[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 8, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4845-S4846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2122. Ms. STABENOW submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 2089 submitted by Mr. Alexander (for himself and Mrs.
Murray) to the bill S. 1177, to reauthorize the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 to ensure that every child achieves;
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of the bill, add the following:
SEC. 1020__. EARLY PELL PROMISE ACT.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Early
Pell Promise Act''.
(b) Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Program.--Subpart 1
of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
[[Page S4846]]
U.S.C. 1070a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 401B. EARLY FEDERAL PELL GRANT COMMITMENT PROGRAM.
``(a) Program Authority.--The Secretary is authorized to
carry out an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Program
(referred to in this section as the `Program') under which
the Secretary shall--
``(1) award grants to State educational agencies to pay the
administrative expenses incurred in participating in the
Program; and
``(2) make a commitment to award Federal Pell Grants to
eligible students in accordance with this section.
``(b) Program Requirements.--The Program shall meet the
following requirements:
``(1) Eligible students.--
``(A) In general.--A student shall be eligible to receive a
commitment from the Secretary to receive a Federal Pell Grant
early in the student's academic career if the student--
``(i) is in 8th grade; and
``(ii) is eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under
the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1751 et seq.).
``(2) Federal pell grant commitment.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B),
each eligible student who participates in the Program shall
receive a commitment from the Secretary to receive a Federal
Pell Grant during the first 2 academic years that the student
is in attendance at an institution of higher education as an
undergraduate student, if the student--
``(i) applies for Federal financial aid (via the FAFSA)
during the student's senior year of secondary school and
during the succeeding academic year; and
``(ii) enrolls at such institution of higher education--
``(I) not later than 3 years after such student receives a
secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent; or
``(II) if such student becomes a member of the Armed
Forces, not later than 3 years after such student is
discharged, separated, or released from the Armed Forces.
``(B) Exception to commitment.--If an eligible student
receives a commitment from the Secretary to receive a Federal
Pell Grant during the first 2 academic years that the student
is in attendance at an institution of higher education as an
undergraduate student and the student applies for Federal
financial aid (via the FAFSA) during the student's senior
year of secondary school or during the succeeding academic
year, and the expected family contribution of the student for
either of such years is more than 2 times the threshold
amount for Federal Pell Grant eligibility for such year, then
such student shall not receive a Federal Pell Grant under
this section for the succeeding academic year. Such student
shall continue to be eligible for any other Federal student
financial aid for which the student is otherwise eligible.
``(3) Applicability of federal pell grant requirements.--
The requirements of section 401 shall apply to Federal Pell
Grants awarded pursuant to this section, except that with
respect to each eligible student who participates in the
Program and is not subject the exception under paragraph
(2)(B), the amount of each such eligible student's Federal
Pell Grant only shall be calculated by deeming such student
to have an expected family contribution equal to zero.
``(c) State Educational Agency Applications.--
``(1) In general.--Each State educational agency desiring
to participate in the Program shall submit an application to
the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the
Secretary may require.
``(2) Contents.--Each application shall include--
``(A) a description of the proposed targeted information
campaign for the Program and a copy of the plan described in
subsection (e)(2);
``(B) an assurance that the State educational agency will
fully cooperate with the ongoing evaluation of the Program;
and
``(C) such other information as the Secretary may require.
``(d) Evaluation.--
``(1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under
subsection (f) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve
not more than $1,000,000 to award a grant or contract to an
organization outside the Department for an independent
evaluation of the impact of the Program.
``(2) Competitive basis.--The grant or contract shall be
awarded on a competitive basis.
``(3) Matters evaluated.--The evaluation described in this
subsection shall consider metrics established by the
Secretary that emphasize college access and success,
encouraging low-income students to pursue higher education,
and the cost effectiveness of the program.
``(4) Dissemination.--The findings of the evaluation shall
be widely disseminated to the public by the organization
conducting the evaluation as well as by the Secretary.
``(e) Targeted Information Campaign.--
``(1) In general.--Each State educational agency receiving
a grant under this section shall, in cooperation with the
participating local educational agencies within the State and
the Secretary, develop a targeted information campaign for
the Program.
``(2) Plan.--Each State educational agency receiving a
grant under this section shall include in the application
submitted under subsection (c) a written plan for their
proposed targeted information campaign. The plan shall
include the following:
``(A) Outreach.--Outreach to students and their families,
at a minimum, at the beginning and end of each academic year.
``(B) Distribution.--How the State educational agency plans
to provide the outreach described in subparagraph (A) and to
provide the information described in subparagraph (C).
``(C) Information.--The annual provision by the State
educational agency to all students and families participating
in the Program of information regarding--
``(i) the estimated statewide average higher education
institution cost data for each academic year, which cost data
shall be disaggregated by--
``(I) type of institution, including--
``(aa) 2-year public colleges;
``(bb) 4-year public colleges;
``(cc) 4-year private colleges; and
``(dd) private, for-profit colleges;
``(II) component, including--
``(aa) tuition and fees; and
``(bb) room and board;
``(ii) Federal Pell Grants, including--
``(I) the maximum Federal Pell Grant for each academic
year;
``(II) when and how to apply for a Federal Pell Grant; and
``(III) what the application process for a Federal Pell
Grant requires;
``(iii) State-specific college savings programs;
``(iv) State-based financial aid, including State-based
merit aid; and
``(v) Federal financial aid available to students,
including eligibility criteria for the Federal financial aid
and an explanation of the Federal financial aid programs.
``(3) Annual information.--The information described in
paragraph (2)(C) shall be provided to eligible students
annually for the duration of the students' participation in
the Program.
``(4) Reservation.--Each State educational agency receiving
a grant under this section shall reserve $200,000 of the
grant funds received each fiscal year to carry out the
targeted information campaign described in this subsection.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such
sums as may be necessary.''.
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