,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bdfe ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #a1 #bjai,mr4 ,sablan 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,radewagen7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife to establish a program that enables college-bound residents of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands and ,american ,samoa to have greater choices among institutions of higher education1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,northern ,mariana ,islands and ,american ,samoa ,college ,access ,act4 #b4 ,northern ,mariana ,islands and ,american ,samoa ,college ,access ,subpart #aj of part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;h7 is amended to read as follows3 #aj ,northern ,mariana ,islands and ,american ,samoa ,college ,access #dbj,r4 ,public school grants 7a7 ,purpose ,it is the purpose of this subpart to establish a program that enables college-bound residents of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands and ,american ,samoa to have greater choices among institutions of higher education4 7b7 ,grants 7#a7 ,in general ,from amounts appropriated under subsection 7j71 the ,secretary shall provide-- 7,a7 #ej percent of such amount to the ,northern ,mariana ,islands for the ,governor to award grants to eligible institutions that enroll eligible students to pay the difference between the tuition and fees charged for in-,state students and the tuition and fees charged for out-of-,state students on behalf of each eligible student enrolled in the eligible institution2 and 7,b7 #ej percent of such amount to the ,american ,samoa for the ,governor to award grants to eligible institutions that enroll eligible students to pay the difference between the tuition and fees charged for in-,state students and the tuition and fees charged for out-of-,state students on behalf of each eligible student enrolled in the eligible institution4 7#b7 ,maximum student amounts ,the amount paid on behalf of an eligible student under this section shall be-- 7,a7 not more than #ae1jjj for any one award year 7as defined in section #dha72 and 7,b7 not more than #de1jjj in the aggregate4 7#c7 ,proration ,the ,governor shall prorate payments under this section for students who attend an eligible institution on less than a full-time basis4 7c7 ,reduction for insufficient appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,if the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection 7j7 for any fiscal year are insufficient to award a grant in the amount determined under subsection 7a7 on behalf of each eligible student enrolled in an eligible institution1 then the ,governor1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,education1 shall-- 7,a7 first1 ratably reduce the amount of the tuition and fee payment made on behalf of each eligible student who has not received funds under this section for a preceding year2 and 7,b7 after making reductions under subparagraph 7,a71 ratably reduce the amount of the tuition and fee payments made on behalf of all other eligible students4 7#b7 ,adjustments ,the ,governor1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,education1 may adjust the amount of tuition and fee payments made under paragraph 7#a7 based on-- 7,a7 the financial need of the eligible students to avoid undue hardship to the eligible students2 or 7,b7 undue administrative burdens on the ,governor4 7#c7 ,further adjustments ,notwithstanding paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b71 the ,governor may prioritize the making or amount of tuition and fee payments under this subsection based on the income and need of eligible students4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this subpart3 7#a7 ,eligible institution ,the term eligible institution means an institution that-- 7,a7 is a public four-year institution of higher education located in one of the several ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 ,puerto ,rico1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 or ,guam2 7,b7 is eligible to participate in the student financial assistance programs under title ,,iv2 and 7,c7 enters into an agreement with the ,governors of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands and ,american ,samoa containing such conditions as each ,governor may specify1 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 ,northern ,mariana ,islands and ,american ,samoa4 7#b7 ,eligible student ,the term eligible student means an individual who-- 7,a7 graduated from a public institution of higher education located in the ,northern ,mariana ,islands or ,american ,samoa2 7,b7 begins the individual's course of study within the #c calendar years 7excluding any period of service on active duty in the ,armed ,forces or service under the ,peace ,corps ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #beja et seq47 or subtitle ,d of title ,i of the ,national and ,community ,service ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abega et seq477 of graduation from a public institution of higher education located in the ,northern ,mariana ,islands or ,american ,samoa2 7,c7 is enrolled or accepted for enrollment1 on at least a half-time basis1 in a baccalaureate degree or other program 7including a program of study abroad approved for credit by the institution at which such student is enrolled7 leading to a recognized educational credential at an eligible institution2 7,d7 if enrolled in an eligible institution1 is maintaining satisfactory progress in the course of study the student is pursuing in accordance with section #dhd7;c72 and 7,e7 has not completed the individual's first undergraduate baccalaureate course of study4 7#c7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja4 7#d7 ,governor ,the term ,governor means the ,governor of the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands or ,american ,samoa4 7e7 ,construction ,nothing in this subpart shall be construed to require an institution of higher education to alter the institution's admissions policies or standards in any manner to enable an eligible student to enroll in the institution4 7f7 ,applications ,each student desiring a tuition payment under this section shall submit an application to the eligible institution at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the eligible institution may require4 7g7 ,administration of program 7#a7 ,in general ,each ,governor shall carry out the program under this section in consultation with the ,secretary4 ,each ,governor may enter into a grant1 contract1 or cooperative agreement with another public or private entity to administer the program under this section if the ,governor determines that doing so is a more efficient way of carrying out the program4 7#b7 ,policies and procedures ,each ,governor1 in consultation with institutions of higher education eligible for participation in the program authorized under this section1 shall develop policies and procedures for the administration of the program4 7#c7 ,memorandum of agreement ,each ,governor and the ,secretary shall enter into a ,memorandum of ,agreement that describes-- 7,a7 the manner in which the ,governor shall consult with the ,secretary with respect to administering the program under this section2 and 7,b7 any technical or other assistance to be provided to the ,governor by the ,secretary for purposes of administering the program under this section 7which may include access to the information in the common financial reporting form developed under section #dhc74 7h7 ,governor's report ,each ,governor shall report to the authorizing committees annually regarding-- 7#a7 the number of eligible students attending each eligible institution and the amount of the grant awards paid to those institutions on behalf of the eligible students2 7#b7 the extent1 if any1 to which a ratable reduction was made in the amount of tuition and fee payments made on behalf of eligible students2 and 7#c7 the progress in obtaining recognized academic credentials of the cohort of eligible students for each year4 7i7 ,,gao report ,within #ah months of the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall report on the effect of the program assisted under this section on educational opportunities for eligible students4 ,the ,comptroller ,general shall analyze whether eligible students had difficulty gaining admission to eligible institutions because of any preference afforded in-,state residents by eligible institutions1 and shall expeditiously report any findings regarding such difficulty to ,congress4 ,in addition the ,comptroller ,general shall-- 7#a7 analyze the extent to which there are an insufficient number of eligible institutions to which ,northern ,mariana ,islands and ,american ,samoa students can gain admission1 including admission aided by assistance provided under this subpart1 due to-- 7,a7 caps on the number of out-of-,state students the institution will enroll2 7,b7 significant barriers imposed by academic entrance requirements 7such as grade point average and standardized scholastic admissions tests72 and 7,c7 absence of admission programs benefitting minority students2 and 7#b7 report the findings of the analysis described in paragraph 7#a7 and the assessment described in paragraph 7#b7 to ,congress and the ,governor4 7j7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands and ,american ,samoa to carry out this subpart #e1jjj1jjj1 to be available until expended1 for fiscal year #bjbj and each of the #e succeeding fiscal years4 7k7 ,effective date ,this subpart shall take effect with respect to payments for periods of instruction that begin on or after the date of enactment of this ,act4 4