108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2299
To strengthen the national security by encouraging and assisting
in the expansion and improvement of educational programs to meet critical
needs at the elementary, secondary, and higher education levels.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 7, 2004
Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. AKAKA) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions
A BILL
To strengthen the national security by encouraging and assisting
in the expansion and improvement of educational programs to meet critical
needs at the elementary, secondary, and higher education levels.
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 `Homeland Security Education Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS- Congress makes the following findings:
(1) American elementary and secondary schools need more qualified teachers
in mathematics and science.
(2) American colleges and universities must place new emphasis on improving
the teaching in areas of disciplines that are critical to the interests
of the United States.
(3) American elementary and secondary schools need the equipment and resources
to improve education in science and mathematics.
(4) Foreign language proficiency is crucial to the economic competitiveness
and national security of the United States. Significant improvement in the
quantity and quality of foreign language instruction offered in United States
elementary and secondary schools is necessary.
(5) All Americans need a global perspective. To understand the world around
us, we must acquaint ourselves with the languages, cultures, and history
of other nations.
(b) PURPOSE- It is the purpose of this Act to ensure national security through
increasing the quantity, diversity, and quality of the teaching and learning
of subjects in the fields of science, mathematics, and foreign language.
TITLE I--LOANS TO STUDENTS IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
SEC. 101. SUBSIDIZED INTEREST LOANS TO STUDENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Education shall establish and implement a
program under the guaranteed and direct student loan program provisions of
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) to cancel
the obligation of loan borrowers who are United States citizens, United States
nationals, permanent legal residents, or citizens of the Freely Associated
States (as defined in section 103(16)(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965),
to pay interest on a loan provided for under such title in order to serve
as an incentive for students to obtain degrees in science, engineering, mathematics,
or a foreign language.
(b) GUARANTEED STUDENT LOANS- Part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 428K
the following:
`SEC. 428L. STUDENT LOAN INTEREST FORGIVENESS.
`(a) PURPOSE- It is the purpose of this section to forgive interest payments
on student loans under this part for a selected borrower in repayment status
who has obtained an undergraduate degree in science, mathematics, engineering,
or a foreign language in order to provide additional incentives for undergraduate
students to pursue and obtain degrees in these subjects.
`(1) IN GENERAL- From the sums appropriated pursuant to subsection (d),
the Secretary shall carry out a program, through the holder of the loan,
assuming the obligation to repay the interest on a loan amount for a loan
made under this part in accordance with subsection (c), for a borrower who--
`(A) is in need of the amount of the loan to pursue a course of study
at an accredited institution of higher education;
`(B) is in good academic standing and is capable, in the opinion of the
institution of higher education involved, of maintaining good standing
in such course of study;
`(C) will obtain a bachelor's degree in science, mathematics, engineering,
or a foreign language;
`(D) has completed at least half of the course requirements necessary
to receive such degree; and
`(E) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower seeks forgiveness
of interest payments.
`(2) SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS- The Secretary shall, by regulation, establish
a formula that ensures fairness and equality for applicants in the selection
of borrowers for loan interest repayment under this section, based on the
amount available pursuant to subsection (d).
`(c) TERMS- After a borrower has obtained a bachelor's degree in science,
mathematics, engineering, or a foreign language, the Federal Government shall
assume any interest payments due for as long as the borrower is in loan repayment
status, except that in failing to meet any of the obligations set forth in
this section, the borrower will reimburse the Federal Government for the amount
of the assistance provided including interest, at a rate and schedule to be
determined by the Secretary.
`(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and such sums
as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.
`(e) DEFINITIONS- In this section:
`(1) FOREIGN LANGUAGE- The term `foreign language' includes the languages
of Arabic, Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, Pashto, Persian-Farsi, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian-Croatian,
and any language identified by the National Security Education Program as
a critical foreign language need.
`(2) SCIENCE- The term `science' means any of the natural and physical sciences
including, but not limited to, chemistry, biology, physics, and computer
science. Such term shall not include any of the social sciences.'.
(c) DIRECT STUDENT LOANS- Part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`SEC. 460A. STUDENT LOAN INTEREST FORGIVENESS.
`(a) PURPOSE- It is the purpose of this section to forgive interest payments
on student loans under this part for a student in repayment status who has
obtained an undergraduate degree in science, mathematics, engineering, or
a foreign language in order to provide additional incentives for undergraduate
students to pursue degrees in these subjects.
`(1) IN GENERAL- From the sums appropriated pursuant to subsection (d),
the Secretary shall cancel the obligation to pay interest on a loan amount,
in accordance with subsection (c) for a loan under this part, for a borrower
who--
`(A) is in need of the amount of the loan to pursue a course of study
at an accredited institution of higher education;
`(B) is in good standing and is capable, in the opinion of the institution
of higher education involved, of maintaining good standing in such course
of study;
`(C) will obtain a bachelor's degree in either science, mathematics, engineering,
or a foreign language;
`(D) has completed at least half of the course requirements toward such
degree; and
`(E) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower seeks forgiveness
of interest payments.
`(2) SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS- The Secretary shall by regulation, establish
a formula that ensures fairness and equality for applicants in the selection
of borrowers for loan interest repayment under this section, based on the
amount available pursuant to subsection (d).
`(c) TERMS- After a borrower has obtained a bachelor's degree in science,
mathematics, engineering, or a foreign language, the Federal Government shall
assume any interest payments due for as long as the borrower is in loan repayment
status, except that in failing to meet any of the obligations set forth in
this section, the borrower will reimburse the Federal Government for the amount
of the assistance provided including interest, at a rate and schedule to be
determined by the Secretary.
`(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and such sums
as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.
`(e) DEFINITIONS- In this section:
`(1) FOREIGN LANGUAGE- The term `foreign language' includes the languages
of Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Pashto, Persian-Farsi, Portuguese,
Russian, Serbian-Croatian, and any language identified by the National Security
Education Program as a critical foreign language need.
`(2) SCIENCE- The term `science' means any of the natural and physical sciences
including, but not limited to, chemistry, biology, physics, and computer
science. Such term shall not include any of the social sciences.'.
SEC. 102. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
of Education shall propose regulations to carry out this title and submit
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on how the Secretary of
Education plans to implement the programs under the amendments made by section
101 and advertise such programs to institutions of higher education and potential
applicants. Not later than 6 months after the date on which the comment period
for the regulations proposed under the preceding sentence ends, the Secretary
of Education shall promulgate final regulations to carry out this title.
TITLE II--STRENGTHENING SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS INSTRUCTION AT ELEMENTARY
AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
SEC. 201. FEDERAL GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7201
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`PART E--STRENGTHENING SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS INSTRUCTION
`SEC. 5701. FEDERAL GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
`(1) GRANT PROGRAM- The Secretary shall establish a demonstration program
under which the Secretary shall award grants to eligible local educational
agencies to enable such agencies to develop programs that build or expand
mathematics and science curriculum, upgrade existing laboratory facilities,
and purchase equipment necessary to establish such programs.
`(2) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS- The program described in paragraph (1) shall
be designed to provide students with a rich standards-based course of study
in mathematics and science.
`(b) ELIGIBLE LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY- A local educational agency shall be
eligible to receive a grant under this section if the agency--
`(1) provides assurances that it has executed conditional agreements with
representatives of the private sector to provide services and funds described
in subsection (c); and
`(2) agrees to enter into an agreement with the Secretary to comply with
the requirements of this section.
`(c) PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION- The conditional agreements referred to
in subsection (b)(1) shall describe participation by the private sector in
programs carried out under this section, including--
`(1) the donation of technology tools;
`(2) the establishment of internship and mentoring opportunities for students
who participate in a mathematics or science program, paying particular attention
to those students who are members of traditionally under-represented groups
in these fields; or
`(3) the donation of scholarship funds for students to pursue or continue
a study of mathematics or science at accredited institutions of higher education.
`(1) IN GENERAL- To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an
eligible local educational agency (as described in subsection (b)) shall
submit an application to the Secretary in accordance with guidelines established
by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (2).
`(A) REQUIREMENTS- The guidelines referred to in paragraph (1) shall require,
at a minimum, that the application include--
`(i) a description of proposed activities consistent with the uses of
funds and program requirements under subsection (a);
`(ii) a description of programs involving innovative experience learning
such as laboratory experience;
`(iii) a description of any applicable higher education scholarship
program, including criteria for selection, duration of scholarships,
number of scholarships to be awarded each year, and funding levels for
scholarships; and
`(iv) evidence of private sector participation and support in cash or
in kind as specified under subsection (c).
`(B) GUIDELINE PUBLICATION- Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue and publish proposed
guidelines under subparagraph (A). Not later than 6 months after the date
on which the period for comment concerning the proposed guidelines ends,
the Secretary shall issue final guidelines under such subparagraph.
`(3) SELECTION- The Secretary shall select a local educational agency to
receive a grant under this section on the basis of merit, as determined
after the Secretary has conducted a comprehensive review, and in accordance
with subsection (e).
`(e) PRIORITY- The Secretary shall give special priority in awarding grants
under this section to eligible high need local educational agencies (as such
term is defined in section 201(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965).
`(f) CONDITIONAL AGREEMENT- In this section, the term `conditional agreement'
means an arrangement between representatives of the private sector and local
educational agencies to provide certain services and funds, such as the donation
of computer hardware and software, the donation of science laboratory equipment
suitable for students in kindergarten through grade 12, the establishment
of internship and mentoring opportunities for students who participate in
mathematics, science, and information technology programs, and the donation
of scholarship funds for use at institutions of higher education by eligible
students who have participated in the mathematics, science, and information
technology programs.
`(g) APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED- There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section, $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and such sums as
may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.
`SEC. 5702. SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION STUDY.
`(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, in cooperation with the Director of the National
Science Foundation, shall conduct a study of how mathematics and science efforts
at the National Science Foundation and the Department of Education relating
to students in kindergarten through grade 12 are coordinated, and if such
coordination does not exist, how such entities plan to coordinate such efforts.
`(b) REPORT- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section,
the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress
a report concerning the findings made with respect to the study conducted
under subsection (a).
`SEC. 5703. DEFINITION.
`In this part, the term `science' means any of the natural and physical sciences
including chemistry, biology, physics, and computer science. Such term does
not include any of the social sciences.'.
SEC. 202. NATIONAL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Education, jointly with the Director of the
National Science Foundation, shall conduct an assessment of the long-term
mathematics and science needs of the national security workforce and of the
larger Federal workforce of which the national security workforce is a part.
(b) REPORT- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section,
the Secretary of Education shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees
of Congress a report concerning the findings made with respect to the assessment
conducted under subsection (a).
TITLE III--PROMOTING FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION
SEC. 301. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Foreign language skills and area expertise are integral to, or directly
support, every foreign intelligence discipline and are essential factors
in national security readiness, information superiority, and coalition peacekeeping
or warfighting missions.
(2) Federal intelligence and defense agencies have been reporting shortfalls
in language capability.
(3) Communicating in languages other than English and understanding and
accepting cultural and societal differences are vital to the success of
peacetime and wartime military operations.
(4) The optimum time to begin learning a second language is in elementary
school, when children have the ability to learn and excel in several foreign
language acquisition skills, including pronunciation.
(5) Foreign language study can increase children's capacity for critical
and creative thinking skills, and children who study a second language show
greater cognitive development in areas such as mental flexibility, creativity,
tolerance, and higher order thinking skills.
(6) Children who have studied a foreign language in elementary school achieve
expected gains and score higher on standardized tests in reading, language
arts, and mathematics than children who have not studied a foreign language.
(7) Proficiency levels required to perform national security functions have
been raised, and what was once considered proficiency is no longer the case.
The ability to comprehend and articulate technical and complex information
has become critical.
(8) Languages taught in universities are often not the languages that address
national security needs. The top languages the United States Defense Language
Institute requires are Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Pashto, Persian-Farsi,
Portuguese, Russian, and Serbian-Croatian. Existing foreign language proficiency
in nontargeted languages also provides a foundation for subsequent foreign
languages, even if unrelated.
(9) Immersion through work or schooling abroad is very beneficial for developing
needed language proficiencies.
(10) Federal agencies have identified the need for employees proficient
in foreign languages who have diverse skills including cryptography, translation
(particularly with technical documents), debriefing, and interrogation.
SEC. 302. ENCOURAGING EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES.
Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`PART E--ENCOURAGING EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES
`SEC. 2501. ENCOURAGING EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES.
`(a) DEFINITIONS- In this section:
`(1) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP- The term `eligible partnership' means a partnership
that--
`(i) a foreign language department of an institution of higher education;
and
`(ii) a local educational agency; and
`(i) another foreign language or teacher training department of an institution
of higher education;
`(ii) another local educational agency, or an elementary or secondary
school;
`(iv) a nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness, including
a museum;
`(v) heritage or community centers for language study;
`(vi) language resource centers authorized under part A of title VI
of the Higher Education Act of 1965; or
`(vii) the State foreign language coordinator or State educational agency.
`(2) HIGH NEED LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY- The term `high need local educational
agency' has the meaning given the term in section 201(b) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965.
`(3) LESS-COMMONLY TAUGHT FOREIGN LANGUAGES- The term `less-commonly taught
foreign languages' includes the languages of Arabic, Chinese, Japanese,
Korean, Pashto, Persian-Farsi, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian-Croatian, and
any other language identified by the National Security Education Program
as a critical foreign language need.
`(4) SUMMER WORKSHOP OR INSTITUTE- The term `summer workshop or institute'
means a workshop or institute, conducted during the summer, that--
`(A) is conducted for a period of not less than 2 weeks;
`(B) provides for a program that provides direct interaction between students
and faculty; and
`(C) provides for followup training during the academic year that--
`(i) except as provided in clause (ii) or (iii), shall be conducted
in the classroom for a period of not less than 3 days, which may or
may not be consecutive;
`(ii) if the program described in subparagraph (B) is for a period of
not more than 2 weeks, shall be conducted for a period of more than
3 days; or
`(iii) if the program is for teachers in rural school districts, may
be conducted through distance education.
`(b) PURPOSE- It is the purpose of this section to improve the performance
of students in the study of foreign languages by encouraging States, institutions
of higher education, elementary schools, and secondary schools to participate
in programs that--
`(1) upgrade the status and stature of foreign language teaching by encouraging
institutions of higher education to assume greater responsibility for improving
foreign language teacher education through the establishment of a comprehensive,
integrated system of recruiting and advising such teachers;
`(2) focus on education of foreign language teachers as a career-long process
that should continuously stimulate teachers' intellectual growth and upgrade
teachers' knowledge and skills;
`(3) bring foreign language teachers in elementary schools and secondary
schools together with linguists or higher education foreign language professionals
to increase the subject matter knowledge and improve the teaching skills
of teachers through the use of more sophisticated resources that institutions
of higher education are better able to provide than the schools; and
`(4) develop more rigorous foreign language curricula that are aligned with--
`(A) professional accepted standards for elementary and secondary education
instruction; and
`(B) the standards expected for post-secondary study in foreign language.
`(c) GRANTS TO PARTNERSHIPS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a competitive
basis, to eligible partnerships to enable the eligible partnerships to pay
the Federal share of the costs of carrying out the authorized activities
described in this section.
`(2) DURATION- The Secretary shall award grants under this section for a
period of 5 years.
`(3) FEDERAL SHARE- The Federal share of the costs of the activities assisted
under this section shall be--
`(A) 75 percent of the costs for the first year that an eligible partnership
receives a grant payment under this section;
`(B) 65 percent of such costs for the second such year; and
`(C) 50 percent of such costs for each of the third, fourth, and fifth
such years.
`(4) NON-FEDERAL SHARE- The non-Federal share of the costs of carrying out
the authorized activities described in this section may be provided in cash
or in kind, fairly evaluated.
`(5) PRIORITY- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall
give priority to eligible partnerships--
`(A) that include high need local educational agencies; or
`(B) that emphasize the teaching of the less-commonly taught foreign languages.
`(1) IN GENERAL- Each eligible partnership desiring a grant under this section
shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner,
and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.
`(2) CONTENTS- An application under paragraph (1) shall include--
`(A) an assessment of the teacher quality and professional development
needs of all the schools and agencies participating in the eligible partnership
with respect to the teaching and learning of foreign languages;
`(B) a description of how the activities to be carried out by the eligible
partnership will be based on a review of relevant research, and an explanation
of why the activities are expected to improve student performance and
to strengthen the quality of foreign language instruction; and
`(i) how the eligible partnership will carry out the authorized activities
described in subsection (e); and
`(ii) the eligible partnership's evaluation and accountability plan
as described in subsection (f).
`(e) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES- Eligible activities to be conducted by an eligible
partnership shall be related to elementary schools or secondary schools and
shall include--
`(1) creating opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development
that improves the subject matter knowledge of foreign language teachers;
`(2) recruiting university students with foreign language majors for teaching;
`(3) promoting strong teaching skills for foreign language teachers and
teacher educators;
`(4) establishing foreign language summer workshops or institutes (including
followup training) for teachers;
`(5) establishing distance learning programs for foreign language teachers;
`(6) designing programs to prepare a teacher at a school to provide professional
development to other teachers at the school and to assist novice teachers
at such school, including (if applicable) a mechanism to integrate experiences
from a summer workshop or institute; and
`(7) developing instruction materials.
`(f) EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN- Each eligible partnership receiving
a grant under this section shall develop an evaluation and accountability
plan
for activities assisted under this section that includes strong performance
objectives. The plan shall include objectives and measures for--
`(1) increased participation by students in advanced courses in foreign
language;
`(2) increased percentages of secondary school classes in foreign language
taught by teachers with academic majors in foreign language; and
`(3) increased numbers of foreign language teachers who participate in content-based
professional development activities.
`(g) REPORT- Each eligible partnership receiving a grant under this section
shall annually report to the Secretary regarding the eligible partnership's
progress in meeting the performance objectives described in subsection (f).
`(h) TERMINATION- If the Secretary determines that an eligible partnership
is not making substantial progress in meeting the performance objectives described
in subsection (f) by the end of the third year of a grant under this section,
the grant payments shall not be made for the fourth and fifth year of the
grant.
`(i) APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED- There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and such sums as
may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal year.'.
SEC. 303. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVANCED FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION GRANT
PROGRAM.
(a) PURPOSE- It is the purpose of this section to support programs in colleges
and universities that encourage students--
(1) to develop an understanding of science and technology;
(2) to develop foreign language proficiency; and
(3) to foster future international scientific collaboration.
(b) DEVELOPMENT- The Secretary of Education shall develop a program for the
awarding of grants to institutions of higher education that develop innovative
programs for the teaching of foreign languages.
(c) REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS- The Secretary of Education shall promulgate
regulations for the awarding of grants under subsection (b). Such regulations
shall require institutions of higher education to use grant funds for, among
other things--
(1) the development of an on-campus cultural awareness program by which
students attend classes taught in the foreign language and study the science
and technology developments and practices in a non-English speaking country;
(2) immersion programs where students take science or technology related
coursework in a non-English speaking country; and
(3) other programs, such as summer workshops, that emphasize the intense
study of a foreign language and science or technology.
(d) GRANT DISTRIBUTION- In distributing grants to institutions of higher education
under this section, the Secretary of Education shall give priority to--
(1) institutions that have programs focusing on curriculum that combines
the study of foreign languages and the study of science and technology and
produces graduates who have both skills; and
(2) institutions teaching the less-commonly taught languages of Arabic,
Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Pashto, Persian-Farsi, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian-Croatian,
and any language identified by the National Security Education Program as
a critical foreign language need.
(e) DEFINITIONS- In this section:
(1) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION- In this section, the term `institution
of higher education' has the meaning given to such term in section 101 of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(2) SCIENCE- The term `science' means any of the natural and physical sciences
including chemistry, biology, physics, and computer science. Such term does
not include any of the social sciences.
(f) APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED- There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and such sums as
may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal year.
SEC. 304. NATIONAL FLAGSHIP LANGUAGE INITIATIVE.
The David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 (50 U.S.C. 1901
et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 802(i)(1), by inserting `, including those establishing,
operating, or improving foreign language immersion programs and activities
at sites overseas,' after `activities'; and
(2) in section 811, by striking `$10,000,000' and inserting `$20,000,000'.
SEC. 305. STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF A NATIONAL LANGUAGE FOUNDATION.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Education shall enter into an agreement with
the National Research Council to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing
a National Language Foundation whose mission would include--
(1) research and development of teaching and learning curriculum and software;
(2) the establishment or advancement of standards to be used in the performance
of language instruction and testing;
(3) service as a national resource center and provider for both public and
private sectors in language education and training;
(4) the development of, and advocacy for, national policy and programs to
improve the skills and certify the qualification of language teachers;
(5) the development of, and advocacy for, national policy and programs related
to the development of foreign language capabilities and expansion of country
and regional studies;
(6) the development of, and advocacy for, national professional criteria
for qualification, employment, and adequate compensation for language services;
and
(7) the development of a better understanding of the changing level of language
proficiency and language needs of the Federal Government.
(b) REPORT- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Education shall transmit to the Committee on Governmental
Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
of the Senate, the Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives,
and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives
a report setting forth the findings, conclusions, and public policy recommendations
of the National Research Council relating to the creation of a National Language
Foundation.
END
