109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1105
To amend title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding international
and foreign language studies.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 23, 2005
Mr. DODD (for himself, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. KENNEDY, 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 amend title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding international
and foreign language studies.
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 `International and Foreign Language Studies Act
of 2005'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) In recent years, foreign language needs have significantly increased
throughout the Federal Government due to the presence of a wider range of
security threats, the emergence of new nation states, and the globalization
of the United States economy.
(2) Likewise, American businesses increasingly need internationally and
multiculturally experienced employees to compete in the global economy and
to manage a culturally diverse workforce.
(3) In 2005, the Federal Government requires 34,000 employees with foreign
language skills across more than 70 Federal agencies.
(4) Federal agency officials have stated that, over the years, translator
and interpreter shortfalls have adversely affected agency operations and
hindered United States military, law enforcement, intelligence, counterterrorism,
and diplomatic efforts.
(5) In a 2002 General Accounting Office report, the United States Army reported
that it was experiencing serious shortfalls of translators and interpreters
in 5 of its 6 critical languages: Arabic, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Persian-Farsi,
and Russian.
(6) The number of Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships awarded
in 2003 was 30 percent less than the number awarded at its high point in
1967.
(7) In the 2000-2001 school year, the number of foreign language degrees
conferred was 1 percent of the total number of undergraduate degrees conferred,
less than .05 percent of the total number of masters degrees conferred,
and 1 percent of the total number of doctoral degrees conferred.
(8) In the 2004 National Survey of Student Engagement, almost 1/3 of undergraduates
reported taking foreign language coursework, while only 11 percent reported
having studied abroad.
(9) According to the American Council on Education, in recent studies, 1/2
of all students surveyed had taken not less than 1 international course
during the 2000-2001 school year, but foreign language enrollment remained
static.
(10) In 2002, 79 percent of Americans agreed that students should have a
study-abroad experience sometime during college.
(11) More than 40 percent of Americans said they were more likely to favor
an increase in State-level funding for foreign language education at their
local college or university after September 11, 2001.
SEC. 3. REFERENCES.
Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an amendment
or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section
or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section
or other provision of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et
seq.).
TITLE I--INTERNATIONAL AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES
SEC. 101. FINDINGS.
Section 601 (20 U.S.C. 1121) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking `post-Cold War'; and
(2) in subsection (b)(1)(D), by inserting `, including through linkages
with overseas institutions' before the semicolon.
SEC. 102. GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE LANGUAGE AND AREA CENTERS AND PROGRAMS.
Section 602 (20 U.S.C. 1122) is amended--
(i) in subparagraph (G), by striking `and' after the semicolon;
(ii) in subparagraph (H), by striking the period and inserting `; and';
and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
`(I) support for instructors of the less commonly taught languages.';
and
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (E) as subparagraphs
(D) through (F), respectively;
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
`(C) Programs of linkage or outreach between or among--
`(i) foreign language, area studies, or other international fields;
and
`(ii) State educational agencies or local educational agencies.'; and
(iii) in subparagraph (F) (as redesignated by clause (i)), by striking
`and (D)' and inserting `(D), and (E)';
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting `and Undergraduate' after
`Graduate'; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
`(2) ELIGIBLE STUDENT- A student receiving a stipend described in paragraph
(1) shall be engaged--
`(A) in an instructional program with stated performance goals for functional
foreign language use or in a program developing such performance goals,
in combination with area studies, international studies, or the international
aspects of a professional studies program; and
`(B)(i) in the case of an undergraduate student, in the intermediate or
advanced study of a less commonly taught language; or
`(ii) in the case of a graduate student, in graduate study in connection
with a program described in subparagraph (A), including predissertation
level study, preparation for dissertation research, dissertation research
abroad, or dissertation writing.'; and
(3) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
`(1) GRADUATE LEVEL RECIPIENTS- A stipend awarded to a graduate level recipient
may include allowances for dependents and for travel for research and study
in the United States and abroad.
`(2) UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL RECIPIENTS- A stipend awarded to an undergraduate
level recipient may include an allowance for educational programs in the
United States or abroad that--
`(A) are closely linked to the overall goals of the recipient's course
of study; and
`(B) have the purpose of promoting foreign language fluency and cultural
knowledge.'.
SEC. 103. USE OF FUNDS IN UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AND FOREIGN
LANGUAGE PROGRAMS.
Section 604 (20 U.S.C. 1124) is amended--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (I) through (M) as subparagraphs
(J) through (N), respectively; and
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following:
`(I) providing subgrants to undergraduate students for educational programs
abroad that--
`(i) are closely linked to the overall goals of the program for which
the grant is awarded; and
`(ii) have the purpose of promoting foreign language fluency and cultural
knowledge;'; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
`(9) LIMITATION ON UNDERGRADUATE GRANTS- An institution of higher education,
a combination of such institutions, or a partnership awarded a grant under
this section shall use not more than 10 percent of the grant funds for the
use described in paragraph (2)(I).'; and
(2) by striking subsection (c).
SEC. 104. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.
Section 605(a) (20 U.S.C. 1125(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (8), by striking `and' after the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting `; and'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
`(10) the systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of data that
contribute to achieving the purposes of this part.'.
SEC. 105. TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND COOPERATION FOR FOREIGN INFORMATION
ACCESS.
Section 606 (20 U.S.C. 1126) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
`(a) Authority- The Secretary is authorized to make grants to eligible entities
for the purpose of developing innovative techniques or programs using electronic
technologies to collect, organize, preserve, and widely disseminate information
from foreign sources on world regions and countries other than the United
States that address our Nation's teaching and research needs in international
education and foreign languages.';
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking `to facilitate access to or' and by
inserting `to acquire, facilitate access to, or';
(B) in paragraph (3), by inserting `and standards' after `means';
(C) in paragraph (6), by striking `and';
(D) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon;
and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
`(8) to establish linkages, between the eligible entities and libraries,
organizations, and institutions of higher education overseas, to facilitate
carrying out the purpose described in subsection (a); or
`(9) to carry out other activities that the Secretary determines are consistent
with the purpose of the grants under this section.';
(3) in subsection (c), by striking `institution or consortium' and inserting
`eligible entity'; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
`(e) Definition of Eligible Entity- In this section, the term `eligible entity'
means--
`(1) an institution of higher education;
`(2) a public or nonprofit private library;
`(3) a consortium of such institutions or libraries; or
`(4) a partnership between--
`(A) such an institution or library; and
`(B) a nonprofit educational organization.'.
SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 610 (20 U.S.C. 1128b) is amended by striking `$80,000,000 for fiscal
year 1999' and inserting `$120,000,000 for fiscal year 2006'.
TITLE II--BUSINESS AND INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
SEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 614 (20 U.S.C. 1130b) is amended--
(A) by striking `$11,000,000' and inserting `$20,000,000'; and
(B) by striking `1999' and inserting `2006'; and
(A) by striking `$7,000,000' and inserting `$10,000,000'; and
(B) by striking `1999' and inserting `2006'.
TITLE III--INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC POLICY
SEC. 301. WAIVER OF MATCH REQUIREMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
Section 621(e) (20 U.S.C. 1131(e)) is amended--
(1) by striking `Match Required- The eligible' and inserting `Matching Funds-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to paragraph (2), the eligible'; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
`(2) WAIVER- The Secretary may waive the requirement of paragraph (1) for
an eligible recipient if the Secretary determines such waiver is appropriate.'.
SEC. 302. INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
Section 622(a) (20 U.S.C. 1131-1(a)) is amended by striking `international
affairs programs.' and inserting `international affairs, international business,
and foreign language study programs at such colleges, universities, and institutions,
respectively, through increased collaboration with institutions of higher
education that receive funding under this title.'.
SEC. 303. ADVANCED DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
Section 624 (20 U.S.C. 1131b) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking `masters' and inserting `advanced';
(2) in the first sentence, by inserting `, and in exceptional circumstances,
a doctoral degree,' after `masters degree'; and
(3) in the second sentence, by striking `masters degree' and inserting `advanced
degree'.
SEC. 304. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) Financial Assistance- Part C of title VI (20 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 626, 627, and 628 as sections 627, 628, and
629, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 625 the following new section:
`SEC. 626. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
`(a) Authority- The Institute may provide financial assistance, in the form
of summer stipends described in subsection (b) and Ralph Bunche scholarship
assistance described in subsection (c), to needy students to facilitate the
participation of the students in the Institute programs under this part.
`(1) REQUIREMENTS- A student receiving a summer stipend under this section
shall use such stipend to defray the student's cost of participation in
a summer institute program funded under this part, including the costs of
travel, living, and educational expenses necessary to the student's participation
in such program.
`(2) AMOUNT- A summer stipend awarded to a student under this section shall
be not more than $3,000 per summer.
`(c) Ralph Bunche Scholarship-
`(1) REQUIREMENTS- A student receiving a Ralph Bunche scholarship under
this section--
`(A) shall be a full-time student at an institution of higher education
who is accepted into a program funded under this part; and
`(B) shall use such scholarship to pay costs related to the cost of attendance,
as defined in section 472, at the institution of higher education at which
the student is enrolled.
`(2) AMOUNT AND DURATION- A Ralph Bunche scholarship awarded to a student
under this section shall not exceed $5,000 per academic year.'.
(b) Technical Amendment- Section 628 (as redesignated by subsection (a)(1))
is amended by striking `section 626' and inserting `section 627'.
SEC. 305. BIENNIAL REPORT.
Part C of title VI (20 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) is further amended--
(1) in section 627 (as redesignated by section 304(a)(1))--
(A) by striking `annually'; and
(B) by inserting `in 2006, and biennially thereafter' after `a report';
and
(2) in section 628 (as redesignated by section 304(1)), by striking `annual'.
SEC. 306. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 629 (as redesignated by section 304(a)(1)) (20 U.S.C. 1131f) is amended
by striking `1999' and inserting `2006'.
TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 401. EVALUATION, OUTREACH, AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.
Part D of title VI (20 U.S.C. 1132) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`SEC. 632. EVALUATION, OUTREACH, AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.
`The Secretary may use not more than 1 percent of the funds made available
for this title to carry out program evaluation, national outreach, and information
dissemination activities relating to the programs authorized under this title.'.
END
