[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4000 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4000

   To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a program of 
 financial assistance to enable more members of the National Guard of 
  the District of Columbia to attend institutions of higher education.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 18, 2004

Mr. Hobson (for himself and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; 
         which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a program of 
 financial assistance to enable more members of the National Guard of 
  the District of Columbia to attend institutions of higher education.

    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 ``District of Columbia National Guard 
College Access Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COLLEGE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR 
              DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NATIONAL GUARD.

    (a) Program Authorized.--(1) Chapter 1611 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 16402. District of Columbia National Guard: college financial 
              assistance program
    ``(a) Authority.--The Secretary concerned may provide financial 
assistance to an eligible member of the National Guard of the District 
of Columbia for expenses of the member while the member is enrolled in 
an approved institution of higher education in a degree, certificate, 
or other program (including a program of study abroad approved for 
credit by the institution of higher education) leading to a recognized 
educational credential at the institution of higher education.
    ``(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible for financial assistance under 
this section, a member of the National Guard of the District of 
Columbia must--
            ``(1) be a member of the National Guard of the District of 
        Columbia for not less than the 12 consecutive months preceding 
        the commencement of the tuition assistance;
            ``(2) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a program 
        of education referred to in subsection (a) at an institution of 
        higher education; and
            ``(3) if already enrolled, maintain satisfactory progress 
        in the course of study the member is pursuing in accordance 
        with section 484(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1091(c)).
    ``(c) Covered Expenses.--Expenses for which financial assistance 
may be provided under this section are--
            ``(1) tuition and fees charged by an approved institution 
        of higher education involved;
            ``(2) the cost of books; and
            ``(3) laboratory expenses.
    ``(d) Amount.--(1) The amount of financial assistance provided to a 
member of the National Guard of the District of Columbia under this 
section shall be prescribed by the Secretary concerned, but may not 
exceed $2,500 for any academic year. The Secretary concerned shall 
prorate assistance under this section for members who pursue a program 
of education on less than a full-time basis.
    ``(2) A member may not receive more than $12,500 under this 
section.
    ``(e) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
require an institution of higher education to alter the institution's 
admissions policies or standards in any manner to enable a member of 
the National Guard of the District of Columbia to enroll in the 
institution.
    ``(f) Gifts.--The Secretary concerned may accept, use, and dispose 
of donations of services or property for purposes of carrying out this 
section.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `approved institution of higher education' 
        means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 
        101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) 
        that--
                    ``(A) is eligible to participate in the student 
                financial assistance programs under title IV of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.); 
                and
                    ``(B) has entered into an agreement with the 
                Secretary concerned containing such conditions as the 
                Secretary may specify, including a requirement that the 
                institution use the funds made available under this 
                section to supplement and not supplant assistance that 
                otherwise would be provided to eligible students from 
                the District of Columbia National Guard.
            ``(2) Secretary concerned.--The term `Secretary concerned' 
        means--
                    ``(A) the Secretary of the Army, in the case of the 
                Army National Guard of the District of Columbia; and
                    ``(B) the Secretary of the Air Force, in the case 
                of the Air National Guard of the District of 
                Columbia.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``16402. District of Columbia National Guard: college financial 
                            assistance program.''.
    (b) Application of Amendment.--Financial assistance may be provided 
under section 16402 of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a), to eligible members of the National Guard of the 
District of Columbia described in such section for periods of 
instruction that begin on or after January 1, 2004.
                                 <all>