[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9145 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9145
To ensure that significantly more students graduate college with the
international knowledge and experience essential for success in today's
global economy through the establishment of the Senator Paul Simon
Study Abroad Program in the Department of State.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 7, 2022
Mrs. Bustos (for herself, Mr. Katko, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Ruppersberger,
Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, and Mr. Pocan)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To ensure that significantly more students graduate college with the
international knowledge and experience essential for success in today's
global economy through the establishment of the Senator Paul Simon
Study Abroad Program in the Department of State.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad
Program Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) To prepare students for success in the modern global
economy, opportunities for study abroad should be included as
part of a well-rounded education.
(2) Study abroad programs provide students with
unparalleled access to international knowledge, an unmatched
opportunity to learn foreign languages, and a unique
environment for developing cultural understanding, all of which
are knowledge and skills needed in today's global economy.
(3) Because only 10 percent of United States college
students study abroad before they graduate, meaning that 90
percent of graduates are entering the workforce without the
global skills, knowledge, and experiences afforded by study
abroad programs that will position them for success in the
global economy. Minority students, first generation college
students, community college students, and students with
disabilities are also significantly underrepresented in study
abroad participation.
(4) Congress authorized the establishment of the Commission
on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program pursuant
to section 104 of the Miscellaneous Appropriations and Offsets
Act, 2004 (division H of Public Law 108-199). Pursuant to its
mandate, the Lincoln Commission submitted to Congress and the
President a report of its recommendations for greatly expanding
the opportunity for students at institutions of higher
education in the United States to study abroad, with special
emphasis on studying in developing nations.
(5) According to the Lincoln Commission, ``[e]xperience
shows that leadership from administrators and faculty will
drive the number of study abroad participants higher and
improve the quality of programs. Such leadership is the only
way that study abroad will become an integral part of the
undergraduate experience.''. A competitive grant program is
necessary to encourage and support such leadership.
(6) Student health, safety, and security while studying
abroad is and must continue to be a priority for institutions
of higher education and study abroad programs.
(7) The COVID-19 pandemic has limited or prevented students
from participating in study abroad due to travel restrictions
and reduced budgets. In a post-pandemic world, increasing
access to study abroad for students at institutions of higher
education across the United States will be critical to ensuring
that those students gain the skills, knowledge, and experiences
necessary to maintain the leadership of the United States in
tackling global challenges, like pandemics, and succeeding in a
global economy.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to ensure that significantly more students have access
to quality study abroad opportunities;
(2) to ensure that the diversity of students studying
abroad reflects the diversity of students and institutions of
higher education in the United States;
(3) to encourage greater diversity in study abroad
destinations by increasing the portion of study abroad that
takes place in nontraditional study abroad destinations,
especially in developing countries; and
(4) to encourage a greater commitment by institutions of
higher education to expand study abroad opportunities.
SEC. 4. SENATOR PAUL SIMON STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM.
(a) Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program.--
(1) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations and under the authorities of the Mutual
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended
(Public Law 87-256; 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.), the Secretary of
State shall rename the Increase and Diversify Education Abroad
for U.S. Student Program (commonly known as ``IDEAS'') as the
``Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program'' (in this section
referred to as the ``Program'') and enhance the Program as
detailed below.
(2) Objectives.--The objectives of the Program established
under paragraph (1) are, that not later than 10 years after the
date of enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad
Program Act of 2022--
(A) not less than 1,000,000 undergraduate students
from the United States will study abroad annually;
(B) the demographics of study abroad participation
will reflect the demographics of the United States
undergraduate population by increasing the
participation of underrepresented groups; and
(C) an increasing portion of study abroad will take
place in nontraditional study abroad destinations, with
a substantial portion of such increases in developing
countries.
(3) Competitive grants to institutions of higher
education.--In order to accomplish the objectives set forth in
paragraph (2), the Secretary of State shall award grants on a
competitive basis to institutions of higher education,
individually or in as part of a consortium, based on
applications by the institutions that--
(A) set forth detailed plans for using grant funds
to further such objectives;
(B) include an institutional commitment to
expanding access to study abroad;
(C) include plans for evaluating progress made in
increasing access to study abroad;
(D) describe how increases in study abroad
participation achieved through the grant will be
sustained in subsequent years; and
(E) demonstrate that the programs have established
health, safety, and security guidelines and procedures,
informed by Department of State travel advisories and
other appropriate Federal agencies and resources,
including the Overseas Security Advisory Council and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(4) Implementation of lincoln commission recommendations.--
In administering the Program, the Secretary of State shall take
fully into account the recommendations of the Lincoln
Commission including--
(A) institutions of higher education applying for
grants described in paragraph (3) may use Program funds
to support direct student costs;
(B) diversity shall be a defining characteristic of
the Program; and
(C) quality control shall be a defining
characteristic of the Program.
(5) Consultation.--In carrying out this paragraph, the
Secretary of State shall consult with representatives of
diverse institutions of higher education, educational policy
organizations, and others with appropriate expertise.
(b) Annual Report.--Not later than December 31 of each year, the
Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives that describes the implementation of the
Program during the most recently concluded fiscal year.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the Program such sums as may be necessary for
fiscal year 2023 and each subsequent fiscal year.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as
amended (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(2) Consortia.--The term ``consortia'' means a group that
shall include at least one institution of higher education and
may include nongovernmental organizations that provide and
promote study abroad opportunities for students.
(3) Nontraditional study abroad destination.--The term
``nontraditional study abroad destination'' means a location
that is determined by the Secretary of State to be a less
common destination for students who study abroad.
(4) Student.--The term ``student'' means a national of the
United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence in the United States, as such persons are described
in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
(8 U.S.C. 1101), who is enrolled at an institution of higher
education located within the United States; or ``eligible
noncitizens'' for Federal Student Aid as defined by the
Department of Education.
(5) Study abroad.--The term ``study abroad'' means an
educational program of study, work, service learning, research,
internship, or combination thereof that is conducted outside
the United States and that carries academic credit.
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