[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 165 (Monday, December 19, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S14065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FRIST:
  S. 2143. 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; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2143

       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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