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20 USC § 1011m - Certification regarding the use of certain Federal funds

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t20/s1011m"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "20 USC § 1011m - Certification regarding the use of certain Federal funds"
title_number: 20
title_name: "EDUCATION"
section_number: "1011m"
section_name: "Certification regarding the use of certain Federal funds"
chapter_number: 28
chapter_name: "HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
part_number: "B"
part_name: "Additional General Provisions"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 110–315, title I, § 119, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3117.)"
---

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

**(a)** **Prohibition** 20 U.S.C. 1001

No Federal funds received under the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 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** 20 U.S.C. 1001

No Federal student aid funding under the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( et seq.) may be used to hire a registered lobbyist or pay any person or entity for securing an earmark.

**(d)** **Certification** 20 U.S.C. 1001

Each institution of higher education or other postsecondary educational institution receiving Federal funding under the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 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.

---

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

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsecs. (a), (c), and (d), is , , , which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under  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, , as added , , , related to establishment of off-campus program grants, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by .

Another prior section 1012, , as added , , , 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 .

A prior section 1013, , as added , , , related to adult and continuing education staff development, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by .

Another prior section 1013, , as added , , ; amended , , ; , , , related to comprehensive statewide planning with respect to education outreach programs, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by .

A prior section 1014, , as added , , , related to administration of programs by Secretary, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by .

Another prior section 1014, , as added , , ; amended , , ; , , , related to information services, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by .