To establish the National Foreign Language Coordination Council to develop and implement a foreign language strategy, and for other purposes.

May 19, 2005

Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. COCHRAN, and Mr. DODD) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

To establish the National Foreign Language Coordination Council to develop and implement a foreign language strategy, 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 Foreign Language Coordination Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--

(1) there is a severe shortage of qualified language professionals, including teachers, translators, and interpreters, especially in less commonly taught languages, across the United States;

(2) Federal, State, and local governments need individuals with bilingual and bicultural capabilities, including--

(A) diplomats;

(B) defense and intelligence analysts;

(C) military personnel;

(D) foreign language instructors;

(E) health professionals;

(F) medical and social services providers;

(G) court interpreters;

(H) translators; and

(I) law enforcement officers;

(3) deficiencies in the national language capabilities have--

(A) undermined cross-cultural communication and understanding at home and abroad;

(B) restrained social mobility;

(C) lessened national commercial competitiveness;

(D) limited the effectiveness of public diplomacy;

(E) restricted justice and government services to sectors of society; and

(F) threatened national security;

(4) ample resources are not available to develop language and cultural capabilities in all of the world's languages, requiring prioritization of such resources; and

(5) a National Foreign Language Coordination Council and a National Language Director can help to raise public awareness and provide top-down coordination and direction.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE COORDINATION COUNCIL.

(a) Establishment- There is established the National Foreign Language Coordination Council (referred to as the `Council' in this Act), which shall be an independent establishment as defined under section 104 of title 5, United States Code.

(b) Membership- The Council shall consist of the following members or their designees:

(1) The National Language Director, who shall serve as the chairperson of the Council.

(2) The Secretary of Education.

(3) The Secretary of Defense.

(4) The Secretary of State.

(5) The Secretary of Homeland Security.

(6) The Attorney General.

(7) The Director of National Intelligence.

(8) The Secretary of Labor.

(9) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management.

(10) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

(11) The Secretary of Commerce.

(12) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(13) The Secretary of the Treasury.

(14) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

(15) The Secretary of Agriculture.

(16) The heads of such other Federal agencies as the Council considers appropriate.

(c) Responsibilities-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Council shall be charged with--

(A) developing a national foreign language strategy within 18 months of the date of enactment of this Act; and

(B) overseeing the implementation of such strategy.

(2) STRATEGY CONTENT- The strategy developed under paragraph (1) shall include--

(A) identification of crucial priorities across all sectors;

(B) identification and evaluation of Federal foreign language programs and activities, including--

(i) recommendations on coordination;

(ii) program enhancements; and

(iii) allocation of resources so as to maximize use of resources;

(C) needed national policies and corresponding legislative and regulatory actions in support of, and allocation of designated resources to, promising programs and initiatives at all levels (Federal, State, and local), especially in the less commonly taught languages that are seen as critical for national security and global competitiveness in the next 20 to 50 years;

(D) effective ways to increase public awareness of the need for foreign language skills and career paths in all sectors that can employ those skills, with the objective of increasing support for foreign language study among--

(i) Federal, State, and local leaders;

(ii) students;

(iii) parents;

(iv) elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational institutions; and

(v) potential employers;

(E) incentives for related educational programs, including foreign language teacher training;

(F) coordination of cross-sector efforts, including public-private partnerships;

(G) coordination initiatives to develop a strategic posture for language research and recommendations for funding for applied foreign language research into issues of national concern;

(H) assistance for--

(i) the development of foreign language achievement standards; and

(ii) corresponding assessments for the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education levels, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress in foreign languages;

(I) development of--

(i) language skill-level certification standards;

(ii) an ideal course of pre-service and professional development study for those who teach foreign language;

(iii) suggested graduation criteria for foreign language studies and appropriate non-language studies, such as--

(I) international business;

(II) national security;

(III) public administration; and

(IV) health care; and

(J) identification of and means for replicating best practices at all levels and in all sectors, including best practices from the international community.

(d) Meetings- The Council may hold such meetings, and sit and act at such times and places, as the Council considers appropriate, but shall meet in formal session at least 2 times a year. State and local government agencies and other organizations (such as academic sector institutions, foreign language-related interest groups, business associations, industry, and heritage community organizations) shall be invited, as appropriate, to public meetings of the Council at least once a year.

(e) Staff-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Director may appoint and fix the compensation of such additional personnel as the Director considers necessary to carry out the duties of the Council.

(2) DETAILS FROM OTHER AGENCIES- Upon request of the Council, the head of any Federal agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency to the Council.

(3) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS- With the approval of the Council, the Director may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.

(f) Powers-

(1) DELEGATION- Any member or employee of the Council may, if authorized by the Council, take any action that the Council is authorized to take in this Act.

(2) INFORMATION- The Council may secure directly from any Federal agency such information the Council considers necessary to carry out its responsibilities. Upon request of the Director, the head of such agency shall furnish such information to the Council.

(3) DONATIONS- The Council may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.

(4) MAIL- The Council may use the United States mail in the same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.

(g) Conferences, Newsletter, and Website- In carrying out this Act, the Council--

(1) may arrange Federal, regional, State, and local conferences for the purpose of developing and coordinating effective programs and activities to improve foreign language education;

(2) may publish a newsletter concerning Federal, State, and local programs that are effectively meeting the foreign language needs of the nation; and

(3) shall create and maintain a website containing information on the Council and its activities, best practices on language education, and other relevant information.

(h) Reports- Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Council shall prepare and transmit to the President and Congress a report that describes the activities of the Council and the efforts of the Council to improve foreign language education and training and impediments, including any statutory and regulatory restrictions, to the use of each such program.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL LANGUAGE DIRECTOR.

(a) In General- There is established a National Language Director who shall be appointed by the President. The National Language Director shall be a nationally recognized individual with credentials and abilities across all of the sectors to be involved with creating and implementing long-term solutions to achieving national foreign language and cultural competency.

(b) Responsibilities- The National Language Director shall--

(1) develop and oversee the implementation of a national foreign language strategy across all sectors;

(2) establish formal relationships among the major stakeholders in meeting the needs of the Nation for improved capabilities in foreign languages and cultural understanding, including Federal, State, and local government agencies, academia, industry, labor, and heritage communities; and

(3) coordinate and lead a public information campaign that raises awareness of public and private sector careers requiring foreign language skills and cultural understanding, with the objective of increasing interest in and support for the study of foreign languages among national leaders, the business community, local officials, parents, and individuals.

(c) Compensation- The National Language Director shall be paid at a rate of pay payable for a position at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 5. ENCOURAGEMENT OF STATE INVOLVEMENT.

(a) State Contact Persons- The Council shall consult with each State to provide for the designation by each State of an individual to serve as a State contact person for the purpose of receiving and disseminating information and communications received from the Council.

(b) State Interagency Councils and Lead Agencies- Each State is encouraged to establish a State interagency council on foreign language coordination or designate a lead agency for the State for the purpose of assuming primary responsibility for coordinating and interacting with the Council and State and local government agencies as necessary.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary to carry out this Act.

END