1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act of 2013”.
Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act of 2013
A BILL
To increase Federal Pell Grants for the children of fallen police officers, firefighters, and other public safety officers.
2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
The year 2012 was a deadly year for law enforcement officers, with 126 men and women killed in the line of duty. That year, 83 firefighters lost their lives and 21 emergency medical services providers suffered fatalities in the line of duty.
Congress recognizes the sacrifice of the families of fallen public safety officers.
The financial loss for a family with children could be detrimental for decades.
Families who have given the ultimate sacrifice deserve the support of the American people as their children pursue higher education.
3. Calculation of Federal Pell Grant eligibility
Section 401(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(4)
“(A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other provision of this section, the expected family contribution of each student described in subparagraph (B) shall be deemed to be zero for the period during which each such student is eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant under subsection (c).
“(B) Subparagraph (A) shall apply to any student at an institution of higher education—
“(i) whose parent or guardian—
“(I) was actively serving as a police officer, firefighter, or other public safety officer; and
“(II) died as a result of performing a public safety service; and
“(ii) who was 18 years or less, or was enrolled as a full-time or part-time student at an institution of higher education, as of the time of the parent or guardian’s death.
“(C) For purposes of this paragraph—
“(i) the term “police officer, firefighter, or other public safety officer” means an individual who—
“(I) is a law enforcement officer or firefighter in a police department or fire department which is organized and operated by a State or political subdivision to provide police protection, firefighting services, or emergency medical services for any area within the jurisdiction of such State or political subdivision;
“(II) is an emergency medical services provider who provides out-of-hospital emergency medical care, including an emergency medical technician or paramedic; or
“(III) is a member of a qualified volunteer emergency response organization who provides firefighting services or emergency medical services; and
“(ii) the term “qualified volunteer emergency response organization” means any volunteer organization that—
“(I) is organized and operated to provide firefighting or emergency medical services for persons in the State or political subdivision, as the case may be; and
“(II) is required (by written agreement) by the State or political subdivision to furnish firefighting or emergency medical services in such State or political subdivision.”
4. Effective date
The amendment made by section 3 of this Act shall apply with respect to Federal Pell Grants awarded for academic year 2014–2015, and each succeeding academic year.