[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1655 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1655

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend Federal Pell Grant 
         eligibility to certain short-term workforce programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 17, 2023

   Mr. Scott of Virginia (for himself, Ms. Blunt Rochester, and Ms. 
   Norton) 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 extend Federal Pell Grant 
         eligibility to certain short-term workforce programs.

    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 ``Jobs to Compete Act''.

SEC. 2. WORKFORCE PELL GRANTS.

    Section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a), 
as amended by section 703 of the FAFSA Simplification Act (title VII of 
division FF of Public Law 116-260), is further amended by adding at the 
end the following:
    ``(k) Workforce Pell Grants Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--For award year 2025-2026 and each 
        succeeding award year, the Secretary shall award grants 
        (referred to as a `Workforce Pell Grants') to eligible students 
        under paragraph (2) in accordance with this subsection.
            ``(2) Eligible students.--To be eligible to receive a 
        Workforce Pell Grant under this subsection for any period of 
        enrollment, a student shall meet the eligibility requirements 
        for a Federal Pell Grant under this section, except that the 
        student--
                    ``(A) notwithstanding the eligibility requirements 
                with respect to the program of study, shall be 
                enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in an eligible 
                workforce program described in section 481(b)(3), 
                offered by an eligible institution of higher education 
                (as defined in section 481(b)(3)(F)); and
                    ``(B) notwithstanding the eligibility requirements 
                with respect to the first undergraduate baccalaureate 
                course of study under subsection (d)(1) may have 
                completed such first undergraduate baccalaureate course 
                of study, but shall not have received a 
                postbaccalaureate degree.
            ``(3) Terms and conditions of awards.--The Secretary shall 
        award Workforce Pell Grants under this subsection in the same 
        manner and with the same terms and conditions as the Secretary 
        awards Federal Pell Grants under subsection (b), except that a 
        student who is eligible for a grant equal to less than the 
        amount of the minimum Federal Pell Grant because the eligible 
        workforce program in which the student is enrolled or accepted 
        for enrollment is less than an academic year (in hours of 
        instruction or weeks of duration) may still be eligible for a 
        Workforce Pell Grant.
            ``(4) Prevention of double benefits.--No eligible student 
        described in paragraph (2) may, for the same period of 
        enrollment, receive both a grant under this subsection and a 
        Federal Pell Grant under subsection (b) or (c).
            ``(5) Inclusion in total eligibility period.--Any period 
        during which a student receives a Workforce Federal Pell Grant 
        under this subsection shall be included in calculating the 
        student's period of eligibility for Federal Pell Grants under 
        subsection (d), and the eligibility requirements regarding 
        students who are enrolled in an undergraduate program on less 
        than a full-time basis shall similarly apply to students who 
        are enrolled in an eligible workforce program at an eligible 
        institution of higher education on less than a full-time 
        basis.''.

SEC. 3. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY FOR WORKFORCE PELL GRANTS.

    (a) Eligible Workforce Programs.--Section 481(b) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088(b)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs 
        (4) and (5), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) Eligible program for purposes of workforce pell 
        grants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A program is an eligible program 
                for purposes of the Workforce Pell Grants program under 
                section 401(k) (referred to in this paragraph as an 
                `eligible workforce program') only if the program--
                            ``(i) is at least 150 clock hours of 
                        instruction, but less than 600 clock hours of 
                        instruction (or an equivalent number of credit 
                        hours) offered during a minimum of 8 weeks, but 
                        less than 15 weeks;
                            ``(ii) in a case in which the State in 
                        which the program is located, or a Federal 
                        agency, has established the minimum number of 
                        clock hours (or an equivalent number of credit 
                        hours) required for the training provided by 
                        such program, does not exceed by more than 50 
                        percent such minimum number of clock hours (or 
                        credit hours);
                            ``(iii) is a career and technical education 
                        program at an eligible institution of higher 
                        education;
                            ``(iv) provides an education aligned with 
                        the requirements of high-skill, high-wage, or 
                        in-demand industry sectors or occupations 
                        (including in nontraditional fields) in the 
                        State or local area in which the program is 
                        provided, as determined by an accrediting 
                        agency or association recognized by the 
                        Secretary pursuant to section 496(a)(4)(C), 
                        after validation of such determination by--
                                    ``(I) the State board or local 
                                board that serves such State or local 
                                area;
                                    ``(II) the eligible agency for such 
                                State, on the basis of the sectors or 
                                occupations in such State that such 
                                eligible agency identifies under 
                                section 122(d)(13)(C) of the Carl D. 
                                Perkins Career and Technical Education 
                                Act of 2006;
                                    ``(III) the eligible agency for 
                                such State, on the basis of the results 
                                of the comprehensive needs assessment 
                                submitted to the agency under section 
                                134(b)(1) of the Carl D. Perkins Career 
                                and Technical Education Act of 2006 
                                with respect to the local area in which 
                                the program is provided; or
                                    ``(IV) an industry or sector 
                                partnership convened by or acting in 
                                partnership with the State board or 
                                local board that serves such State or 
                                local area;
                            ``(v) is a program--
                                    ``(I) provided through an eligible 
                                training provider, as described under 
                                section 122(d) of the Workforce 
                                Innovation and Opportunity Act; and
                                    ``(II) subject to the reporting 
                                requirements of section 116(d)(4) of 
                                the Workforce Innovation and 
                                Opportunity Act, or would be subject to 
                                such requirements except for a waiver 
                                issued to a State under section 189(i) 
                                of the Workforce Innovation and 
                                Opportunity Act;
                            ``(vi) has been determined by the eligible 
                        institution of higher education providing such 
                        program (after validation of that determination 
                        by at least one of the entities described in 
                        subclauses (I) through (IV) of clause (iv)) to 
                        provide academic content, an amount of 
                        instructional time, competencies, and a 
                        recognized postsecondary credential that are 
                        sufficient to--
                                    ``(I) meet the hiring requirements 
                                of potential employers in the sectors 
                                or occupations described in clause 
                                (iv); and
                                    ``(II) satisfy any applicable 
                                educational prerequisite requirement 
                                for professional licensure or 
                                certification in the State or States in 
                                which the program is offered, so that a 
                                student who completes the program and 
                                seeks employment is qualified to 
                                practice or find employment in such 
                                sectors or occupations that the program 
                                prepares students to enter, including, 
                                if applicable, being qualified to take 
                                any relevant licensure or certification 
                                examinations that may be needed to 
                                practice such employment;
                            ``(vii) subject to subparagraph (E), 
                        provides a student, upon completion of the 
                        program, with a recognized postsecondary 
                        credential that is stackable and portable 
                        across multiple employers and geographical 
                        areas;
                            ``(viii) not later than 18 months after the 
                        date the program has been approved as an 
                        eligible workforce program under this 
                        paragraph, has demonstrated that students who 
                        complete the program receive a median increase 
                        of 20 percent of median earnings as compared to 
                        median earnings of such students prior to 
                        enrolling in such program, in accordance with 
                        subparagraph (B);
                            ``(ix) not later than 18 months after the 
                        date the program has been approved as an 
                        eligible workforce program under this 
                        paragraph, has demonstrated (on the basis of 
                        the data collected under section 131(i) and 
                        such other information as the Secretary may 
                        require) that the median earnings of students 
                        who complete such program, as calculated in 
                        accordance with subparagraph (B)(i)(II), exceed 
                        the median earnings for adults who are at least 
                        25 years old, but younger than 35 years old, 
                        with only high school diploma (or a recognized 
                        equivalent) in the State in which the program 
                        is located, based on data from the Bureau of 
                        the Census and approved by the Secretary;
                            ``(x) publishes prominently on the website 
                        of the institution, and provides a written 
                        disclosure to each prospective student prior to 
                        entering into an enrollment agreement for such 
                        program (which each such student shall confirm 
                        receiving through a written affirmation prior 
                        to entering such enrollment agreement) 
                        containing, at a minimum, the following 
                        information calculated, as applicable, in 
                        accordance with section 131(i), including--
                                    ``(I) the required tuition and fees 
                                of the program;
                                    ``(II) the difference between 
                                required tuition and fees described in 
                                subclause (I) and any grant aid (which 
                                does not need to be repaid) provided to 
                                the student;
                                    ``(III) the completion rate of the 
                                program;
                                    ``(IV) the employment rates of 
                                students who complete the program, 
                                measured at approximately 6 months and 
                                1 year, respectively, after completion 
                                of the program;
                                    ``(V) median earnings of students 
                                who complete the program, as calculated 
                                in accordance with subparagraph 
                                (B)(i)(II));
                                    ``(VI) median earnings of students 
                                who do not complete the program, 
                                calculated based on earnings 
                                approximately 6 months after ceasing 
                                enrollment in the program;
                                    ``(VII) the ratio of the amount 
                                that is the difference between required 
                                tuition and fees and any grant aid 
                                provided to the student described in 
                                subclause (II) to the median earnings 
                                of students described in subclause (V);
                                    ``(VIII) an explanation, in clear 
                                and plain language that shall be 
                                specified by the Secretary, of the 
                                ratio described in subclause (VII); and
                                    ``(IX) in the case of a program 
                                that prepares students for a 
                                professional licensure or certification 
                                examination, the share of such students 
                                who pass such examinations;
                            ``(xi) prepares students to pursue one or 
                        more related certificate or degree programs at 
                        one or more institutions of higher education 
                        (which may include the eligible institution of 
                        higher education providing the eligible 
                        workforce program), including--
                                    ``(I) by ensuring the acceptability 
                                of the credits received under the 
                                workforce program toward meeting such 
                                certificate or degree program 
                                requirements (such as through an 
                                articulation agreement as defined in 
                                section 486A); and
                                    ``(II) subject to subparagraph (B), 
                                by ensuring that a student who 
                                completes noncredit coursework in the 
                                workforce program, upon completion of 
                                the workforce program and enrollment in 
                                such a related certificate or degree 
                                program, will receive academic credit 
                                for such noncredit coursework that will 
                                be accepted toward meeting such 
                                certificate or degree program 
                                requirements;
                            ``(xii) is not offered exclusively through 
                        distance education or a correspondence course, 
                        except as determined by the Secretary to be 
                        necessary, on a temporary basis, in connection 
                        with a--
                                    ``(I) major disaster or emergency 
                                declared by the President under section 
                                401 or 501 of the Robert T. Stafford 
                                Disaster Relief and Emergency 
                                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 and 
                                5191); or
                                    ``(II) national emergency declared 
                                by the President under section 201 of 
                                the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 
                                1601 et seq.);
                            ``(xiii) includes counseling for students 
                        to--
                                    ``(I) support each such student in 
                                achieving the student's education and 
                                career goals; and
                                    ``(II) ensure that each such 
                                student receives information on--
                                            ``(aa) the sectors or 
                                        occupations described in clause 
                                        (iv) for which the eligible 
                                        workforce program provides 
                                        training (including the median 
                                        earnings of students who have 
                                        completed the program, as 
                                        calculated in accordance with 
                                        subparagraph (B)(i)(II), and 
                                        are employed in such sectors or 
                                        occupations);
                                            ``(bb) the related 
                                        certificate or degree programs 
                                        described in clause (xi) for 
                                        which the workforce program 
                                        provides preparation; and
                                            ``(cc) other sources of 
                                        financial aid or other 
                                        assistance for any component of 
                                        the student's cost of 
                                        attendance (as defined in 
                                        section 472);
                            ``(xiv) meets requirements that are 
                        applicable to a program of training to prepare 
                        students for gainful employment in a recognized 
                        occupation;
                            ``(xv) has been offered by an institution 
                        for not less than 1 year prior to a 
                        determination by such agency or association 
                        under this paragraph;
                            ``(xvi) has a verified completion rate of 
                        at least 70 percent, calculated so as to ensure 
                        that a student shall be counted as a completion 
                        if the student completes the program within 150 
                        percent of the normal time for completion;
                            ``(xvii) has a verified a employment 
                        placement rate of at least 70 percent, as 
                        determined in accordance with the regulations 
                        of the Secretary;
                            ``(xviii) submits to the Secretary, for 
                        each institutional fiscal year, disclosures on 
                        the expenditures of the program; and
                            ``(xix) in the case of a program that has 
                        been approved for not less than 4 years as an 
                        eligible workforce program under this 
                        paragraph, for each of the 3 most recent fiscal 
                        years for which the institution submits the 
                        disclosures under clause (xviii), the amount 
                        expended by the program for educational 
                        spending is greater than or equal to an amount 
                        equal to 1/2 of the amount of revenue for such 
                        program derived from tuition and fees for such 
                        program.
                    ``(B) Median earnings increase requirement.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clauses (ii) 
                        and (iii), the Secretary shall, using the data 
                        collected under section 131(i) and such other 
                        information as the Secretary may require, 
                        determine whether a workforce program meets the 
                        requirements of subparagraph (A)(viii) with 
                        respect to whether the students who complete 
                        the program receive a median increase of 20 
                        percent of such students' median earnings. For 
                        the purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary 
                        shall determine such percentage increase by 
                        calculating the difference between--
                                    ``(I) the median earnings of 
                                students who enroll in such program, 
                                calculated based on earnings 
                                approximately 6 months prior to 
                                enrollment; and
                                    ``(II) the median earnings of 
                                students who complete such program, 
                                calculated based on earnings 
                                approximately 6 months after completing 
                                such program, subject to clause (ii).
                            ``(ii) Exclusion.--An eligible institution 
                        of higher education offering a program has been 
                        approved as an eligible workforce program under 
                        this paragraph may exclude from the calculation 
                        under clause (i)(II) any students who are 
                        enrolled in any eligible program (as such term 
                        is defined in this subsection) at the time that 
                        earnings are evaluated under clause (i)(II).
                            ``(iii) Date of effect.--The requirement 
                        under this paragraph shall take effect 
                        beginning on the date that is 18 months after 
                        the date the program has been approved as an 
                        eligible workforce program under this 
                        paragraph.
                    ``(C) Appeals process.--The Secretary shall 
                establish an appeals process to permit any program has 
                been approved as an eligible workforce program under 
                this paragraph to submit alternate earnings data to 
                comply with subparagraph (A)(ix) or subparagraph (B), 
                provided that such data are statistically rigorous, 
                accurate, comparable, and representative of students 
                who receive a Workforce Pell Grant, and enroll in and 
                complete the program.
                    ``(D) Approval by the secretary.--
                            ``(i) Initial eligibility.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--In the case of a 
                                program that is seeking to establish 
                                initial eligibility as an eligible 
                                workforce program under this paragraph, 
                                the Secretary shall make a 
                                determination whether the program meets 
                                the requirements of this paragraph not 
                                more than 120 days after the date on 
                                which such program is submitted for 
                                consideration as an eligible workforce 
                                program. If the Secretary determines 
                                the program meets the requirements of 
                                this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
                                grant an initial period of approval of 
                                2 years.
                                    ``(II) Additional state 
                                assurance.--The Secretary shall not 
                                determine that a program is an eligible 
                                workforce program in accordance with 
                                subclause (I) unless the Secretary 
                                receives a certification from the State 
                                in which the eligible workforce program 
                                is provided, containing an assurance 
                                that the program meets the requirements 
                                of clauses (iv) through (vi) of 
                                subparagraph (A).
                            ``(ii) Renewal of approval by the 
                        secretary.--An eligible workforce program that 
                        desires to continue eligibility as an eligible 
                        workforce program after the period of initial 
                        approval described in clause (i), or the 
                        subsequent period described in this clause, 
                        shall submit a renewal application to the 
                        Secretary (with such information as the 
                        Secretary may require), not more than 270 days 
                        and not less than 180 days before the end of 
                        the previous approval period. If the Secretary 
                        determines the program meets such requirements, 
                        the Secretary shall grant another period of 
                        approval for 3 years.
                            ``(iii) Revocation of approval by the 
                        secretary.--If at any time the Secretary 
                        determines that a program previously approved 
                        under clause (i) or (ii) is no longer meeting 
                        any of the requirements of an eligible 
                        workforce program described in this subsection, 
                        the Secretary--
                                    ``(I) shall deny a subsequent 
                                renewal of approval in accordance with 
                                clause (ii) for such program after the 
                                expiration of the approval period;
                                    ``(II) may withdraw approval for 
                                such program before the expiration of 
                                the approval period;
                                    ``(III) shall ensure students who 
                                enrolled in such programs have access 
                                to transcripts for completed coursework 
                                without a fee or monetary charge and 
                                without regard to any balance owed to 
                                the institution; and
                                    ``(IV) shall prohibit such program 
                                and any substantially similar program, 
                                from being considered an eligible 
                                workforce program described in this 
                                subsection for a period of not less 
                                than 5 years.
                    ``(E) Exceptions for certain programs.--The 
                requirements of subparagraph (A)(ix)(II) and the 
                requirement that a program be stackable (as described 
                in subparagraph (A)(vii)) shall not apply to any 
                program seeking approval as an eligible workforce 
                program under this paragraph with respect to which at 
                least one of the entities described in subclauses (I) 
                through (IV) of subparagraph (A)(iv) determines--
                            ``(i) prepares students for employment in 
                        an occupation for which there is only one 
                        recognized postsecondary credential; and
                            ``(ii) provides students with such a 
                        credential upon completion of such program.
                    ``(F) Eligibility for participation in federal 
                direct loan program.--A program that has been approved 
                as an eligible workforce program under this paragraph 
                is an eligible program for purposes of part D only if 
                such program consists of at least 300 clock hours of 
                instruction, but less than 600 clock hours of 
                instruction (or an equivalent number of credit hours) 
                offered during a minimum of 10 weeks, but less than 15 
                weeks.
                    ``(G) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
                            ``(i) Career and technical education.--The 
                        term `career and technical education' has the 
                        meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl 
                        D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act 
                        of 2006.
                            ``(ii) Educational spending.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The term 
                                `educational spending' means amounts 
                                expended on instruction or 
                                instructional activities, academic 
                                support, and support services.
                                    ``(II) Exclusions.--The term 
                                `educational spending' does not include 
                                amounts expended on recruiting 
                                activities, advertising, or other pre-
                                enrollment expenditures.
                            ``(iii) Eligible institution of higher 
                        education.--The term `eligible institution of 
                        higher education' means an institution of 
                        higher education (as defined in section 102) 
                        that--
                                    ``(I) is approved by an accrediting 
                                agency or association that meets the 
                                requirements of section 496(a)(4)(C); 
                                and
                                    ``(II) has not been subject, during 
                                any of the preceding 5 years, to--
                                            ``(aa) any suspension, 
                                        emergency action, or 
                                        termination of programs under 
                                        this title;
                                            ``(bb) any adverse action 
                                        by the institution's 
                                        accrediting agency or 
                                        association; or
                                            ``(cc) any action by the 
                                        State to revoke a license or 
                                        other authority to operate.
                            ``(iv) Median earnings.--The term `median 
                        earnings' means the median annualized earnings, 
                        calculated using earnings for a pay period, 
                        month, quarter, or other time period deemed 
                        appropriate by the Secretary.
                            ``(v) WIOA definitions.--The terms 
                        `industry or sector partnership', `in-demand 
                        industry sector or occupation', `recognized 
                        postsecondary credential', `local board', and 
                        `State board' have the meanings given such 
                        terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation 
                        and Opportunity Act.''.
    (b) Sunset of Loan Eligibility for Certain Short-Term Programs.--
Section 481(b)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1088(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following--
                    ``(C) No program may be determined eligible under 
                this paragraph on or after the date that is 60 days 
                after the date on which the Secretary approves the 
                first workforce program for purposes of the Workforce 
                Pell Grants Program under section 401(k).''.

SEC. 4. DATA COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION RELATED TO WORKFORCE PELL.

    Section 131 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Interagency Data Coordination and Data Collection Related to 
Workforce Pell.--
            ``(1) Interagency data coordination.--The Secretary shall 
        coordinate with the Secretary of Labor to ensure access to data 
        necessary to implement this subsection that is not otherwise 
        available to the Secretary, including such data related to 
        indicators of performance collected under section 116 of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
            ``(2) Data on eligible workforce programs.--Except as 
        provided under paragraph (3), the Secretary, in coordination 
        with the National Center for Education Statistics, the 
        Secretary of Labor, and each institution of higher education 
        offering an eligible workforce program for which the Secretary 
        awards Workforce Federal Pell Grants under section 401(k), 
        shall, on an annual basis and using, to the greatest extent 
        practicable, data otherwise available to the Secretary, 
        collect, verify, and make publicly available on the College 
        Scorecard, or any similar successor website, information with 
        respect to such eligible workforce program, including, at a 
        minimum, the following:
                    ``(A) the length of the program (as measured in 
                clock hours, credit hours, or weeks);
                    ``(B) the number and demographics of students who 
                enroll in the program during the most recent academic 
                year for which data is available, disaggregated by--
                            ``(i) sex;
                            ``(ii) race and ethnicity;
                            ``(iii) classification as a student with a 
                        disability;
                            ``(iv) income quintile, as defined by the 
                        Secretary;
                            ``(v) military or veteran benefit status;
                            ``(vi) status as a first-time student or 
                        transfer student from another institution;
                            ``(vii) status as a first generation 
                        college student;
                            ``(viii) status as parent or guardian of 1 
                        or more dependent children;
                            ``(ix) status as a confined or incarcerated 
                        individual, as defined under section 
                        484(t)(1)(A); and
                            ``(x) status as a recipient of a Workforce 
                        Federal Pell Grant;
                    ``(C) the number and demographics, disaggregated by 
                the categories listed in subparagraph (B), of students 
                who--
                            ``(i) complete the program within 150 
                        percent of the normal time for completion of 
                        such program; and
                            ``(ii) do not complete the program;
                    ``(D) the required tuition and fees of the program;
                    ``(E) the median earnings (as defined in section 
                481(b)(3)(F)) of students, disaggregated by the 
                categories listed in subparagraph (B), who--
                            ``(i) complete the program, calculated 
                        based on earnings approximately 6 months after 
                        completing such program; and
                            ``(ii) do not complete the program, 
                        calculated based on earnings approximately 6 
                        months after ceasing enrollment in such 
                        program; and
                    ``(F) outcomes of the students who complete the 
                program, disaggregated by the categories listed in 
                subparagraph (B), with respect to--
                            ``(i) the median time for completion of 
                        such students;
                            ``(ii) the employment rates of such 
                        students--
                                    ``(I) 6 months after completion of 
                                such program; and
                                    ``(II) 1 year after completion of 
                                such program;
                            ``(iii) in the case of a program that 
                        prepares students for a professional licensure 
                        or certification examination, the percentage of 
                        such students who pass such examinations;
                            ``(iv) the percentage of such students who 
                        enroll in a certificate or degree program at 
                        the institution of higher education offering 
                        the program within 1 year of completing such 
                        program;
                            ``(v) the percentage of such students who 
                        transfer to another institution of higher 
                        education within 1 year of completing such 
                        program; and
                            ``(vi) the percentage of such students who 
                        complete a subsequent certificate or degree 
                        program at any institution of higher education 
                        within 6 years of completing such program.
            ``(3) Exceptions.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this subsection--
                    ``(A) if disclosure of any data under paragraph (1) 
                is prohibited from disclosure due to applicable privacy 
                restrictions under State or Federal privacy laws or 
                regulations, the Secretary may take such steps as the 
                Secretary determines necessary to provide meaningful 
                disaggregated student demographic or outcome 
                information, including combining categories;
                    ``(B) an institution may submit, and the Secretary 
                may publish, data required to be collected under 
                paragraph (2) that is obtained through a State 
                Unemployment Insurance Agency or through other 
                supplemental means, in lieu of any additional data 
                collection, provided that such data are statistically 
                rigorous, accurate, comparable, and representative;
                    ``(C) to the extent that another provision of this 
                Act, or any regulation prescribed under this Act, 
                requires the same reporting or collection of data that 
                is required under paragraph (2), the Secretary may 
                consider the reporting under such provision or 
                regulation to satisfy the requirements of paragraph 
                (2); and
                    ``(D) the Secretary, in consultation with the 
                Secretary of Labor, may modify or waive the 
                requirements to disaggregate data by the categories 
                listed in paragraph (2)(B) for data described in 
                subparagraphs (E) and (F)(iii) of paragraph (2) to 
                align with the reporting requirements of section 
                116(d)(4) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
                Act, streamline reporting requirements, and minimize 
                reporting burdens.''.

SEC. 5. ACCREDITING AGENCY DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 
              FOR THE WORKFORCE PELL GRANTS PROGRAM.

    (a) Recognition of Accrediting Agency or Association.--Section 
496(a)(4) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099b(a)(4)) 
is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by inserting ``and'' after the 
        semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) if such agency or association has or seeks to 
                include within its scope of recognition the evaluation 
                of the quality of institutions of higher education 
                offering an eligible workforce program for purposes of 
                the Workforce Federal Pell Grant program under section 
                401(k), such agency or association shall, in addition 
                to meeting the other requirements of this subpart, 
                demonstrate to the Secretary that, with respect to such 
                eligible workforce programs--
                            ``(i) the agency or association's standards 
                        include a process for determining if the 
                        institution has the capability to effectively 
                        offer an eligible workforce program; and
                            ``(ii) the agency or association requires a 
                        demonstration that the program--
                                    ``(I) has identified each 
                                recognized postsecondary credential 
                                offered in the relevant industry in the 
                                State or local area where the industry 
                                is located; and
                                    ``(II) provides academic content, 
                                an amount of instructional time, 
                                competencies, and a recognized 
                                postsecondary credential sufficient to 
                                satisfy any applicable educational 
                                requirement for professional licensure 
                                or certification in the State or States 
                                in which the program is offered, so 
                                that a student who completes the 
                                program and seeks employment is 
                                qualified to practice or find 
                                employment in the sectors or 
                                occupations that the program prepares 
                                students to enter, including, if 
                                applicable, being qualified to take any 
                                relevant licensure or certification 
                                examinations that may be needed to 
                                practice such employment.''.
    (b) Additional NACIQI Review Meetings.--For the purpose of 
preparing for the implementation of the Workforce Pell Grant program 
under section 401(k) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as added by 
section 4), in addition to the meetings required under section 
114(d)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1011c(d)(1)), 
the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity 
(as established by such section 114) shall, through 2025, hold meetings 
to evaluate the additions to the scope of recognition of accrediting 
agencies and associations with respect to an eligible workforce program 
for purposes of the Workforce Pell Grants program (in accordance with 
section 481(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as added by 
section 3).
    (c) Interim Accreditation Authority.--
            (1) Notification.--Beginning on the date of enactment of 
        this Act, a qualified accrediting agency or association which 
        seeks to include within its scope of recognition the evaluation 
        of the quality of institutions offering eligible workforce 
        programs for the purposes of the Workforce Pell Grants program, 
        may include within its scope of recognition the evaluation of 
        such institutions if the accrediting agency or association--
                    (A) submits to the Secretary a notification of the 
                agency's or association's intent to add the evaluation 
                of such institutions to its scope of recognition; and
                    (B) includes with such notification an explanation 
                of how the agency or association intends to meet the 
                criteria under section 496(a)(4)(C) of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (as added by subsection (a)) with 
                respect to the evaluation of institutions for purposes 
                of the Workforce Pell Grants program.
            (2) Review of scope of changes.--Upon receipt of a 
        notification from an accrediting agency or association under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall direct the National Advisory 
        Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (as 
        established by section 114 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1011c)) to evaluate, at the next available meeting 
        of such Committee, the addition to the scope of recognition of 
        the agency or association and to advise the Secretary with 
        respect to whether the agency or association meets the criteria 
        under section 496(a)(4)(C) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (as added by subsection (a)).
            (3) Termination of interim authority.--The interim 
        authority under this subsection for an agency or association to 
        include within its scope of recognition the evaluation of the 
        quality of institutions offering eligible workforce programs 
        for the purposes of the Workforce Pell Grants program shall 
        terminate on the earlier of--
                    (A) the date that is 5 years after the date of 
                enactment of this Act; or
                    (B) the date on which the Secretary determines 
                whether such agency or association meets the criteria 
                under section 496(a)(4)(C) of the Higher Education Act 
                of 1965 (as added by subsection (a)).
            (4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    (A) Qualified accrediting agency or association.--
                The term ``qualified accrediting agency or 
                association'' means an accrediting agency or 
                association recognized by the Secretary under section 
                496 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1099b) that seeks, for the first time, to add to its 
                scope of recognition the evaluation of the quality of 
                institutions offering an eligible workforce program for 
                purposes of the Workforce Pell Grants program.
                    (B) Workforce pell grants program.--The term 
                ``Workforce Pell Grants program'' means the Workforce 
                Pell Grant program under section 401(k) of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (as added by section 2).

SEC. 6. WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT AMENDMENT.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Eligible training provider reports.--Section 116(d)(4) 
        of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
        3141(d)(4)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) for programs of study of an eligible provider 
                participating in the Workforce Federal Pell Grant 
                program under section 401(k) of the Higher Education 
                Act of 1965 such information related to employment and 
                earnings as may be required under section 481(b)(3), 
                including information relating to the total earnings 
                increase under section 481(b)(3)(B), except that the 
                sanctions for failure to report under subsection 
                (f)(1)(B) of this section shall not apply to this 
                subparagraph.''.
            (2) Interagency data coordination.--Section 116(i) of the 
        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3141(i)) is 
        amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Interagency data coordination for workforce federal 
        pell grant program.--The Secretary of Labor shall coordinate 
        with the Secretary of Education to ensure access to data 
        necessary to implement sections 401(k) and 481(b)(3) of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a(k); 1088(b)(3)) 
        that is not otherwise available to the Secretary of Education, 
        which may include data related to unemployment insurance, wage 
        information, employment-related outcomes, and indicators of 
        performance collected under this section.''.
                                 <all>