[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2299 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







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.
    ``(b) Program Authorized.--
            ``(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.
    ``(b) Program Authorized.--
            ``(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.

    ``(a) General Authority.--
            ``(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.
    ``(d) Application.--
            ``(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).
            ``(2) Guidelines.--
                    ``(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--
                    ``(A) shall include--
                            ``(i) a foreign language department of an 
                        institution of higher education; and
                            ``(ii) a local educational agency; and
                    ``(B) may include--
                            ``(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;
                            ``(iii) a business;
                            ``(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.
    ``(d) Applications.--
            ``(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
                    ``(C) a description of--
                            ``(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.
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