilities to reduce incidences of food and housing insecurity and address the basic needs of students at the eligible institution. (F) Hiring and training personnel to build and improve basic needs infrastructure and implement programming to provide assistance in applying for, and accessing, direct support services, financial assistance, or means-tested benefits programs to meet the basic needs of students. (G) Other activities or services determined to be appropriate by the Secretary. (3) Grant amounts; duration (A) Amount The amount of a grant under this subsection shall be not more than $1,000,000 for each 5-year period. (B) Duration A grant under this subsection shall be for a period of 5 years. (4) Report The Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report that describes— (A) the impact on eligible students of grants provided under this subsection; (B) the obstacles faced by recipients of grants under this subsection; (C) successful outcomes of grants under this subsection; (D) best practices for the provision of basic services to eligible students; and (E) Federal and State policy barriers to meeting the basic needs of students at institutions of higher education. (5) Best practices The Secretary shall disseminate to eligible institutions information about best practices, as described in paragraph (4)(D). (6) Evaluation For the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of funds awarded under this subsection, the Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of each grant under this subsection to determine the impact on students, including improvements in retention, progression, transfer, attainment, and basic needs security, as applicable. (d) Reservation; priority; equitable distribution (1) Reservation In awarding grants under subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary shall reserve— (A) an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the total amount available for grants under those subsections for grant awards to community colleges; and (B) an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the total amount available for grants under those subsections for grant awards to historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minority-serving institutions. (2) Priority In awarding grants under subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary shall give priority to the following: (A) Eligible institutions with respect to which not fewer than 25 percent of enrolled students are students that are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant under subpart 1 of part A of title IV. (B) Eligible institutions described in section 371(a). (3) Equitable distribution In awarding grants under subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary shall ensure an equitable distribution of grant awards to eligible institutions in States, based on State population. (e) Personnel expenses limitations (1) Planning grants An eligible institution that receives a planning grant under subsection (b) may use not more than 50 percent of grant funds for personnel expenses. (2) Implementation grants An eligible institution that receives an implementation grant under subsection (c) may use not more than 75 percent of grant funds for personnel expenses. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2031, of which— (1) $40,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated to provide planning grants under subsection (b); and (2) $960,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated to provide implementation grants under subsection (c). . 204. Effective date This title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.