109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 115
To strengthen the national security through the expansion and improvement
of foreign language study, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 4, 2005
Mr. HOLT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Select Committee on
Intelligence (Permanent Select) and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To strengthen the national security through the expansion and improvement
of foreign language study, and for other purposes.
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 `National Security Language Act'.
SEC. 2. ENCOURAGING EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION.
Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating part D as part E;
(2) by redesignating section 631 (20 U.S.C. 1132) as section 641; and
(3) by inserting after section 628 the following new part:
`PART D--EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION
`SEC. 631. EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION.
`(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; 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 2102 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6602).
`(3) LESS-COMMONLY TAUGHT FOREIGN LANGUAGES- The term `less-commonly taught
foreign languages' includes the languages of Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Pashto,
Persian-Farsi, Serbian-Croatian, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, and any
other language identified by the Secretary of Education, in consultation
with the Defense Language Institute, the Foreign Service Institute, and
the National Security Education Program, as a foreign language critical
to the national security of the United States.
`(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 follow-up 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- The purpose of this section is 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) professionally 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 may 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- An eligible partnership shall use the grant funds
provided under this section for 1 or more of the following activities related
to elementary schools or secondary schools:
`(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
follow-up 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.
`(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, respectively;
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) Authorization of Appropriations- To carry out this part, there are authorized
to be appropriated $48,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 and such sums as may be
necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.'.
SEC. 3. 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--
(1) encourage students to develop both--
(A) an understanding of science and technology; and
(B) foreign language proficiency; and
(2) 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
course work 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 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 combine
the study of foreign languages and the study of science and technology and
produce graduates who have both skills; and
(2) institutions teaching the less-commonly taught languages of Arabic,
Korean, Chinese, Pashto, Persian-Farsi, Serbian-Croatian, Japanese, Russian,
Portuguese, and any language identified by the Secretary of Education, in
consultation with the Defense Language Institute, the Foreign Service Institute,
and the National Security Education Program, as a critical foreign language
need.
(e) Science- In this section, 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- To carry out this section, there are authorized
to be appropriated $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 and such sums as may be
necessary for each subsequent fiscal year.
SEC. 4. FEDERAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION MARKETING CAMPAIGN.
The Secretary of Education shall establish a foreign language education marketing
campaign to encourage students at secondary schools and institutions of higher
education to study foreign languages, particularly languages that are less
commonly taught and critical to the national security of the United States.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL STUDY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE HERITAGE COMMUNITIES.
(a) Study- The Secretary of Education shall conduct a study to identify foreign
language heritage communities, particularly such communities that include
speakers of languages that are critical to the national security of the United
States.
(b) Foreign Language Heritage Community- For purposes of this section, the
term `foreign language heritage community' means a community of residents
or citizens of the United States--
(1) who are native speakers of, or who have partial fluency in, a foreign
language; and
(2) who should be actively recruited for employment by Federal security
agencies with a need for linguists.
(c) Report- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Education shall submit a report to the Congress on the
results of the study conducted under this section.
SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERNATIONAL FLAGSHIP LANGUAGE INITIATIVE WITHIN
THE NATIONAL SECURITY EDUCATION PROGRAM.
(a) National Flagship Language Initiative-
(1) EXPANSION OF GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORITY- Subsection (a)(1) of section 802
of the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 (50 U.S.C.
1902) is amended--
(A) by striking `and' at the end of subparagraph (D);
(B) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (E) and inserting
`; and'; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
`(F) awarding grants to institutions of higher education to carry out
activities under the International Flagship Language Initiative (described
in subsection (j)).'.
(2) PROVISIONS OF NATIONAL FLAGSHIP LANGUAGE INITIATIVE- Such section is
further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
`(j) International Flagship Language Initiative- (1) Under the International
Flagship Language Initiative, qualified institutions of higher education shall
establish, operate, or improve foreign language immersion programs and activities
at sites overseas designed to train students in programs in a range of disciplines
to achieve advanced levels of proficiency in those foreign languages that
the Secretary identifies as being the most critical in the interests of the
national security of the United States.
`(2) For purposes of this subsection, an institution of higher education is
deemed to be qualified if the Secretary determines that the institution has
demonstrated expertise in the establishment and operation of foreign language
immersion programs at sites overseas.
`(3) In awarding grants under subsection (a)(1)(F), the Secretary shall give
preference to those qualified institutions of higher education that--
`(A) collaborate with established study abroad professional organizations,
`(B) demonstrate experience in recruitment, placement, programming, and
assessment of students in specific countries and regions of the world; and
`(C) demonstrate relationships with language acquisition specialists.
`(4) An undergraduate student who has been awarded a scholarship under subsection
(a)(1)(A) or a graduate student who has been awarded a fellowship under subsection
(a)(1)(B) may participate in the activities carried out under the National
Flagship Language Initiative.
`(5) An institution of higher education that receives a grant pursuant to
subsection (a)(1)(F) shall give special consideration to applicants who are
employees of the Federal Government.'.
(3) INAPPLICABILITY OF FUNDING ALLOCATION RULES- (A) The first sentence
in the matter following subsection (a)(2) of such section is amended by
inserting `or under paragraph (1)(F) for the International Flagship Language
Initiative described in subsection (j)' after `or for the scholarship program
under paragraph (1)(E)'.
(B) The second sentence in such matter is amended by inserting `and the
International Flagship Language Initiative' after `the National Flagship
Language Initiative'.
(4) BOARD REQUIREMENT- Section 803(d)(4)(E) of such Act (50 U.S.C. 1903(d)(4)(E))
is amended by inserting before the period the following: `and section 802(a)(1)(F)
(relating to grants for the International Flagship Language Initiative).'.
(b) Funding- Section 811(b) of the David L. Boren National Security Education
Act of 1991 (50 U.S.C. 1911(a)) is amended--
(1) by inserting `(1)' after `(a) Fiscal Year 2005- '; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(2) In addition to amounts that may be made available to the Secretary under
the Fund for a fiscal year, the Director of National Intelligence shall transfer
to the Secretary from amounts appropriated for the Intelligence Community
Management Account for each fiscal year, beginning with fiscal year 2006,
$6,000,000, to carry out the grant program for the International Flagship
Language Initiative under section 802(a)(1)(F).'.
(c) Construction- Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting
any program or project carried out under the David L. Boren National Security
Education Act of 1991 as in effect on the date that precedes the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 7. FORGIVENESS OF LOANS TO STUDENTS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
(a) Guaranteed Student Loans- Part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 is amended by inserting after section 428K (20 U.S.C. 1078-11) the
following:
`SEC. 428L. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN CRITICAL FOREIGN LANGUAGES.
`(a) Establishment- The Secretary of Education shall establish and implement
a program to cancel the obligation of loan borrowers to pay the principal
and interest on a loan provided under this part in order to serve as an incentive
for students to obtain a degree in a critical foreign language.
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall carry out a program, through the holder
of the loan, of assuming the obligation to repay in accordance with subsection
(c) the principal and interest, not to exceed a total of $10,000, on a loan
made under this part for a borrower who--
`(A) has obtained an undergraduate degree in a critical foreign language;
`(B) is employed in a full-time position--
`(i) in an elementary or secondary school as a teacher of a critical
foreign language; or
`(ii) in an agency of the United States Government in a position that
regularly requires the use of such critical foreign language;
`(C) is a United States citizen, United States national, permanent legal
resident, or citizen of the Freely Associated States; and
`(D) is in repayment status on such loan and is not in default on a loan
for which the borrower seeks forgiveness of principal and interest payments.
`(2) APPLICATION BY BORROWERS- The Secretary shall, by regulation, establish
procedures by which borrowers shall apply for loan repayment under this
section.
`(1) PROMISE TO COMPLETE SERVICE REQUIRED FOR PAYMENT- Any application for
payment under subsection (b) shall contain an agreement by the applicant
that the applicant will continue in a qualifying service described in subsection
(b)(1)(B) for not less than 5 consecutive complete years, or will, upon
a failure to complete such 5 years, repay the United States the amount of
the principal and interest repaid by the Secretary under subsection (b),
at a rate and schedule, and in accordance with regulations, prescribed by
the Secretary. Such regulations may provide for waiver by the Secretary
of such repayment obligations upon proof of economic hardship as specified
in such regulations.
`(2) PAYMENT IN INSTALLMENTS- After a borrower has obtained a bachelor's
degree in a critical foreign language, the Federal Government shall make
payments under this section while the borrower is in loan repayment status
and continues in an employment position described in subsection (b)(1)(B).
The Secretary shall repay a portion of a borrower's outstanding loan, not
to exceed a total of $10,000, in the following increments:
`(A) up to $1,500 or 15 percent of the borrower's outstanding loan balance,
whichever is less, at the completion of the second year of such service;
`(B) up to $1,500 or 15 percent of the borrower's outstanding loan balance,
whichever is less, at the completion of the third year of such service;
`(C) up to $2,000 or 20 percent of the borrower's outstanding loan balance,
whichever is less, at the completion of the fourth year of such service;
and
`(D) up to $5,000 or 50 percent of the borrower's outstanding loan balance,
whichever is less, at the completion of the fifth year of such service.
`(d) Definitions- In this section:
`(1) CRITICAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE- The term `critical foreign language' includes
the languages of Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Pashto, Persian-Farsi,
Serbian-Croatian, Russian, Portuguese, and any other language identified
by the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Defense Language
Institute, the Foreign Service Institute, and the National Security Education
Program, as a critical foreign language need.
`(2) AGENCY- The term `agency of the United States Government' means any
agency, office, establishment, instrumentality, or other entity of the executive,
legislative, or judicial branch of the Government.'.
(b) 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. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN CRITICAL FOREIGN LANGUAGES.
`(a) Establishment- The Secretary of Education shall establish and implement
a program to cancel the obligation of loan borrowers to pay the principal
and interest on a loan provided under this part in order to serve as an incentive
for students to obtain a degree in a critical foreign language.
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall carry out a program of assuming the
obligation to repay in accordance with subsection (c) the principal and
interest, not to exceed a total of $10,000, on a loan made under this part
for a borrower who--
`(A) has obtained an undergraduate degree in a critical foreign language;
`(B) is employed in a full-time position--
`(i) in an elementary or secondary school as a teacher of a critical
foreign language; or
`(ii) in an agency of the United States Government in a position that
regularly requires the use of such critical foreign language;
`(C) is a United States citizen, United States national, permanent legal
resident, or citizen of the Freely Associated States; and
`(D) is in repayment status on such loan and is not in default on a loan
for which the borrower seeks forgiveness of principal and interest payments.
`(2) APPLICATION BY BORROWERS- The Secretary shall, by regulation, establish
procedures by which borrowers shall apply for loan repayment under this
section.
`(1) PROMISE TO COMPLETE SERVICE REQUIRED FOR PAYMENT- Any application for
payment under subsection (b) shall contain an agreement by the applicant
that the applicant will continue in a qualifying service described in subsection
(b)(1)(B) for not less than 5 consecutive complete years, or will, upon
a failure to complete such 5 years, repay the United States the amount of
the principal and interest repaid by the Secretary under subsection (b),
at a rate and schedule, and in accordance with regulations, prescribed by
the Secretary. Such regulations may provide for waiver by the Secretary
of such repayment obligations upon proof of economic hardship as specified
in such regulations.
`(2) PAYMENT IN INSTALLMENTS- After a borrower has obtained a bachelor's
degree in a critical foreign language, the Federal Government shall make
payments under this section while the borrower is in loan repayment status
and continues in an employment position described in subsection (b)(1)(B).
The Secretary shall repay a portion of a borrower's outstanding loan, not
to exceed a total of $10,000, in the following increments:
`(A) up to $1,500 or 15 percent of the borrower's outstanding loan balance,
whichever is less, at the completion of the second year of such service;
`(B) up to $1,500 or 15 percent of the borrower's outstanding loan balance,
whichever is less, at the completion of the third year of such service;
`(C) up to $2,000 or 20 percent of the borrower's outstanding loan balance,
whichever is less, at the completion of the fourth year of such service;
and
`(D) up to $5,000 or 50 percent of the borrower's outstanding loan balance,
whichever is less, at the completion of the fifth year of such service.
`(d) Definitions- In this section:
`(1) CRITICAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE- The term `critical foreign language' includes
the languages of Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Pashto, Persian-Farsi,
Serbian-Croatian, Russian, Portuguese, and any other language identified
by the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Defense Language
Institute, the Foreign Service Institute, and the National Security Education
Program, as a critical foreign language need.
`(2) AGENCY- The term `agency of the United States Government' means any
agency, office, establishment, instrumentality, or other entity of the executive,
legislative, or judicial branch of the Government.'.
(c) 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 section and submit to the appropriate committees of the Congress
a report on how the Secretary plans to implement the programs under amendments
made by this section 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 shall promulgate final regulations to carry out
this section.
END
