[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2143 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2143

To increase the number of students from low-income backgrounds who are 
   enrolled in studies leading to baccalaureate degrees in science, 
 mathematics, technology, engineering, and critical foreign languages, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 19, 2005

   Mr. Frist introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To increase the number of students from low-income backgrounds who are 
   enrolled in studies leading to baccalaureate degrees in science, 
 mathematics, technology, engineering, and critical foreign languages, 
                        and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Science and Mathematics 
Access to Retain Talent Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL SMART GRANTS.

    Subpart 1 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1070a) is amended by adding after section 401 the following:

``SEC. 401A. NATIONAL SMART GRANTS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to increase the 
number of postsecondary students from low-income backgrounds who are 
enrolled in studies leading to baccalaureate degrees in physical, life, 
and computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering, and 
foreign languages critical to national security.
    ``(b) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants, in the 
amount specified in subsection (e), to eligible students to assist the 
eligible students in paying their college education expenses.
    ``(c) Designation.--A grant under this section shall be known as a 
`National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant' or a 
`National SMART Grant'.
    ``(d) Definition of Eligible Student.--In this section, the term 
`eligible student' means a full-time student who, for the academic year 
for which the determination of eligibility is made--
            ``(1) is a citizen of the United States;
            ``(2) is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant;
            ``(3) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in the third 
        or fourth academic year of a program of undergraduate education 
        at a 4-year degree-granting institution of higher education;
            ``(4) is pursuing a major in--
                    ``(A) the physical, life, or computer sciences, 
                mathematics, technology, or engineering (as determined 
                by the Secretary pursuant to regulations); or
                    ``(B) a foreign language that the Secretary, in 
                consultation with the Director of National 
                Intelligence, determines is critical to the national 
                security of the United States; and
            ``(5) has obtained a cumulative grade point average of at 
        least 3.0 (or the equivalent as determined under regulations 
        prescribed by the Secretary) in the coursework required for the 
        major described in paragraph (4).
    ``(e) Grant Award.--
            ``(1) Amounts.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the 
        Secretary shall award a grant under this section to an eligible 
        student in the amount of $4,000.
            ``(2) Special rules.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) the amount of a grant under this section, in 
                combination with the Federal Pell Grant assistance and 
                other student financial assistance available to the 
                eligible student, shall not exceed the student's cost 
                of attendance;
                    ``(B) if the amount made available under subsection 
                (f) for any fiscal year is less than the amount 
                required to provide grants to all eligible students in 
                the amounts determined under paragraph (1) (subject to 
                subparagraph (A)), then the amount of the grant to each 
                eligible student shall be ratably reduced; and
                    ``(C) if additional amounts are appropriated for a 
                fiscal year described in subparagraph (B), such reduced 
                grant amounts shall be increased on the same basis as 
                they were reduced.
            ``(3) Limitations.--The Secretary shall not award a grant 
        under this section--
                    ``(A) to any eligible student for an academic year 
                of a program of undergraduate education for which the 
                student received credit before the date of enactment of 
                the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain 
                Talent Act; or
                    ``(B) to any eligible student for more than 2 
                academic years.
    ``(f) Funding.--
            ``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may 
        be necessary for fiscal year 2006 and each of the succeeding 4 
        fiscal years.
            ``(2) Use of excess funds.--If, at the end of a fiscal 
        year, the funds available for awarding grants under this 
        section exceed the amount necessary to make such grants in the 
        amounts authorized by subsection (e), then all of the excess 
        funds shall remain available for awarding grants under this 
        section during the subsequent fiscal year.
    ``(g) Sunset Provision.--The authority to make grants under this 
section shall expire at the end of the academic year 2009-2010.''.
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