H.R. 7894 — Truman Scholarship Clean House Act

This section establishes a new definition of “affiliated with,” when used with respect to an individual’s relationship to a certain political party, under the Harry S Truman Memorial Scholarship Act as an individual who— (1) is a registered member of that political party; (2) is a current or former holder of elected public office from that political party; (3) is a current or former candidate for public office from that political party; (4) is a current or former political appointee associated with that political party; (5) is a current staffer of (i) a holder of elected public office from that political party, (ii) a candidate of that political party, or (iii) a fundraising organization for such members or candidates; or (6) is a current or former judicial appointee nominated or otherwise selected by a holder of elected public office from that political party— and redesignates the existing definitions as paragraphs (2) through (7). (As background, the act authorizes scholarships for graduate study to students intending to pursue careers in public service.)

This section revises the Board of Trustees of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation (which awards merit-based scholarships to undergraduate students committed to public service careers), which previously consisted of two Senators, two House Members (one from each party), eight presidential appointees with specified occupational backgrounds (not more than four from the same party), and the Secretary of Education ex officio. The Board now consists of one member each appointed by the Speaker of the House, House minority leader, Senate majority leader, and Senate minority leader; eight presidential appointees (not more than four affiliated with the same political party); and the Secretary of Education ex officio (ineligible to serve as chairperson). The section revises Board member terms to six years generally (previously six years with different initial staggering), except that of the first eight presidential appointees after enactment, three serve two years, three serve four years, and two serve six years; limits members (excluding the Secretary or designee) to two six-year terms (with those serving initial shorter terms eligible for up to two additional six-year terms); and requires vacancy appointees to serve the predecessor's remainder. The section establishes a quorum of seven members and dissolves the existing Board 90 days after enactment, requiring new appointments as soon as practicable thereafter.

This section revises the procedures for selecting Truman Scholars under the Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Act by— (1) amending subsection (b) to require that selection procedures assure at least one scholar per year from each state with a resident applicant who meets both the eligibility requirements in new subsection (c) and the criteria in new subsection (d)(4); and (2) adding subsections (c) and (d), which— (A) establish eligibility for nomination as a full-time undergraduate pursuing a bachelor's degree the following year (or a full-time senior from Puerto Rico or The Islands, as defined in 45 C.F.R. § 1801.2(b)), enrolled in a public-service-oriented course of study, with demonstrated academic excellence, and who is a U.S. citizen/national or permanent resident of the Northern Mariana Islands; (B) require the Truman Scholarship Foundation to establish Regional Review Panels (with at least five members appointed annually by two-thirds Board vote, no more than half from the same political party) to select scholars from assigned states based on community service and government involvement, leadership, academic performance (including writing and analytical skills), and suitability of proposed graduate program for public service; (C) prohibit selection of applicants who led a suspended or expelled student organization, were suspended or expelled for code-of-conduct violations, or were convicted of a felony; and (D) bar panels from disfavoring applicants based on intended graduate degree type (e.g., MBA or MD). (The program supports graduate study for careers in public service, leadership, and civic engagement.)

This section revises the termination provisions for scholarships under the Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Act by cross-referencing new subsection (c) in subsection (a) and adding subsections (c) through (e). Subsection (c)(1) terminates payments to scholarship recipients who, after receiving the scholarship, (A) fail to submit required reports or requests or provide false, misleading, or materially incomplete information on them; (B) fail to begin using the scholarship within four years of receiving a bachelor's degree (unless granted a written extension by the Foundation); (C) serve as a leader, officer, director, or organizer of a student organization suspended or expelled by the recipient's institution of higher education due to an incident or conduct; (D) are suspended or expelled by their institution due to a code of conduct violation or other disciplinary action; or (E) are convicted of a felony. (The program awards merit-based scholarships to college juniors of high academic achievement for graduate study leading to public service careers.) Subsection (c)(2) requires the Truman Scholarship Foundation to provide reasonable notice and an opportunity for a hearing before terminating payments. Subsection (d) requires repayment of all scholarship payments plus 6% annual interest by students whose payments are terminated under subsection (a) or (c)(1) or who fail to work in public service for at least three of the first seven years following completion of the graduate degree funded by the scholarship. Subsection (e) requires the Foundation to notify all recipients of these conditions prior to the first payment.

This section amends provisions governing the Executive Secretary of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation (which awards scholarships to college students pursuing graduate degrees in public service) by (1) requiring appointment by an affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the Board members (previously, by the Board) and (2) establishing a four-year term, renewable for up to two additional four-year terms. This section further directs the Board to appoint an Executive Secretary within 90 days after achieving a quorum of members and limits the incumbent Executive Secretary's continued service to the earlier of such appointment or expiration of that 90-day period.

This section establishes public transparency requirements for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation (i.e., the entity that awards scholarships to college juniors committed to public service careers). The Foundation must preserve specified materials in unaltered format on a publicly accessible website—including (1) press releases, (2) program announcements, and (3) biographies of scholarship recipients—without deleting, hiding, or password-protecting them; clearly identify any post-publication edits while retaining original versions; with requirements applying to materials published before, on, or after enactment.

This section applies the Act and its amendments only to scholarships awarded under the Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Act on or after the date of enactment. It further preserves the validity and terms of previously awarded scholarships, requiring the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation to continue funding and administering them.