,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #eefj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ah1 #bjad ,mr4 ,braley of ,iowa introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife to establish a grant program for undergraduate students with financial need to assist such students in completing degrees at institutions of higher education4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,helping ,college ,students ,cross the ,finish ,line ,act4 #b4 ,grants to institutions to provide awards to undergraduate and vocational students with financial need to assist in completion of degree and certificate programs ,part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj et seq47 is amended by inserting after subpart #g the following new subpart3 #h ,grants to institutions ,to provide awards to undergraduate and vocational students with financial need ,to assist in completion of degree and certificate programs #dbj4 ,grants to institutions to provide awards to undergraduate and vocational students with financial need to assist in completion of degree and certificate programs 7a7 ,grants for establishment of financial assistance program ,the ,secretary shall award grants to institutions of higher education to establish programs of financial assistance for students in accordance with this section4 7b7 ,financial assistance program 7#a7 ,establishment ,an institution of higher education receiving a grant under subsection 7a7 shall establish a financial assistance program to award funds to not less than #ajj eligible students per academic year in accordance with this subsection4 7#b7 ,student eligibility ,a student shall be eligible for an award under a financial assistance program established by an institution of higher education in accordance with this subsection if-- 7,a7 such student is enrolled as an undergraduate or vocational student at such institution on a not less than half-time basis2 7,b7 such student is academically able to complete the degree or certificate program for which such student is enrolled within an academic year2 7,c7 such student is in good academic standing at such institution 7as determined by such institution7 at the time of the distribution of the award2 7,d7 in the case of a student who previously received an award under this section1 such student maintained good academic standing during the academic period for which the student received such previous award under this section2 7,e7 such student has an outstanding tuition payment due to such institution and is unable to fully pay the amount due2 and 7,f7 the institution determines that without financial assistance1 such student will discontinue the degree or certificate program for which such student is enrolled due to an inability to pay tuition4 7#c7 ,grant amount ,the amount of an award to a student under a financial assistance program established by an institution of higher education in accordance with this subsection for a semester or equivalent shall be the lesser of-- 7,a7 #a1jjj2 or 7,b7 the amount of tuition such institution determines the student is unable to pay for such semester or equivalent4 7#d7 ,limitation on number of grants ,a student may only receive an award under a financial assistance program established by an institution of higher education in accordance with this subsection for a total of two semesters or the equivalent of two semesters4 7#e7 ,information on other financial assistance 7,a7 ,information required ,each institution of higher education receiving a grant under subsection 7a7 shall provide information to each covered student attending such institution on financial assistance available from any source other than this section4 7,b7 ,covered student defined ,in this paragraph1 the term covered student means a student receiving an award under a financial assistance program established by an institution of higher education in accordance with this subsection in an amount that does not fully pay an outstanding tuition payment due to such institution4 7c7 ,financial literacy survey ,the ,secretary shall create1 and each student receiving an award under a financial assistance program established by an institution of higher education in accordance with subsection 7b7 shall complete1 an online survey concerning financial literacy4 ,such survey shall include matters relating to budgeting and saving1 student loan debt1 and career planning4 7d7 ,reports 7#a7 ,institutions of higher education ,each institution of higher education receiving a grant under subsection 7a7 shall annually submit to the ,secretary a report containing1 for the academic year preceding the date of the submission of such report-- 7,a7 the number of students enrolled at such institution that received an award under a financial assistance program established by such institution in accordance with subsection 7b72 7,b7 the number of such students who completed the degree or certificate program in which such students were enrolled during such academic year2 7,c7 the number of such students who1 following completion of the degree or certificate program in which such students were enrolled1 subsequently enrolled in a degree or certificate program at a higher level2 7,d7 the number of such students who1 following completion of the degree or certificate program in which such students were enrolled1 subsequently obtained full-time employment and the average salary for such students2 and 7,e7 any other information that the ,secretary considers necessary4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the ,secretary shall annually submit to ,congress a report on the implementation of this section4 ,such report shall include-- 7,a7 the aggregate data submitted by all institutions of higher education in accordance with paragraph 7#a72 7,b7 an analysis of the grant program under this section and any suggestions for improving such program2 and 7,c7 any other information that the ,secretary considers necessary4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years #bjae through #bjbj4 4