H.R. 4977 — Introduced in House

I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4977 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 1, 2019Mr. Phillips introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit the use of Federal funds to be used to pay an individual for influencing or attempting to influence an officer of employer of any agency, Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Higher Education Funds Integrity Act. 2. Certification regarding the use of certain Federal funds (a) In general Part B of title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 129. Certification regarding the use of certain Federal funds (a) Prohibition No Federal funds received under this Act by an institution of higher education or other postsecondary educational institution may be used to pay any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with any Federal action described in subsection (b). (b) Applicability The prohibition in subsection (a) applies with respect to the following Federal actions: (1) The awarding of any Federal contract. (2) The making of any Federal grant. (3) The making of any Federal loan. (4) The entering into of any Federal cooperative agreement. (5) The extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement. (c) Lobbying and earmarks No Federal student aid funding under this Act may be used to hire a registered lobbyist or pay any person or entity for securing an earmark. (d) Certification Each institution of higher education or other postsecondary educational institution receiving Federal funding under this Act, as a condition for receiving such funding, shall annually certify to the Secretary that the requirements of subsections (a) through (c) have been met. (e) Actions To implement and enforce The Secretary shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure that the provisions of this section are implemented and enforced. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 119 of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (20 U.S.C. 1011m) is repealed.