jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2014-04-09 00:00:00

Investing in Student Success Act of 2014 - Declares that income share agreements that meet this Act's requirements are valid, binding, and enforceable contracts that are not subject to state usury laws or state laws regulating assignments of future income.

Defines an "income share agreement" as an agreement between an individual and any other person under which the individual commits to pay a specified percentage of the individual's future income, for a specified period of time, in exchange for payments to or on behalf of such individual for postsecondary education, workforce development, or other purposes.

Requires such an agreement to:

 specify the percentage of future income the individual will be obligated to pay, but it must exempt, at a minimum, the first $10,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) of income each year; specify what will be considered the individual's income; prevent the individual from obligating more than 15% of the individual's future income toward such agreement; specify the maximum period that an individual will be obligated to make payments, not to exceed 360 months (excluding any period during which an individual's income was below the agreement's exempt amount); and specify the terms and conditions for early termination of an individual's payment period. Requires individuals, before entering into such an agreement, to be provided with a document that clearly and simply discloses: (1) the terms of the agreement, (2) that the agreement is not a debt instrument, (3) that such individual may be required to pay more or less than the amount received, and (4) that an individual's obligations under the agreement are not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

Prohibits such agreements from being construed as giving the contract holder any rights over an individual's actions.

Excludes payments that are made under an income share agreement from the individual's gross income for tax purposes.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include income share agreements as qualified education loans, but denies the deduction for interest paid on such loans.

Prohibits amounts individuals receive for entering into an income share agreement from being included as income or assets in the computation of the expected family contribution for any program funded under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to exclude any person from being treated as an investment company if substantially all of that person's business is confined to making income share agreements.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Date: 2014-04-10 00:00:00

Learning Opportunities With Creation of Open Source Textbooks (LOW COST) Act of 2014 - Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop high quality, college freshman-level, open source materials that: (1) contain, at minimum, a comprehensive set of textbooks or other educational materials covering topics in physics, chemistry, and calculus; (2) are posted on the Federal Open Source Material Website (Website); and (3) are free of copyright violations.

Requires the Director to establish and maintain the Website.

Requires materials on the Website to be made available free of charge. Allows those materials to be downloaded, redistributed, or revised by the public.

Directs the head of each federal agency that spends more than a specified amount in a fiscal year on scientific education or research to use at least 2% of those funds to collaborate with the heads of other such agencies or any federally funded research and development center to develop and implement procedures for checking the veracity, accuracy, and educational effectiveness of open source materials that are posted on the Website.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Education
Date: 2014-04-10 00:00:00

Protecting Educational Loans for Underserved Students Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish criteria for the Secretary of Education to use in determining whether the credit history of applicants for William D. Ford Federal Direct PLUS loans renders them ineligible for such loans. (Federal Direct PLUS loans are provided to graduate or professional degree students and the parents of dependent undergraduate students.)

Directs the Secretary to consider an applicant to have an adverse credit history on the basis of his or her credit report, absent a determination that the applicant has extenuating circumstances, if : (1) the applicant is 90 or more days delinquent on the repayment of a debt exceeding $2,000; or (2) during the three years before the credit report date, the applicant has been subject to a default determination, bankruptcy discharge, foreclosure, repossession, tax lien, wage garnishment, or write-off of a title IV debt.

Requires applicants that have been subject to such actions to participate in loan counseling provided by the applicable institution of higher education before becoming eligible for Federal Direct PLUS loans.

Prohibits the Secretary from: (1) denying a Federal Direct PLUS loan to an applicant for having debt that is unrelated to title IV loans and is in collection or has been charged off, provided the applicant participates in such loan counseling; or (2) using the applicant's lack of a credit history as a reason to deny a Federal Direct PLUS loan to such applicant.

Requires the Secretary to retain a record of the Secretary's basis for determining that an applicant has extenuating circumstances that make the applicant eligible for a Federal Direct PLUS loan despite having an adverse credit history.

Makes the Secretary's determination that an applicant does not have an adverse credit history effective for the two years following such determination.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2014-05-02 00:00:00

College Preparation Tax Credit Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual taxpayer a tax credit for up to $500 of qualified college preparation expenses. Defines such expenses as: (1) the fees required for taking any Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam, the SAT, the ACT, or any SAT subject test; (2) expenses related to preparation for such exams; and (3) fees and expenses related to applications for admission to pursue a postsecondary course of study at an institution of higher education.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Education
Date: 2014-05-06 00:00:00

Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to verify that individuals who are applying for Direct Consolidation loans on the following bases are in fact:

 currently eligible for income contingent repayment or income-based repayment of a loan that has been submitted to a guaranty agency for default aversion or is already in default; employed in a public service job and thereby eligible to participate in the public service loan forgiveness program; or a member of a regular or reserve component of the Armed Forces and thereby eligible to benefit from the no accrual of interest for active duty service members program.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Education
Date: 2014-05-08 00:00:00

Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2014 - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make the following entities, programs, and courses eligible for funding under title IV if they are accredited by an authorized accreditation authority in a state that has an alternative accreditation agreement with the Secretary of Education:

 institutions that provide postsecondary courses; postsecondary apprenticeship programs; and postsecondary education courses or programs provided by institutions of postsecondary education, nonprofit organizations, or for-profit organizations or businesses. Lists the items to be included in a state's alternative accreditation agreement with the Secretary, including the standards those entities, programs, and courses must meet to receive and maintain their accreditation.

Requires that agreement to include the state's assurance that only entities, programs, and courses that provide credits toward a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree (as defined by the state in the agreement) will be accredited.

Establishes the formula for determining the administrative cost allowance for: (1) the entities, programs, and courses that are accredited through the alternative accreditation system and that administer the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant programs in accordance with the agreement; and (2) states that will administer those programs for such entities, programs, and courses in accordance with the agreement.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Education
Date: 2014-05-09 00:00:00

Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow borrowers that received loans under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (DL) or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program on or after July 1, 2006, to consolidate those loans as Federal Direct Consolidation Loans.

Directs the Secretary of Education to consolidate DLs, and send a completed loan consolidation application to FFEL borrowers, within 90 days of this Act's enactment. Gives FFEL borrowers six months after their receipt of such application to endorse it and submit it to the Secretary if they wish to consolidate their loans.

Sets the interest rate on Federal Direct Consolidation Loans at 4% or, if the weighted average of the interest rates of the loans being consolidated is less than 4%, the lesser of: (1) that weighted average, or (2) an interest rate equal to 0.4% of the principal balance of the consolidation loan at the time of consolidation.

Adds an origination fee equal to 0.4% of the principal balance of the consolidation loan at the time of consolidation if an FFEL is being consolidated.

Reduces the interest rate on a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan by 0.25% if one or more of the loans being consolidated is an FFEL held by an eligible lender.

Prohibits any benefit a borrower is receiving or earning when issued a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan from being affected by the consolidation.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2014-05-09 00:00:00

Bereaved Borrowers' Bill of Rights Act of 2014 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require a private educational lender to include in a private education loan for which the cosigner is jointly liable a process for releasing the cosigner from obligations on such loan.

 Requires a lender who receives notification of the death or bankruptcy of a cosigner who is jointly liable for the loan to notify the borrower about the borrower's rights under the loan agreement regarding: (1) release of the cosigner, and (2) identification of a new cosigner or refinancing of the loan.

 Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit: (1) consumer reporting agencies from containing in any consumer report default on a private education loan that results from accelerated repayment terms of the loan after the death or bankruptcy of a jointly liable cosigner, and (2) the lender or servicer of a private educational loan from furnishing loan information to a consumer reporting agency if the consumer defaulted on the loan due to accelerated repayment terms after the death or bankruptcy of such a cosigner.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Education
Date: 2014-05-19 00:00:00

Kerry Rose Fire Sprinkler Notification Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education (IHEs) participating in title IV programs to include in their annual fire safety report: (1) the number and percentage of beds at their student housing facilities that are protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system in the bedroom, and (2) the number and percentage that are not so protected.

Directs the Secretary of Education to make publicly available statistics on the number and percentage, in the aggregate and by state, of:

 student housing facilities at IHEs with less than 100% of the beds protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system in the bedroom, student housing facilities at IHEs with less than 50% of the beds so protected, beds at student housing facilities at IHEs that are so protected, and beds at such facilities that are not so protected. Defines "student housing facilities" to include facilities that are campus facilities and facilities that are noncampus buildings or properties.

Requires IHEs that maintain student housing facilities to:

 include in all materials relating to such facilities information on whether they are equipped with a fire safety system that includes an automatic fire sprinkler system in each bedroom, give students who are selecting a student housing facility written notice as to whether or not the facility has such a system, and give students written notice on the date they move into a student housing facility as to whether the facility has such a system and how its fire safety system is described in the IHE's annual fire safety report.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2014-05-21 00:00:00

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the limitation on the tax deduction for interest paid on qualified education loans to $5,000 in a taxable year and provide for an annual inflation adjustment to that amount for taxable years beginning after 2015.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Education
Date: 2014-05-29 00:00:00

Partnerships for Affordability and Student Success Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require states, for academic year 2014 and each of the succeeding four academic years, to maintain their support for: (1) institutions of higher education (IHEs) (excluding support for capital projects, research and development, or tuition and fees paid by students) at least at the level of such support for academic year 2012, and (2) student postsecondary financial aid at least at the level of such support for academic year 2012.

Directs the Secretary of Education to waive those requirements if such a waiver would be appropriate due to exceptional or uncontrollable circumstances.

Replaces the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership program with a program that allots matching incentive grants to states, based on each state's share of students eligible for Federal Pell Grants, to assist states in:

 providing need-based grants to students attending IHEs or participating in study abroad programs approved for credit by the IHEs, providing subgrants to IHEs or consortia of IHEs to improve student outcomes and to develop and implement practices that reduce costs for students, and providing public accountability and consumer information on the performance of IHEs in the state. Requires each state grantee to have a comprehensive plan for public postsecondary education that:

 has measurable goals for student outcomes, including enrollment, participation, and completion rates; has measurable college affordability goals; is aligned with the state's workforce and economic development plan; is aligned with the state's elementary and secondary education plan; and addresses the postsecondary education needs of unserved and underserved individuals, including those who are beyond the traditional college age. Requires each state grantee to report annually to the public on its progress in meeting its public postsecondary education goals and comprehensive plan for public higher education.

Allows private, nonprofit IHEs to participate on a voluntary basis in a state's comprehensive plan for postsecondary education.

Requires at least 70% of the funds allocated to a state to be reserved for need-based grants to students.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2014-05-30 00:00:00

Reducing Barriers for Veterans Education Act of 2014 - Makes an individual who is eligible for educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance program eligible for assistance with the fees for applying to institutions of higher education (IHEs).

Sets the amount of such assistance payable to an individual at the lesser of: (1) the total application fees charged to the individual by the IHEs, or (2) $750.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Education
Date: 2014-06-10 00:00:00

Education for Jobs Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make an individual eligible to apply for a loan under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program if that individual: (1) is carrying at least three credit hours or the equivalent coursework for the course of study the individual is pursuing, (2) is enrolled in an educational program leading to a degree or certificate, and (3) was employed on a full-time basis for at least 10 years.

Makes those students eligible for interest subsidies. Requires the repayment period for such a loan to begin the day after six months after the student ceases to meet the loan eligibility requirements.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2014-06-11 00:00:00

Stopping Abusive Student Loan Collection Practices in Bankruptcy Act of 2014 - Amends federal bankruptcy law to allow an individual whose student loan debt is discharged due to undue hardship to recover the costs of, and a reasonable attorney's fee for, the discharge proceeding if the court finds that the position of the creditor was not substantially justified.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Education
Date: 2014-06-12 00:00:00

Protecting Students from Failing Institutions Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to discharge a borrower's liability on a loan under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program if the student borrower, or the student on whose behalf a parent borrowed, is unable to complete the program in which such student is enrolled due to the closing of a campus or branch of the institution of higher education (IHE).

Prohibits a student's period of attendance at a campus or branch that closed and prevented the student from completing the student's course of study from: (1) being considered in calculating the student's period of eligibility for additional assistance under title IV, or (2) counting towards the student's duration limit for Federal Pell Grants.

Provides such liability discharge and eligibility protections to borrowers who withdraw from an IHE no more than 120 days before the closure of the campus or branch of the IHE at which they are enrolled if that closure would have prevented them from completing the program in which they were enrolled.

Allows a borrower who receives a Federal Pell Grant for an academic year for enrollment in a program at an IHE campus or branch that closes to use the remaining amount of the Federal Pell Grant for such academic year at another IHE even if the borrower is considered able to complete the program in which the borrower is enrolled.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Education
Date: 2014-06-18 00:00:00

Transparency in Education Act - Prohibits the Secretary of Education from issuing a final rule or implementing a proposed rule affecting the determination as to whether a postsecondary career education program provides training that leads to gainful employment in a recognized occupation, which is required if it is to participate in a program under title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), until 90 days after:

 the Secretary publishes a complete data analysis on the impact of such proposed rule on all postsecondary education programs and students at all categories of institutions of higher education that participate in a program under title IV of the HEA, that analysis is published in a format similar to the Gainful Employment 2012 Informational Rate Calculations published by the Department of Education, and the Comptroller General (GAO) issues a report that reviews such data analysis for accuracy and completeness.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Education
Date: 2014-06-19 00:00:00

Creating Higher Education Affordability Necessary to Compete Economically Act or the Middle Class CHANCE Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the maximum Federal Pell Grant for award year 2014-2015 and adjust it each subsequent award year to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index.

Directs the Secretary of Education to award an additional Pell Grant to an eligible student who: (1) has received a Pell Grant for an award year, and (2) is enrolled in a program of study for one or more additional payment periods during the same award year that are not otherwise covered by the Pell Grant.

Limits the total amount of the Pell Grants awarded to such student for the award year to 150% of the maximum Pell Grant for such award year.

Raises, from 12 semesters to 15 semesters, the period during which a student may receive Federal Pell Grants.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2014-06-20 00:00:00

GI Internship Program Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a career transition internship program to match individuals who are eligible for veterans' educational assistance with employers to: (1) provide such individuals with work experience in the civilian sector, (2) address the growing skills gap in the U.S. economy, (3) increase the marketable skills of such individuals, and (4) assist such individuals in obtaining long-term employment.

Requires the Secretary to establish criteria employers must meet to participate in the program. Excludes as program employers: (1) federal, state, and local government agencies; (2) employers who cannot provide the Secretary with certain assurances, including their intention to retain interns after their internship ends; and (3) employers that have previously participated in the program and failed to abide by its requirements.

Directs the Secretary to pay individuals who are full-time participants in such an internship the amount of educational assistance they are due.

Requires each internship to last for at least 180 days but for no more than one year.

Considers each intern to be an employee of the VA for purposes of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Requires each intern and employer to provide the Secretary with a monthly certification that the intern worked at least 35 hours each week performing functions that provided the individual with valuable experience.

Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Labor to create and publicize an Internet website to serve as a portal for eligible individuals and employers to learn about the program and apply. Allows individuals to apply within 180 days of their expected discharge or release from the Armed Forces.

Directs the VA Secretary to minimize the administrative burdens incurred by employers due to their participation in the program and ensure that employer participation is at no cost to the employer.
Topic: Education — Higher
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2014-06-25 00:00:00

Doctors' Education Loans Impact VA Employee Retention Act or the DELIVER Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish and carry out a program to make each monthly payment owed by a VA employee on a covered loan during such employee's period of service to the VA.

Defines a "covered loan" as a loan under the Federal Family Education Loan program or the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program that is in repayment under an income-based repayment plan under the Higher Education Act of 1965.