[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 100 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 100

    Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should 
     establish an international education policy to foster mutual 
understanding among nations, promote a world free of terrorism, further 
  United States foreign policy and national security, enhance United 
        States leadership in the world, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 16, 2005

   Mr. Kolbe (for himself and Mr. Oberstar) 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 Congress that the United States should 
     establish an international education policy to foster mutual 
understanding among nations, promote a world free of terrorism, further 
  United States foreign policy and national security, enhance United 
        States leadership in the world, and for other purposes.

Whereas preparing American citizens with global skills and educating 
        international students are crucial investments in United States 
        leadership and security;
Whereas the threat of terrorism crosses all borders, and defeating it requires 
        global engagement to foster dialogue and partnership among nations;
Whereas the war on terrorism is in part a struggle of ideas, values, and 
        beliefs, especially within the Arab and Muslim world;
Whereas the United States demonstrated in the Cold War that it can prevail in a 
        struggle of ideas, values, and beliefs;
Whereas international education and exchange were crucial components of that 
        Cold War victory and are equally essential for victory in the war on 
        terrorism;
Whereas educating international students is an important way to spread United 
        States values and influence and to create goodwill for the United States 
        throughout the world;
Whereas robust exchange programs and careful screening of visa applicants both 
        serve important United States interests and must be appropriately 
        balanced;
Whereas new security measures have had the unintended effect of weakening the 
        United States position as the leading destination of international 
        students seeking higher educational and other exchange opportunities;
Whereas funding for the Department of State's international exchange programs, 
        which in the past have done much to extend United States influence in 
        the world by educating the world's leaders and providing them with a 
        positive encounter with American society and values, has declined in 
        constant dollars by 37 percent over 10 years, according to the Alliance 
        for International Educational and Cultural Exchange;
Whereas study abroad prepares United States students for effective participation 
        in an increasingly complex global society that demands cross-cultural 
        skills and knowledge;
Whereas study abroad has been determined to be an important component of 
        attaining higher levels of proficiency in foreign languages;
Whereas according to the Institute of International Education, less than 10 
        percent of United States college graduates study abroad;
Whereas research indicates that the United States is failing to generate enough 
        students with expertise in foreign languages and cultures to fill the 
        demands of business, government, and universities;
Whereas according to the Coalition for International Education, funding for 
        international, foreign language, and foreign-area studies programs at 
        United States universities has declined in constant dollars since the 
        1960s;
Whereas other countries are mounting vigorous recruitment campaigns to compete 
        with the United States for international students, especially the United 
        Kingdom, which increased its international student enrollment by 20 
        percent from 2001 to 2002, according to the British Council; and
Whereas the United States requires an international education policy to guide 
        efforts to promote United States interests through international 
        education and exchange: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 

SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL 
              EDUCATION POLICY FOR THE UNITED STATES.

    It is the sense of Congress that the United States should establish 
an international education policy to foster mutual understanding and 
respect among nations, promote a world free of terrorism, further 
United States foreign policy and national security, and enhance United 
States leadership in the world.

SEC. 2. OBJECTIVES OF AN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY FOR THE UNITED 
              STATES.

    An international education policy for the United States, which is 
essential for United States foreign policy and security interests, 
should strive to achieve the following:
            (1) Articulate the vital role of international education 
        and exchange in the struggle to defeat terrorism and enhance 
        the security of the United States.
            (2) Invigorate citizen and professional exchange programs 
        and promote the international exchange of students and 
        scholars.
            (3) Ensure that visa and employment policies promote 
        increased access to the United States by international 
        students, scholars, and exchange visitors, consistent with 
        homeland security.
            (4) Significantly increase participation in study and 
        internships abroad by United States students, especially 
        minority and financially disadvantaged students.
            (5) Enhance the educational infrastructure through which 
        the United States produces citizens with a high level of 
        international expertise and builds a broad knowledge base that 
        serves the United States.
            (6) Promote greater diversity of locations, languages, and 
        subjects offered for study, teaching, and research abroad.
            (7) Ensure that every United States college graduate has 
        knowledge of a second language and of a foreign area, as well 
        as a broad understanding of the world.
            (8) Encourage programs that begin foreign language learning 
        in the United States at an early age.
            (9) Promote partnerships among government, business, and 
        educational institutions and organizations to provide adequate 
        resources for implementing this policy.
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