(a) Establishment

The Administrator for Nuclear Security shall carry out a program to provide scholarships and fellowships for the purpose of enabling individuals to qualify for employment in the nonproliferation and national security programs of the Department of Energy.

(b) Eligible individuals

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An individual shall be eligible for a scholarship or fellowship under the program established under this section if the individual—

(1) is a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence;

(2) has been accepted for enrollment or is currently enrolled as a full-time student at an institution of higher education (as defined in section 102(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)));

(3) is pursuing a program of education that leads to an appropriate higher education degree in a qualifying field of study, as determined by the Administrator;

(4) enters into an agreement described in subsection (c); and

(5) meets such other requirements as the Administrator prescribes.

(c) Agreement

An individual seeking a scholarship or fellowship under the program established under this section shall enter into an agreement, in writing, with the Administrator that includes the following:

(1) The agreement of the Administrator to provide such individual with a scholarship or fellowship in the form of educational assistance for a specified number of school years (not to exceed five school years) during which such individual is pursuing a program of education in a qualifying field of study, which educational assistance may include payment of tuition, fees, books, laboratory expenses, and a stipend.

(2) The agreement of such individual—

(A) to accept such educational assistance;

(B) to maintain enrollment and attendance in a program of education described in subsection (b)(2) until such individual completes such program;

(C) while enrolled in such program, to maintain satisfactory academic progress in such program, as determined by the institution of higher education in which such individual is enrolled; and

(D) after completion of such program, to serve as a full-time employee in a nonproliferation or national security position in the Department of Energy or at a laboratory of the Department for a period of not less than 12 months for each school year or part of a school year for which such individual receives a scholarship or fellowship under the program established under this section.

(3) The agreement of such individual with respect to the repayment requirements specified in subsection (d).

(d) Repayment

(1) In general

An individual receiving a scholarship or fellowship under the program established under this section shall agree to pay to the United States the total amount of educational assistance provided to such individual under such program, plus interest at the rate prescribed by paragraph (4), if such individual—

(A) does not complete the program of education agreed to pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(B);

(B) completes such program of education but declines to serve in a position in the Department of Energy or at a laboratory of the Department as agreed to pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(D); or

(C) is voluntarily separated from service or involuntarily separated for cause from the Department of Energy or a laboratory of the Department before the end of the period for which such individual agreed to continue in the service of the Department pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(D).

(2) Failure to repay

If an individual who received a scholarship or fellowship under the program established under this section is required to repay, pursuant to an agreement under paragraph (1), the total amount of educational assistance provided to such individual under such program, plus interest at the rate prescribed by paragraph (4), and fails to repay such amount, a sum equal to such amount (plus such interest) is recoverable by the United States Government from such individual or the estate of such individual by—

(A) in the case of an individual who is an employee of the United States Government, setoff against accrued pay, compensation, amount of retirement credit, or other amount due the employee from the Government; or

(B) such other method as is provided by law for the recovery of amounts owed to the Government.

(3) Waiver of repayment

The Administrator may waive, in whole or in part, repayment by an individual under this subsection if the Administrator determines that seeking recovery under paragraph (2) would be against equity and good conscience or would be contrary to the best interests of the United States.

(4) Rate of interest

For purposes of repayment under this subsection, the total amount of educational assistance provided to an individual under the program established under this section shall bear interest at the applicable rate of interest under section 427A(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1077a(c)).

(e) Preference for cooperative education students

In evaluating individuals for the award of a scholarship or fellowship under the program established under this section, the Administrator may give a preference to an individual who is enrolled in, or accepted for enrollment in, an institution of higher education that has a cooperative education program with the Department of Energy.

(f) Coordination of benefits

A scholarship or fellowship awarded under the program established under this section shall be taken into account in determining the eligibility of an individual receiving such scholarship or fellowship for Federal student financial assistance provided under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).

(g) Report to Congress

Not later than January 1, 2010, the Administrator shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the activities carried out under the program established under this section, including any recommendations for future activities under such program.

(h) Funding

Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by section 3101(a)(2) ¹ for defense nuclear nonproliferation activities, $3,000,000 shall be available to carry out the program established under this section.