[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2967 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2967
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish an emergency
grant aid program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 27, 2023
Mr. Morelle introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the
Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as
fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish an emergency
grant aid program, 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 ``Emergency Grant Aid for College
Students Act''.
SEC. 2. EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANT PROGRAM.
Title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070b et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``PART F--EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANTS
``SEC. 791. EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Emergency Financial Aid Grant Programs Authorized.--The
Secretary shall carry out a grant program to make grants, in accordance
with subsection (b), to eligible entities to provide emergency
financial aid grants to eligible students in accordance with subsection
(c).
``(b) Application.--
``(1) In general.--Each eligible entity desiring to carry
out an emergency grant aid program under this section shall
submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
``(2) Outreach.--The Secretary shall, at least 60 days
before each deadline to submit applications under paragraph
(1), conduct outreach to institutions of higher education
(including such institutions that are eligible for priority
under this section) and systems of higher education to provide
such institutions and systems with information on the
opportunity to apply under paragraph (1) to carry out an
emergency grant aid program under this section.
``(3) Contents.--Each application under paragraph (1) shall
include a description of the emergency grant aid program to be
carried out by the eligible entity, including--
``(A) an estimate of the number of emergency
financial aid grants that such entity will make in an
award year and how such eligible entity assessed such
estimate;
``(B) the criteria the eligible entity will use to
determine a student's eligibility for an emergency
financial aid grant;
``(C) an assurance that an emergency for which an
eligible student will be eligible to receive an
emergency financial aid grant will include financial
challenges related to any component of the student's
cost of attendance or financial challenges that would
impact the ability of an eligible student to continue
the course of study of such student;
``(D) an assurance that the eligible entity, when
applicable, will make information available to eligible
students about the eligibility of such students, and
their dependents, as applicable, for assistance under
means-tested Federal benefit programs, including--
``(i) the supplemental security income
program under title XVI of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.);
``(ii) the supplemental nutrition
assistance program under the Food and Nutrition
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), a
nutrition assistance program carried out under
section 19 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2028), or a
supplemental nutrition assistance program
carried out under section 3(c) of the Act
entitled `An Act to authorize appropriations
for certain insular areas of the United States,
and for other purposes' (Public Law 95-348);
``(iii) the free and reduced price school
lunch program established under the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1751 et seq.);
``(iv) the program of block grants for
States for temporary assistance for needy
families established under part A of title IV
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et
seq.);
``(v) the special supplemental nutrition
program for women, infants, and children
established by section 17 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786);
``(vi) the Medicaid program under title XIX
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et
seq.);
``(vii) Federal housing assistance
programs, including tenant-based assistance
under section 8(o) of the United States Housing
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)), and public
housing, as defined in section 3(b)(1) of such
Act (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(1));
``(viii) the refundable credit for coverage
under a qualified health plan under section 36B
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
``(ix) the Earned Income Tax Credit under
section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986; or
``(x) any other means-tested program
determined by the Secretary to be appropriate;
``(E) how the eligible entity will administer the
emergency grant aid program, including--
``(i) the process by which an eligible
student may apply for and receive an emergency
grant, which shall include an opportunity to
apply online, and at least 1 opportunity to
appeal a grant denial;
``(ii) the processes the eligible entity
will use to respond to applications, approve
applications, and disburse emergency financial
aid grants, including outside of normal
business hours;
``(iii) how the eligible entity will
advertise emergency grants to eligible
students; and
``(iv) how quickly the eligible entity will
disburse emergency aid grants to students after
applications have been submitted;
``(F) an assurance that the eligible entity will
acknowledge receipt of a student's application and fund
approved applications not later than 10 business days
after the date of the approval;
``(G) an assurance that the eligible entity will
conduct outreach to students to inform them of the
availability of, and process for applying for,
emergency aid grants;
``(H) a description of how the eligible entity will
prioritize eligible students with financial need in
awarding emergency financial aid grants; and
``(I) any other information the Secretary may
require.
``(4) Priority.--In selecting eligible entities to carry
out an emergency grant aid program under this section, the
Secretary may give priority to--
``(A) an eligible entity that is a community
college;
``(B) an eligible entity that is an institution of
higher education described in section 371(a);
``(C) an eligible entity that is considered rural
according to the National Center for Education
Statistics for purposes of the Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System;
``(D) an eligible entity in which not less than 33
percent of the students enrolled at such eligible
entity are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant; or
``(E) an eligible entity that--
``(i) has an admissions rate that is 50
percent or higher and is under-resourced; or
``(ii) is an eligible institution as
defined in section 312(b).
``(c) Use of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity may only use funds
provided under this section to make emergency financial aid
grants to eligible students.
``(2) Amount of awards.--
``(A) In general.--An eligible student may receive
an amount under this section that would cause the
amount of total financial aid received by such student
to exceed the cost of attendance of the institution of
higher education in which the student is enrolled.
``(B) Maximum amounts received.--An eligible
student may not receive a cumulative amount under this
section for an academic year that is more than the
maximum Federal Pell Grant available for such academic
year.
``(3) Determinations.--In determining eligibility for and
awarding emergency financial aid grants under this section, an
eligible entity may--
``(A) waive the amount of need calculation under
section 471; and
``(B) utilize a contract with a scholarship-
granting organization designated for the sole purpose
of accepting applications from, or disbursing funds to,
students enrolled in the institution of higher
education, if such scholarship-granting organization
disburses the full allocated amount provided to the
institution of higher education to the student
recipients.
``(d) Reporting and Oversight.--
``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once annually,
each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section
shall submit to the Secretary a report on the progress of the
eligible entity in carrying out the programs supported by such
grant.
``(2) Form of report.--The report under paragraph (1) shall
be submitted to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require. The
Secretary shall issue uniform guidelines describing the
information that shall be reported by grantees under such
paragraph.
``(3) Content of report.--The report under paragraph (1)
shall include, at minimum, the following:
``(A) The average, minimum, and maximum amount of
grants made available to eligible students, including
any average, minimum, or maximum grant levels made to
any specific subgroups of eligible students, including
the subgroups listed in subparagraph (B).
``(B) A description of any specific subgroups of
eligible students who were prioritized for the
emergency financial aid grants, including students of
color, low-income students, first-generation college
students, students with disabilities, English learners,
students experiencing homelessness, former foster
youth, or student parents.
``(C) The number of eligible students who received
an emergency financial aid grant, including the number
of eligible students who received more than one such
grant, and the number of eligible students in each of
the subgroups described in subparagraph (B) who
received an emergency financial aid grant, including
the number of eligible students in each of such
subgroups who received more than one such grant.
``(D) The types of emergencies declared and
frequencies of emergencies declared by eligible
students.
``(E) The number of students who applied for an
emergency financial aid grant, including the number of
eligible students in each of the subgroups described in
subparagraph (B) who applied for an emergency financial
aid grant.
``(F) The number of students who were denied such a
grant.
``(G) The number of students who appealed a denial
of such grant.
``(H) The average amount of time it took an
eligible entity to respond to requests for such a grant
and the average amount of time it took the eligible
entity to award or deny such a grant.
``(I) A description and amount of any institutional
funds used to supplement emergency financial aid grants
provided in accordance with this section.
``(J) Outcomes of the eligible students who
received such a grant, including rates of persistence,
retention, and completion.
``(K) A description of the method used to disburse
emergency grants to students.
``(e) Determination of Awards.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section
shall solely determine which students receive emergency financial aid
grants under this section.
``(f) Special Rules.--An emergency financial aid grant awarded to a
student under this section--
``(1) shall not be treated as estimated financial
assistance or other financial assistance for the purposes of
section 471 or section 480;
``(2) shall not be considered--
``(A) income or assets (including untaxed income
and benefits under section 480(b)) in the computation
of a student's expected family contribution or student
aid index in determining the amount of aid for which
the student is eligible under title IV for any academic
year; and
``(B) in determining eligibility for other public
benefits; and
``(3) shall not be included in the gross income of such
student for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
``(g) Eligibility for Benefits.--No individual shall be determined
to be ineligible to receive benefits provided under this section on the
basis of citizenship, alienage, or immigration status.
``(h) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Community college.--The term `community college'
means--
``(A) a degree-granting public institution of
higher education (as defined in section 101) at which--
``(i) the highest degree awarded is an
associate degree; or
``(ii) an associate degree is the most
frequently awarded degree;
``(B) a 2-year Tribal College or University (as
defined in section 316(b)(3));
``(C) a degree-granting Tribal College or
University (as defined in section 316(b)(3)) at which--
``(i) the highest degree awarded is an
associate degree; or
``(ii) an associate degree is the most
frequently awarded degree; or
``(D) a branch campus of a 4-year public
institution of higher education (as defined in section
101), if, at such branch campus--
``(i) the highest degree awarded is an
associate degree; or
``(ii) an associate degree is the most
frequently awarded degree.
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means an
institution of higher education.
``(3) Eligible student.--The term `eligible student' means
any student who is enrolled in an eligible entity.
``(4) Institution of higher education.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Act, the term `institution of higher
education' has the meaning given the term in section 101 or
102(c).
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary
for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2029.''.
<all>