[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6134 Introduced in House (IH)]
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114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6134
To establish a National TechCorps program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 22, 2016
Mr. Bera introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the
Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, for
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
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A BILL
To establish a National TechCorps program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``TechCorps Act''.
SEC. 2. OPM DATABASE OF TECHCORPS-ELIGIBLE POSITIONS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall
establish and maintain an electronic database of job vacancies across
the Government relating to information technology. The Director shall
consult with each Federal agency in establishing and periodically
updating the database.
(b) Publication.--The database of vacant positions described under
subsection (a) shall be published and available on the USA Jobs
Internet Web site, and each position in the database shall be described
on such Web site as a ``TechCorps-eligible position''.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF TECHCORPS.
Section 122(a) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 12572(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Techcorps.--The Corporation shall enter into an
interagency agreement (other than a grant agreement) with
another Federal agency under section 121(b) to carry out a
TechCorps program under which--
``(A) individuals apply to service as a TechCorps
member--
``(i) prior to graduating from a program of
study at institution of education leading to
degree or certificate relating to information
technology, but not earlier than the last
academic year of such program of study; or
``(ii) after graduating from such a program
of study;
``(B) individuals described in subparagraph (A)(i)
are recruited not earlier than the last academic year
of their program of study;
``(C) individuals described in subparagraph (A)
desiring to serve as TechCorps members shall commit to
employment with the Federal agency in a job relating to
information technology for not less than a 2-year
period; and
``(D) upon receiving and accepting such employment,
such an individual shall be a TechCorps member, which
membership may not exceed a 4-year period.''.
SEC. 4. LOAN DEFERMENT AND LOAN FORGIVENESS.
(a) Loan Deferment.--Section 455(f)(2) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) during which the borrower is serving as a
TechCorps member under section 122(a)(6) of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12572(a)(6)).''.
(b) Loan Forgiveness.--Part D of title IV of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 460A. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR TECHCORPS MEMBERS.
``(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall carry out a program
of canceling the obligation to repay a qualified loan amount in
accordance with subsection (b) for loans made under this part to any
borrower--
``(1) who has served as a TechCorps member under section
122(a)(6) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12572(a)(6)) for not less than a 2-year period; and
``(2) is not in default on any loans for which the borrower
seeks forgiveness.
``(b) Qualified Loan Amount.--
``(1) 2 years of service.--The Secretary shall cancel an
amount equal to 50 percent of the loan obligation on any loans
made under this part to a borrower described in subsection (a)
that are outstanding after the borrower's completion of 2 years
of service as TechCorps member.
``(2) Additional years of service.--With respect to a
borrower who receives the loan cancellation under paragraph
(1), and serves an additional year or two additional years as
TechCorps member upon the completion of such 2-year service,
the Secretary shall cancel an amount equal to 25 percent of the
loan obligation on any loans made under this part to the
borrower that are outstanding after the borrower's completion
of each such additional year of service.
``(3) Maximum amount.--The aggregate loan obligation of a
borrower that may be cancelled under this section may not
exceed the amount equal to the maximum aggregate amount of
Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized
Stafford Loans that may be awarded to a dependent student under
this part.
``(c) Tax Treatment.--The amount of a loan, and interest on a loan,
which is canceled under this section shall not be considered income for
purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
``(d) Prevention of Double Benefits.--No borrower may, for the same
voluntary service, receive a benefit under both this section and--
``(1) section 428K;
``(2) section 455(m); or
``(3) subtitle D of title I of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.).''.
SEC. 5. GAO STUDY ON IT STAFFING NEEDS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
(1) study the projected staffing needs for jobs related to
information technology in the Federal Government during the 10-
year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act,
including the number of such jobs that will become available or
will be created during such period; and
(2) submit to Congress the results of such study.
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