Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§1011m Certification Regarding the Use of Certain Federal Funds

Title 20 › CHAPTER 28 — HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › Part B — Additional General Provisions › § 1011m

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Colleges and other postsecondary schools that get federal money under the Higher Education Act must not use that money to pay anyone to influence or try to influence federal officials or Members of Congress about federal contracts, grants, loans, cooperative agreements, or changes to those deals. Federal student-aid funds also cannot be used to hire a registered lobbyist or pay someone to secure an earmark. Each institution must certify every year to the Secretary of Education that it followed these rules. The Secretary must make sure the rules are put into effect and enforced.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §1011m

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Prohibition
No Federal funds received under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) 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 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 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 or other postsecondary educational institution receiving Federal funding under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), as a condition for receiving such funding, shall annually certify to the Secretary of Education that the requirements of subsections (a) through (c) have been met.
(e)Actions to implement and enforce
The Secretary of Education shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure that the provisions of this section are implemented and enforced.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 1011m

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110