[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 201 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 201

  Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should 
    establish an international education policy to further national 
  security, foreign policy, and economic competitiveness, and promote 
          mutual understanding and cooperation among nations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 26, 2001

   Mr. Kolbe (for himself, Mr. Gilman, Mr. Oberstar, Mr. Dreier, Mr. 
Hinchey, Mr. Leach, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Regula, and Mr. Upton) submitted 
    the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee 
    on Education and the Workforce, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should 
    establish an international education policy to further national 
  security, foreign policy, and economic competitiveness, and promote 
          mutual understanding and cooperation among nations.

Whereas promoting international education for United States citizens and 
        ensuring access to high-level international experts are important to 
        meet national security, foreign policy, economic, and other global 
        challenges facing the United States;
Whereas international education entails the imparting of effective global 
        competence to United States students and other citizens as an integral 
        part of their education at all levels;
Whereas research indicates that the United States is failing to graduate enough 
        students with expertise in foreign languages, cultures, and policies to 
        meet the demands of business, government, and universities;
Whereas, according to the Institute for International Education, less than 10 
        percent of United States students graduating from college have studied 
        abroad;
Whereas, according to the American Council on Education, foreign language 
        enrollments in United States higher education fell from 16 percent in 
        1960 to just 8 percent today, and the number of 4-year colleges with 
        foreign language entrance and graduation requirements also declined;
Whereas educating international students is an important way to impart cross-
        cultural understanding, to spread United States values and influence, 
        and to create goodwill for the United States throughout the world;
Whereas, based on studies by the College Board, the Institute for International 
        Education, and Indiana University, more than 500,000 international 
        students and their dependents contributed an estimated $12,300,000,000 
        to the United States economy in the academic year 1999-2000;
Whereas, according to the Departments of State and Education, the proportion of 
        international students choosing to study in the United States has 
        declined from 40 to 30 percent since 1982;
Whereas international exchange programs, which in the past have done much to 
        extend United States influence in the world by educating the world's 
        leaders, as well as educating United States citizens about other nations 
        and their cultures, are suffering from decline; and
Whereas American educational institutions chartered in the United States but 
        operating abroad are important resources both for deepening the 
        international knowledge of United States citizens and for nurturing 
        United States ideals in other countries: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the United States should establish an international 
        education policy to enhance national security, significantly 
        further United States foreign policy and economic 
        competitiveness, and promote mutual understanding and 
        cooperation among nations; and
            (2) an international education policy for the United States 
        should strive to achieve the following:
                    (A) Enhance the educational infrastructure through 
                which the United States produces citizens with a high 
                level of international expertise, and build a broad 
                knowledge base that serves the United States.
                    (B) Promote greater diversity of locations, 
                languages, and subjects involved in teaching, research, 
                and study abroad to ensure that the United States 
                maintains a broad international knowledge base.
                    (C) Significantly increase participation in study 
                and internships abroad by United States students.
                    (D) Invigorate citizen and professional 
                international exchange programs and promote the 
                international exchange of scholars.
                    (E) Support visas and employment policies that 
                promote increased numbers of international students.
                    (F) Ensure that a United States college graduate 
                has knowledge of a second language and of a foreign 
                area, as well as a broader understanding of the world.
                    (G) Encourage programs that begin foreign language 
                learning in the United States at an early age.
                    (H) Promote educational exchanges and research 
                collaboration with American educational institutions 
                abroad that can strengthen the foreign language skills 
                and a better understanding of the world by United 
                States citizens.
                    (I) Promote partnerships among government, 
                business, and educational institutions and 
                organizations to provide adequate resources for 
                implementing this policy.
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