[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 32 (Thursday, February 27, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2936-S2938]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. EDWARDS:
  S. 479. A bill to amend title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
to provide grants for homeland security scholarships; to the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Protect 
America Scholarships Act of 2003. The Act will draw talented young 
people into professions that are vital to America's security and that 
are critically short of expertise. It offers college students a simple 
deal: If you'll serve for five years, we'll pay for your college.
  The reason for this law is simple. Our country continues to have 
tremendous homeland security needs. We have thousands of important jobs 
that we aren't filling because we don't have the qualified people. And 
we have thousands of young people who are looking to serve their 
country, and who are also looking for ways to pay for college.
  So this bill puts together the needs of our country and the idealism 
of our young people. It says that young people who commit to meeting 
priority homeland security needs will get money for college in return.
  Let me give three examples of professions where this bill can make a 
real difference.
  First, our public health system suffers from a shortage of trained 
professionals who can contribute to the fight against terrorism. Too 
few medical professionals are trained to diagnose and treat diseases 
caused by biological agents. Public health laboratories don't have the 
capacity to test all the specimens suspected of being biological 
agents. Local governments need as many as 15,000 new public health 
preparedness employees. And despite the central role of nurses in 
responding should terrorists attack with chemical or biological 
weapons, there are more than 126,000 unfilled nursing positions today. 
There are special roles in all of these professions that trained young 
people could fill in important ways.
  Second, the federal government faces a critical shortage of 
policymakers and intelligence analysts with expertise in foreign 
languages and cultures. The General Accounting Office has reported that 
the FBI's efforts to combat terrorism have been impeded by a lack of 
qualified translators. Thousands of hours of audiotapes and pages of 
written material have not been reviewed or translated. Similarly, the 
U.S. Department of State reports that lack of language fluency has 
weakened its fight against international terrorism and drug 
trafficking.
  A third area where we need more people is fighting cyberterrorism. We 
now live in a world where a terrorist can do as much damage with a 
keyboard and a modem as with a gun or a bomb. By exploiting computer 
vulnerabilities, terrorists might be able to shut down power for entire 
cities for extended periods; disrupt our phones; poison our water; 
erase financial records; paralyze our police, firefighters, and 
ambulances; and stop all traffic on the Internet. Yet our workforce 
specializing in cybersecurity remains inadequate. The federal 
government has especially serious shortages. These vulnerabilities 
leave our Federal agencies exposed to hackers, system shutdowns, and 
cyberterrorists.
  By offering up to $10,000 in college tuition, the Protect America 
Scholarships Act will harness the patriotism and determination of a new 
generation of Americans to urgent national priorities. The federal 
government and a growing number of states, including North Carolina, 
use similar programs to recruit teachers successfully. The recent Hart-
Rudman report identified student loan debt burdens as a particular 
obstacle to attracting young adults into public service.
  The safety of the American people depends on the millions of people 
working to protect them. Today's bill will help recruit more talented 
Americans to professions needed to defend our nation. I hope it will 
earn the support of my colleagues.
  I request unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in 
the Record.

[[Page S2937]]

  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 479

       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 ``Protect America Scholarships 
     Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.

       Part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

              ``Subpart 9--Homeland Security Scholarships

     ``SEC. 420K. PURPOSES.

       ``The purposes of this subpart are--
       ``(1) to recruit talented young people to professions that 
     are needed to ensure the Nation's homeland security; and
       ``(2) to make college education more affordable.

     ``SEC. 420L. DEFINITIONS.

       ``In this subpart:
       ``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
     partnership between--
       ``(A) an institution of higher education (or consortium of 
     such institutions); and
       ``(B) a qualified employer (or consortium of such 
     employers).
       ``(2) Eligible student.--The term `eligible student' means 
     an individual who--
       ``(A)(i) is enrolled as a full- or part-time student at an 
     institution of higher education with a qualified academic 
     major or program; or
       ``(ii) has been accepted for enrollment at an institution 
     of higher education and intends to major in a qualified 
     academic major or program;
       ``(B) submits an application for a scholarship under this 
     subpart; and
       ``(C) submits a written contract, prior to receiving 
     assistance, accepting payment of a scholarship in exchange 
     for providing qualified service.
       ``(3) Qualified academic major or program.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified academic major or 
     program' means an academic major or program of study 
     designated by the Secretary for each State in an annual 
     notice in the Federal Register that--
       ``(i) prepares students in such majors or programs for a 
     career that--

       ``(I) is primarily related to homeland security;
       ``(II) requires specialized expertise; and
       ``(III) suffers from a critical shortage of qualified 
     personnel; and

       ``(ii) is a--

       ``(I) national priority, as determined by the Secretary in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security; or
       ``(II) State priority, as determined by the chief executive 
     officer in the State in which the student seeking a 
     scholarship under this subpart--

       ``(aa) graduated from secondary school; or
       ``(bb) is enrolled at an institution of higher education.
       ``(B) Continuation of qualification.--An academic major or 
     program of study designated by the Secretary under 
     subparagraph (A) shall continue to be considered a qualified 
     academic major or program for a student if such academic 
     major or program of study was a qualified academic major or 
     program at the time such student commenced study of such 
     major or program of study.
       ``(4) Qualified employer.--The term `qualified employer' 
     means--
       ``(A) a nonprofit organization; or
       ``(B) a public agency.
       ``(5) Qualified service.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified service' means full-
     time employment with the qualified employer of the eligible 
     entity that awarded the eligible student a scholarship or 
     with another qualified employer (consistent with the 
     guidelines issued by the Secretary pursuant to subparagraph 
     (B)), for a period of 2 years for the first year of a 
     scholarship award and an additional 1 year for each 
     additional year of a scholarship award, in a position that--
       ``(i) is primarily related to homeland security;
       ``(ii) requires specialized expertise related to the 
     qualified academic major or program of the eligible student; 
     and
       ``(iii) suffers from a critical lack of qualified 
     personnel.
       ``(B) Service with different employer.--The Secretary shall 
     issue guidelines describing when employment may be completed 
     with a qualified employer who is not the qualified employer 
     of the eligible entity that awarded the eligible student a 
     scholarship.

     ``SEC. 420M. GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.

       ``(a) In General.--From funds appropriated under section 
     420O, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive 
     basis, to eligible entities to enable the entities to award 
     scholarships to eligible students in exchange for qualified 
     service from such students.
       ``(b) Application.--An eligible entity that desires to 
     receive a grant under this subpart shall submit an 
     application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
     and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
       ``(c) Use of Grant Funds.--
       ``(1) Scholarship awards.--An eligible entity that receives 
     a grant under this subpart shall award scholarships to 
     eligible students in exchange for qualified service from such 
     students.
       ``(2) Application form.--An eligible entity that receives a 
     grant under this subpart shall create an application form for 
     a student desiring to receive a scholarship under this 
     subpart, and include in such form a summary of the rights and 
     liabilities of a student whose application is approved (and 
     whose contract is accepted) by the eligible entity.
       ``(3) Contract.--
       ``(A) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a grant 
     under this subpart shall prepare a written contract that 
     shall be provided to a student desiring to receive a 
     scholarship under this subpart at the time that an 
     application is provided to such student.
       ``(B) Content.--The contract described in subparagraph (A) 
     shall be an agreement between the eligible entity and student 
     that states that, subject to subparagraph (C)--
       ``(i) the eligible entity agrees to provide the student 
     with a scholarship, that may be renewed in each year of study 
     at the institution of higher education for a total of not 
     more than 4 years; and
       ``(ii) the student agrees to--

       ``(I)(aa) accept provision of such a scholarship to the 
     student;
       ``(bb) maintain enrollment in the qualified academic major 
     or program until the student completes the course of study at 
     the institution of higher education;
       ``(cc) while enrolled in such qualified academic major or 
     program, maintain an acceptable level of academic standing 
     (as determined by the institution of higher education); and
       ``(dd) provide qualified service; and
       ``(II) repay the scholarship under the terms of this 
     subpart if the student fails to comply with the requirements 
     of subclause (I).

       ``(C) Limitation.--The contract described in subparagraph 
     (A) shall contain a provision that any financial obligation 
     of the United States arising out of a contract entered into 
     under this subpart and any obligation of the student which is 
     conditioned thereon, is contingent upon funds being 
     appropriated for scholarships under this subpart.
       ``(4) Information on scholarship recipients.--An eligible 
     entity that receives a grant under this subpart shall submit 
     a report to the Secretary at the time a scholarship award is 
     provided to an eligible student identifying--
       ``(A) such student's name, date of birth, and social 
     security number; and
       ``(B) the amount of such scholarship.
       ``(d) Matching Funds.--An eligible entity receiving Federal 
     assistance under this subpart shall contribute non-Federal 
     matching funds in an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount 
     of Federal assistance.
       ``(e) Duration of Grant.--Grants awarded under this subpart 
     shall be for a term of 5 years.

     ``SEC. 420N. SCHOLARSHIPS.

       ``(a) Submission of Application and Written Contract.--A 
     student that desires to receive a scholarship under this 
     subpart shall submit an application and written contract to 
     an eligible entity at such time, in such manner, and 
     containing such information as the eligible entity may 
     require.
       ``(b) Payment.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a scholarship 
     provided to an eligible student under this subpart for a 
     school year shall consist of payment to, or (in accordance 
     with paragraph (3)) on behalf of, the eligible student of the 
     amount of the tuition and fees, described in section 472(1), 
     of the eligible student in such school year.
       ``(2) Maximum scholarship amount.--A scholarship awarded 
     under this subpart during fiscal year 2004 shall not exceed 
     $10,000. The Secretary shall determine the maximum 
     scholarship amount for each succeeding fiscal year after 
     adjusting for inflation.
       ``(3) Contract.--The Secretary may contract with an 
     institution of higher education, in which an eligible student 
     is enrolled, for the payment to the institution of higher 
     education of the amounts of tuition and fees described in 
     paragraph (1).
       ``(c) Verification of Qualified Service.--
       ``(1) Documentation.----
       ``(A) From eligible student.--An eligible student that 
     receives a scholarship under this subpart shall submit 
     documentation to the eligible entity that awarded the student 
     the scholarship, under standards and procedures determined by 
     the eligible entity, verifying that the student has completed 
     such student's qualified service.
       ``(B) From eligible entity.--An eligible entity that 
     receives a grant under this subpart shall submit 
     documentation to the Secretary by a date specified by the 
     Secretary and under standards and procedures determined by 
     the Secretary, verifying that each eligible student awarded a 
     scholarship under this subpart has completed such student's 
     qualified service.
       ``(2) Role of secretary.--If the Secretary does not receive 
     satisfactory documentation under paragraph (1)(B) by the date 
     specified by the Secretary, then the Secretary shall collect 
     the scholarship amount determined under paragraph (3) as a 
     loan under the terms and conditions for repayment of loans 
     under part B (including provisions under such part that 
     provide for loan repayment over time).
       ``(3) Breach of agreement.--Subject to paragraph (4), if an 
     eligible student receives a scholarship under this subpart 
     and agrees to provide qualified service in consideration for 
     receipt of the scholarship, the eligible student is liable to 
     the Federal Government

[[Page S2938]]

     for the amount of such award, for interest on such amount at 
     the rate applicable at the time of noncompliance for Stafford 
     loans under section 427A, and for reasonable collections 
     costs, if the eligible student fails to submit the 
     documentation required under paragraph (1)(A).
       ``(4) Waiver or suspension of liability.--The Secretary 
     shall waive liability under paragraph (3) if--
       ``(A) the student subsequently demonstrates that such 
     student has provided qualified service;
       ``(B) the student suffers death or permanent and total 
     disability;
       ``(C) the student is unable to complete the program in 
     which such student was enrolled due to the closure of the 
     institution of higher education; or
       ``(D) the Secretary determines that compliance by the 
     student with the agreement involved is impossible or would 
     involve extreme hardship to such student.
       ``(5) Amounts to remain available.--Any amounts collected 
     by the Secretary under this subsection shall remain available 
     for grant awards under this subpart.
       ``(d) Tax-Free.--The amount of any scholarship that is 
     received under this subpart shall not, consistent with 
     section 108(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, be 
     treated as gross income for Federal income tax purposes.

     ``SEC. 420O. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     subpart--
       ``(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
       ``(2) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
       ``(3) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
       ``(4) such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
     years 2007 and 2008.''.
                                 ______