---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 1011m"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "1011m"
heading: "Certification regarding the use of certain Federal funds"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/1011m"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
  - "Part B — Additional General Provisions"
---

# §1011m. Certification regarding the use of certain Federal funds

- (a) **Prohibition—** No Federal funds received under the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1001](/usc/20/1001.md) et seq.) by an [institution of higher education](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a) or other postsecondary educational institution may be used to pay any person for influencing or attempting to influence an [officer](/usc/20/1019.md?p=7) or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an [officer](/usc/20/1019.md?p=7) or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with any Federal action described in [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) **Applicability—** The prohibition in [subsection (a)](#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](/usc/20/1066a.md?p=2).
  - (4) The entering into of any Federal cooperative agreement.
  - (5) The extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any Federal contract, grant, [loan](/usc/20/1066a.md?p=2), or cooperative agreement.
- (c) **Lobbying and earmarks—** No Federal student aid [funding](/usc/20/1066a.md?p=4) under the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1001](/usc/20/1001.md) et seq.) 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](/usc/20/1001.md?p=a) or other postsecondary educational institution receiving Federal [funding](/usc/20/1066a.md?p=4) under the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1001](/usc/20/1001.md) et seq.), as a condition for receiving such [funding](/usc/20/1066a.md?p=4), shall annually certify to the [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) of Education that the requirements of subsections [(a)](#a) through [(c)](#c) have been met.
- (e) **Actions to implement and enforce—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/1003.md?p=17) of Education shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure that the provisions of this section are implemented and enforced.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–315, title I, § 119, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3117.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsecs. (a), (c), and (d), is Pub. L. 89–329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1001 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, and not as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 which comprises this chapter.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1012, Pub. L. 89–329, title I, § 112, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title I, § 101, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1282, related to establishment of off-campus program grants, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 102–325.

Another prior section 1012, Pub. L. 89–329, title I, § 112, as added Pub. L. 96–374, title I, § 101(a), Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1377, provided for State allotments including percentage breakdown and cases of States not conducting comprehensive statewide planning, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 99–498.

A prior section 1013, Pub. L. 89–329, title I, § 113, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title I, § 101, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1284, related to adult and continuing education staff development, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 102–325.

Another prior section 1013, Pub. L. 89–329, title I, § 113, as added Pub. L. 96–374, title I, § 101(a), Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1378; amended Pub. L. 97–300, title I, § 183, Oct. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1357; Pub. L. 98–524, § 4(c)(1), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2488, related to comprehensive statewide planning with respect to education outreach programs, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 99–498.

A prior section 1014, Pub. L. 89–329, title I, § 114, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title I, § 101, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1285, related to administration of programs by Secretary, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 102–325.

Another prior section 1014, Pub. L. 89–329, title I, § 114, as added Pub. L. 96–374, title I, § 101(a), Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1379; amended Pub. L. 97–300, title I, § 183, Oct. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1357; Pub. L. 98–524, § 4(c)(2), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2488, related to information services, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 99–498.