Promoting Equal Learning and Liberty Act
A BILL
To eliminate certain higher education funding to certain minority-serving institutions, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Findings
Sec. 3 Eliminating higher education funding to minority-serving institutions
“(G) which does not discriminate based on race in admissions, including through the use of racial quotas or preferences; and”
“(d) Priority—Subject to the availability of appropriations, the campaign under this section shall hold as a high priority making specific appeals to students who receive a Federal Pell Grant.”
“(g) Prohibition—The campaign under this section shall not—
“(1) provide special treatment to students or programs based on race or ethnicity; and
“(2) consider the race or ethnicity of any student, or the racial or ethnic balance of any institution that participates in a program.”
“361. Eligibility for grants
“(a) In General—Eligibility to receive grants under this part is limited to—
“(1) public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education that—
“(A) award baccalaureate degrees;
“(B) serve a substantial number of individuals who receive a Federal Pell Grant; and
“(C) do not discriminate based on race in admissions or hiring, including through the use of racial quotas or preferences;
“(2) public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education that—
“(A) award associate degrees;
“(B) serve a substantial number of individuals who receive a Federal Pell Grant;
“(C) are institutions that—
“(i) have a curriculum that includes science or engineering subjects; and
“(ii) enter into a partnership with public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees in science and engineering; and
“(D) do not discriminate based on race in admissions or hiring, including through the use of racial quotas or preferences;
“(3) nonprofit science-oriented organizations or professional scientific societies, that—
“(A) provide—
“(i) a needed service to individuals who receive a Federal Pell Grant or institutions that serve a substantial number of individuals who receive a Federal Pell Grant; or
“(ii) in-service training for project directors, scientists, and engineers from institutions that serve a substantial number of individuals who receive a Federal Pell Grant; and
“(B) do not discriminate based on race in admissions or hiring, including through the use of racial quotas or preferences;
“(4) consortia of organizations, that—
“(A) ensure that neither the consortium nor any of its members discriminate based on race in admissions, hiring, or membership, including through the use of racial quotas or preference; and
“(B) provide needed services to one or more institutions that serve a substantial number of individuals who receive a Federal Pell Grant, the membership of which may include—
“(i) public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education that have a curriculum in science or engineering;
“(ii) institutions of higher education that have a graduate or professional program in science or engineering;
“(iii) research laboratories of, or under contract with, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, or the National Institutes of Health;
“(iv) relevant offices of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, and National Institute of Standards and Technology;
“(v) quasi-governmental entities that have a significant scientific or engineering mission; or
“(vi) institutions of higher education that have State-sponsored centers for research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; or
“(5) only with respect to grants under subpart 2, partnerships of organizations, the membership of which shall include—
“(A) at least one institution of higher education eligible for assistance under this title;
“(B) at least one high-need local educational agency (as defined in section 200); and
“(C) at least two community organizations or entities, such as businesses, professional associations, community-based organizations, philanthropic organizations, or State agencies.
“(b) Special rule—Nothing in this part shall be construed to prevent a part B institution or a Tribal College or University from receiving a grant under this part.”
“(2) Allocation and allotment—Of the amount made available under paragraph (1)—
“(A) $85,000,000 for each fiscal year shall be made available for allocation to eligible institutions described in subsection (a)(1) and shall be made available as grants under section 323 and allotted among such institutions under section 324, treating such amount, plus the amount appropriated for such fiscal year in a regular or supplemental appropriation Act to carry out part B of this title, as the amount appropriated to carry out part B of this title for purposes of allotments under section 324, for use by such institutions with a priority for—
“(i) activities described in paragraphs (1), (2), (4), (5), and (10) of section 323(a); and
“(ii) other activities, consistent with the institution's comprehensive plan and designed to increase the institution's capacity to prepare students for careers in the physical or natural sciences, mathematics, computer science or information technology or sciences, engineering, language instruction in the less-commonly taught languages or international affairs, or nursing or allied health professions; and
“(B) $30,000,000 for each fiscal year shall be available for allocation to eligible institutions described in subsection (a)(2) and shall be made available as grants under section 316, treating such amount, plus the amount appropriated for such fiscal year in a regular or supplemental appropriation Act to carry out such section, as the amount appropriated to carry out section 316 and using such $30,000,000 for purposes described in subsection (c) of such section.”
“(5) for any activities that violate Federal civil rights laws”
“(c) Special rule—In making such designations under subsection (b), the Secretary shall not consider the racial or ethnic demographics of an area.”
Sec. 4 Eliminating other funding provided to institutions based on the racial or ethnic balance of students
“(d) Nondiscrimination limitation—In awarding grants, the Director—
“(1) shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of a grantee; and
“(2) shall ensure that awards are not made to grantees that discriminate based on race or ethnicity in admissions, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(1) No construction or renovation—No funds”
“(2) No funds supporting discrimination—In awarding grants under this section, the Director—
“(A) shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of an institution of higher education participating in a partnership; and
“(B) shall ensure that grants are not awarded under this section to any institution of higher education, that is, or that includes in the partnership described in subsection (b)(1), an institution of higher education that discriminates based on race or ethnicity in admissions, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“512. Undergraduate broadening participation program
“(a) In general—The Foundation shall continue to support the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program and the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program.
“(b) Instrumentation rule for undergraduate HBCU funding—Notwithstanding any provision of this Act or any other law, funding for instrumentation is an allowed use of grants awarded under grants provided under the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program.”
“(C) Limitations—In making awards under this section, the Director of the Foundation—
“(i) shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of an institution of higher education or consortium; and
“(ii) shall ensure that awards are not made to recipients who discriminate based on race or ethnicity in admissions, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(C) No funds supporting discrimination
“(i) No consideration of race or ethnicity—In making awards under this section, the Director of the Foundation shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of an institution of higher education.
“(ii) No awards to institutions that discriminate—The Director shall not make an award under this section to any institution of higher education, that discriminates based on race or ethnicity, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(5) Limitations—In making awards under this section, the Director—
“(A) shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of a recipient; and
“(B) shall ensure that funds under this section are not used for programs that discriminate based on race or ethnicity in admissions, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(a) In general—Of the amounts”
“(b) Prohibition—Amounts reserved under subsection (a) shall not be provided to any institution of higher education that discriminates based on race or ethnicity in hiring, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(ii) Tribal Colleges and Universities, as defined in section 316(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b));”
“(B)
“(i) institutions that serve a substantial number of low-income students; and
“(ii) institutions that serve a substantial number of students who receive Federal Pell Grants under section 401 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1070a); and”
“(3) Limitations—The Secretary—
“(A) shall not consider the racial or ethnic demographics of any eligible entity (including any consortium represented by an eligible entity) when awarding grants under this section; and
“(B) shall ensure that funds available under this section are not awarded to any eligible entity that discriminates on the basis of race or ethnicity in postsecondary education admissions, including any racial or ethnic quota or preference.”
“(e) Annual Certification—The Director shall annually certify to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate that the Foundation—
“(1) has awarded no funds based on the racial or ethnic composition of applicants;
“(2) has not considered applicants’ racial or ethnic composition in awarding funds; and
“(3) has not awarded funds to institutions that discriminate based on race or ethnicity, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(5) Tribal College or University—The term Tribal College or University has the meaning given the term in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)).”
“(10) Federal Pell Grant recipient—The term Federal Pell Grant recipient means an individual receiving a Federal Pell Grant under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a).”
“(3) an institution that serves a substantial number of Federal Pell Grant recipients; and”
“(4) Limitations—In making awards under this subsection, the Director—
“(A) shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of a recipient; and
“(B) shall ensure that funds under this subsection are not used for programs that discriminate based on race or ethnicity in admissions, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(B) a requirement that the institution shall not—
“(i) consider the racial or ethnic composition of a recipient; and
“(ii) use funds under this section for programs that discriminate based on race or ethnicity in admissions, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(6) Limitations—In making awards under this section, the Director—
“(A) shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of a recipient; and
“(B) shall ensure that funds are not used for programs that discriminate based on race or ethnicity in admissions, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(3) institutions that serve a substantial number of Federal Pell Grant recipients;”
“(c) Limitations—In conducting outreach under this section, the Director shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of institutions or other entities.”
“(4) Limitations—In awarding funding and carrying out activities under this subsection, the Director—
“(A) shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of a recipient; and
“(B) shall ensure that funds under this subsection are not used for programs that discriminate based on race or ethnicity in admissions, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(d) Limitations—In conducting such pilot programs, the Director—
“(1) shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of any entity; and
“(2) shall ensure that pilot program participant or recipient entities do not discriminate based on race or ethnicity in admissions, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(iii) an institution that serves a substantial number of Federal Pell Grant recipients;”
“(6) Limitations—In making awards under this section, the Director—
“(A) shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of a recipient; and
“(B) shall ensure that funds under this section are not used for programs that discriminate based on race or ethnicity in admissions, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(c) Limitations—In making awards under this section, the Director—
“(1) shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of an institutional recipient (including a consortium) or the race or ethnicity of an individual recipient; and
“(2) shall ensure that funds awarded under this section to an institution or a consortium are not used for programs that discriminate based on race or ethnicity in admissions, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(c) Expanding participation—The Initiative shall include outreach to primarily undergraduate and historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and institutions that serve a substantial number of Federal Pell Grant recipients about Initiative opportunities, and shall encourage the development of research collaborations between research-intensive universities and primarily undergraduate and historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and institutions that serve a substantial number of Federal Pell Grant recipients, provided that the Initiative shall not make outreach decisions based on the racial or ethnic composition of an institution.”
“(d) Limitation—No policy guidelines developed under this section shall require or authorize Federal research agencies to in any way consider the racial or ethnic composition of any institution, including for outreach, funding, or any other purpose.”
“(d) Limitations—In making awards under this section, the Director—
“(1) shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of a recipient; and
“(2) shall ensure that funds under this section are not used for programs that discriminate based on race or ethnicity in admissions, including through the use of any racial or ethnic preference or quota.”
“(C) an institution that serves a substantial number of Federal Pell Grant recipients; or”
“(g) Limitations—In making awards under this section, the Director—
“(1) shall not consider the racial or ethnic composition of a recipient; and
“(2) shall ensure that funds under this section are not used for programs that discriminate based on race or ethnicity in admissions, including by the use of racial or ethnic preferences.”
“(C) institutions that serve a substantial number of Federal Pell Grant recipients;”
“(d) Special consideration—The Director of the National Science Foundation shall give special consideration and priority to an application from an individual who graduated from or is intending to carry out research at an institution of the type specified in subsection (c)(3), provided that the Director does not—
“(1) in any way consider the race or ethnicity of any applicant or the racial or ethnic composition of the institution from which the individual graduated or intends to carry out research; or
“(2) maintain racial or ethnic quotas or preferences for applicants.”
Sec. 5 Increasing funding for Federal Pell Grants
“(iii) beginning in award year 2028–2029 and for each subsequent award year, an additional amount equal to the quotient of—
“(I) the amount of the appropriation under paragraph (7)(A)(v) for the fiscal year that includes the first day of the award year; divided by
“(II) the number of students expected to be eligible for Federal Pell Grants for such award year, as determined by the Secretary.”
“(v) the amount determined under subparagraph (C) for fiscal year 2028 and each succeeding fiscal year.”
“(C) Amount of additional appropriations
“(i) First-year rule—For fiscal year 2028, the amount determined under this subparagraph shall be the amount of savings to the Federal Government generated by the amendments made by sections 3 and 4 of the PELL Act of 2025 for the first full fiscal year following the date of enactment of such Act—
“(I) as compared to the full fiscal year immediately preceding such Act; and
“(II) as determined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
“(ii) Inflation adjustments—For fiscal year 2029 and each subsequent fiscal year, the amount determined under this subparagraph shall be the amount determined under this subparagraph for the preceding fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase, if any, in the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the most recent full calendar year.
“(iii) Two-year availability—The amount appropriated for a fiscal year, as determined in accordance with this subparagraph, shall remain available until the last day of the fiscal year following the fiscal year for which the determination is made.”