; and (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following: (e) Supplemental appropriations expanding associate degree nursing programs (1) Authorization The Secretary shall award grants to institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965) offering an accredited registered nursing program at the associate degree level for the purpose of expanding the number of students enrolled in each such program. (2) Use of funds A recipient of a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to expand the number of students enrolled in the recipient's accredited registered nursing program, which may include increasing nurse faculty and nurse faculty salaries, expanding the number of qualified preceptors at clinical rotations sites, providing direct support for students, supporting partnerships with health facilities for clinical training, purchasing and training faculty to use distance learning technologies and simulation equipment, alteration, renovation, construction, equipment, and other capital improvement costs, and other projects determined appropriate by the Secretary. (3) Determination of number of students and application Each institution of higher education that offers a program described in paragraph (1) that desires to receive a grant under this subsection shall— (A) provide documentation from the last 4 academic years, or number of academic years the program has been accredited if less than 4, demonstrating the average percentage of individuals who graduated from the nursing degree program with an associate degree within 150 percent of the expected completion time designated for the program