Higher Education Funds Integrity Act

“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.”