To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a program of financial assistance to enable more members of the National Guard of the District of Columbia to attend institutions of higher education.

March 18, 2004

Mr. HOBSON (for himself and Ms. NORTON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a program of financial assistance to enable more members of the National Guard of the District of Columbia to attend institutions of higher education.

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 `District of Columbia National Guard College Access Act'.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COLLEGE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NATIONAL GUARD.

(a) Program Authorized- (1) Chapter 1611 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`Sec. 16402. District of Columbia National Guard: college financial assistance program

`(a) Authority- The Secretary concerned may provide financial assistance to an eligible member of the National Guard of the District of Columbia for expenses of the member while the member is enrolled in an approved institution of higher education in a degree, certificate, or other program (including a program of study abroad approved for credit by the institution of higher education) leading to a recognized educational credential at the institution of higher education.

`(b) Eligibility- To be eligible for financial assistance under this section, a member of the National Guard of the District of Columbia must--

`(1) be a member of the National Guard of the District of Columbia for not less than the 12 consecutive months preceding the commencement of the tuition assistance;

`(2) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a program of education referred to in subsection (a) at an institution of higher education; and

`(3) if already enrolled, maintain satisfactory progress in the course of study the member is pursuing in accordance with section 484(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(c)).

`(c) Covered Expenses- Expenses for which financial assistance may be provided under this section are--

`(1) tuition and fees charged by an approved institution of higher education involved;

`(2) the cost of books; and

`(3) laboratory expenses.

`(d) Amount- (1) The amount of financial assistance provided to a member of the National Guard of the District of Columbia under this section shall be prescribed by the Secretary concerned, but may not exceed $2,500 for any academic year. The Secretary concerned shall prorate assistance under this section for members who pursue a program of education on less than a full-time basis.

`(2) A member may not receive more than $12,500 under this section.

`(e) Construction- Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an institution of higher education to alter the institution's admissions policies or standards in any manner to enable a member of the National Guard of the District of Columbia to enroll in the institution.

`(f) Gifts- The Secretary concerned may accept, use, and dispose of donations of services or property for purposes of carrying out this section.

`(g) Definitions- In this section:

`(1) The term `approved institution of higher education' means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that--

`(A) is eligible to participate in the student financial assistance programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.); and

`(B) has entered into an agreement with the Secretary concerned containing such conditions as the Secretary may specify, including a requirement that the institution use the funds made available under this section to supplement and not supplant assistance that otherwise would be provided to eligible students from the District of Columbia National Guard.

`(2) Secretary concerned- The term `Secretary concerned' means--

`(A) the Secretary of the Army, in the case of the Army National Guard of the District of Columbia; and

`(B) the Secretary of the Air Force, in the case of the Air National Guard of the District of Columbia.'.

(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`16402. District of Columbia National Guard: college financial assistance program.'.

(b) Application of Amendment- Financial assistance may be provided under section 16402 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), to eligible members of the National Guard of the District of Columbia described in such section for periods of instruction that begin on or after January 1, 2004.

END