[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5199 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5199

To expand the diplomatic infrastructure and economic competitiveness of 
the United States in the People's Republic of China, and for the other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 26, 2006

  Mr. Kirk (for himself and Mr. Larsen of Washington) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International 
   Relations, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the 
     Workforce and Small Business, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To expand the diplomatic infrastructure and economic competitiveness of 
the United States in the People's Republic of China, and for the 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``United States-
China Engagement Act of 2006''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
  TITLE I--UNITED STATES PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF 
                                 CHINA

Sec. 101. Public diplomacy in the PRC.
TITLE II--UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF 
                                 CHINA

Sec. 201. Construction and staffing of one new United States consulate 
                            in the PRC.
Sec. 202. Establishment of ten new United States diplomatic posts in 
                            the PRC.
    TITLE III--UNITED STATES PARTICIPATION IN ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC 
                              COOPERATION

Sec. 301. United States participation in Asia-Pacific Economic 
                            Cooperation.
 TITLE IV--CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL STUDIES INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS

Sec. 401. Definitions.
Sec. 402. Programs for Chinese language and cultural studies 
                            instruction.
Sec. 403. School language technology enhancement.
Sec. 404. Sense of Congress regarding benefit of exposure to chinese 
                            language and culture.
TITLE V--POSTSECONDARY CHINESE BUSINESS EDUCATION AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

Sec. 501. Chinese business education programs.
Sec. 502. United States-People's Republic of China International 
                            Consortia Exchange Program.
                  TITLE VI--EXPORT PROMOTION PROGRAMS

Sec. 601. Increase in number of Commercial Service Officers assigned to 
                            China.
Sec. 602. Grants to States to establish and operate offices to promote 
                            exports to China.
Sec. 603. Trade outreach at Office of International Trade of Small 
                            Business Administration.

  TITLE I--UNITED STATES PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF 
                                 CHINA

SEC. 101. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN THE PRC.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State 
$6,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 for public diplomacy programming, the 
hiring of additional local public diplomacy personnel, and public 
diplomacy information technology infrastructure in the People's 
Republic of China.

TITLE II--UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF 
                                 CHINA

SEC. 201. CONSTRUCTION AND STAFFING OF ONE NEW UNITED STATES CONSULATE 
              IN THE PRC.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State 
$150,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 for the construction and staffing of 
one additional United States consulate in the People's Republic of 
China (in addition to the number of such consulates in the PRC in 
existence on the date of the enactment of this Act).

SEC. 202. ESTABLISHMENT OF TEN NEW UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC POSTS IN 
              THE PRC.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State 
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 for the establishment of ten 
additional United States diplomatic posts in the People's Republic of 
China (in addition to the number of such posts in the PRC in existence 
on the date of the enactment of this Act), including facility rental, 
necessary and appropriate Foreign Service officer posting at such 
additional posts, the hiring of local personnel and administrative 
support.

    TITLE III--UNITED STATES PARTICIPATION IN ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC 
                              COOPERATION

SEC. 301. UNITED STATES PARTICIPATION IN ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC 
              COOPERATION.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State 
$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 for a United States financial 
contribution to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

 TITLE IV--CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL STUDIES INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS

SEC. 401. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Elementary school, local educational agency, secondary 
        school, state educational agency.--The terms ``elementary 
        school'', ``local educational agency'', ``secondary school'', 
        and ``State educational agency'' have the meanings given such 
        terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (2) Physical exchange.--The term ``physical exchange'' 
        means an academic, professional, or cultural exchange between 
        the United States and the People's Republic of China that 
        requires international travel by one or more individuals 
        involved in the exchange.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (4) Virtual exchange.--The term ``virtual exchange'' means 
        an academic, professional, or cultural exchange between the 
        United States and the People's Republic of China that does not 
        require international travel by one or more individuals 
        involved in the exchange.

SEC. 402. PROGRAMS FOR CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL STUDIES 
              INSTRUCTION.

    (a) Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under subsection 
        (e), the Secretary of Education shall award grants, on a 
        competitive basis, to local educational agencies to carry out 
        innovative model programs providing for the establishment, 
        improvement, or expansion of Chinese language and cultural 
        studies instruction for elementary school and secondary school 
        students in the schools served by such local educational 
        agencies.
            (2) Duration.--A grant under paragraph (1) shall be for a 
        period of three years.
    (b) Requirements.--In awarding a grant under subsection (a) to a 
local educational agency, the Secretary shall support programs that--
            (1) demonstrate approaches that can be disseminated and 
        duplicated in other local educational agencies; and
            (2) may include a professional development component.
    (c) Reservation.--The Secretary may reserve not more than .05 
percent of funds appropriated under subsection (e) to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the programs funded under this section.
    (d) Applications.--
            (1) In general.--A local educational agency desiring a 
        grant under this section shall submit an application to the 
        Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require.
            (2) Special consideration.--In awarding grants under this 
        section, the Secretary shall give special consideration to 
        applications describing programs that--
                    (A) include intensive summer Chinese language 
                instruction programs for professional development, with 
                particular regard to such programs that include 
                physical exchanges;
                    (B) link speakers in the community who are 
                bilingual in English and Chinese with elementary and 
                secondary schools in order to promote two-way language 
                learning;
                    (C) promote the sequential study of Chinese 
                language for students, beginning in elementary school;
                    (D) make effective use of technology, such as 
                computer-assisted instruction, language laboratories, 
                or distance learning, to promote Chinese language 
                study;
                    (E) promote innovative activities, such as Chinese 
                language immersion, partial Chinese language immersion, 
                or content-based instruction; and
                    (F) promote a comprehensive approach to learning 
                Chinese, which includes programs on the history and 
                culture of China.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 2007, $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 
        through 2011, and such sums as are necessary for each 
        succeeding fiscal year.
            (2) Availability of funds.--Amounts appropriated under this 
        subsection are authorized to remain available until expended.

SEC. 403. SCHOOL LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT.

    (a) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated under subsection 
(f) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants to local 
educational agencies in order for such agencies to acquire 
communications technologies or equipment to improve Chinese language 
instruction in elementary schools and secondary schools through 
computer-assisted instruction, distance learning, and virtual 
exchanges.
    (b) Application.--Each local educational agency desiring a grant 
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require.
    (c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to local educational agencies that commit use the 
grant funds to acquire communications technologies or equipment for the 
purpose of conducting virtual exchanges involving elementary school 
students and secondary school students served by the local educational 
agencies.
    (d) Use of Funds.--A local educational agency receiving a grant 
under this section shall use the grant to acquire communications 
technologies or equipment that--
            (1) may be used for collaborative ventures with--
                    (A) foreign language and area or international 
                studies centers supported under section 602(a) of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1122(a)); or
                    (B) national language resource and training centers 
                supported under section 603 of the Higher Education Act 
                of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1123); and
            (2) shall be used to conduct virtual exchanges with schools 
        or other educational institutions in the People's Republic of 
        China.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of 
        fiscal years 2007 through 2010, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
        2011, and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding 
        fiscal year.
            (2) Availability of funds.--Amounts appropriated under this 
        subsection are authorized to remain available until expended.

SEC. 404. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING BENEFIT OF EXPOSURE TO CHINESE 
              LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.

    It is the sense of Congress that an increase in the number of 
students who receive substantial exposure to Chinese language and 
cultural studies before graduating from secondary school will enhance 
the global economic competitiveness of the United States in the 21st 
century.

TITLE V--POSTSECONDARY CHINESE BUSINESS EDUCATION AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

SEC. 501. CHINESE BUSINESS EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    Part B of title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1130 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 614 as section 615;
            (2) by inserting after section 613 the following new 
        section:

``SEC. 614. CHINESE BUSINESS EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary is authorized to make 
grants to institutions of higher education, or combinations of such 
institutions, to pay the Federal share of the cost of planning, 
establishing, and operating Chinese business education programs to--
            ``(1) develop and enhance student skills, awareness, and 
        expertise relating to Chinese business; and
            ``(2) prepare students to promote the competitiveness of 
        and opportunities for American businesses and firms in the 
        People's Republic of China.
    ``(b) Authorized Activities.--Each grant made under this section 
shall be used to plan, establish, and operate academic programs of 
study relating to Chinese business, including undergraduate and 
graduate level degrees, courses, or seminars on--
            ``(1) the economy of the People's Republic of China;
            ``(2) Chinese trade and commerce;
            ``(3) new and expanding export opportunities for American 
        businesses and firms in China; and
            ``(4) the economic, commerce, and trade relations between 
        the United States and China.
    ``(c) Application.--Each eligible recipient desiring a grant under 
this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
    ``(d) Duration of Grants.--Grants under this section shall be for a 
period of not more than 2 years. Such grants shall be renewable by the 
Secretary for additional 2-year periods.
    ``(e) Federal Share.--
            ``(1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of a 
        Chinese business education program under this section shall be 
        not more than 50 percent of the cost of such program.
            ``(2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
        of a Chinese business education program under this section may 
        be provided either in cash or in kind.''; and
            (3) at the end of section 615, as redesignated by paragraph 
        (1) of this section, add the following new subsection:
    ``(c) Chinese Business Education Programs.--There are authorized to 
be appropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, and $5,000,000 for 
each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years, to carry out the provisions of 
section 614. ''.

SEC. 502. UNITED STATES-PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA INTERNATIONAL 
              CONSORTIA EXCHANGE PROGRAM.

    Part B of title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1138 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 745 as section 746;
            (2) by inserting after section 744 the following new 
        section:

``SEC. 745. UNITED STATES-PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA INTERNATIONAL 
              CONSORTIA EXCHANGE PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated under section 
746(b) for a fiscal year, the Director shall make grants to 
institutions of higher education, or consortia of institutions of 
higher education, to establish and maintain international consortia 
exchange programs between postsecondary educational institutions in the 
People's Republic of China and the United States.
    ``(b) Application.--Each institution of higher education or 
consortium desiring a grant under this section shall submit an 
application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and 
accompanied by such additional information as the Director may require.
    ``(c) Use of Funds.--An institution of higher education or 
consortium receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant 
funds to foster exchanges with the People's Republic of China within 
the context of multilateral curricular development and training in a 
wide range of instructional disciplines.
    ``(d) Applicability of Regulations.--An institution of higher 
education or consortium receiving a grant under this section shall be 
subject to the same requirements and regulations that apply to 
recipients of grants who carry out student exchange programs under 
section 744 .
    ``(e) Goal.--The Director shall administer this section with the 
goal of having as many students enrolled in the exchange program under 
this section as the total number of students in all of the student 
exchange programs authorized under section 744.''; and
            (3) in section 746 (as redesignated by paragraph (1))--
                    (A) by striking ``There are'' and inserting the 
                following:
    ``(a) In General.--There are'';
                    (B) by inserting ``(other than section 745)'' after 
                ``this part''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following subsection:
    ``(b) Section 745.--
            ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        to carry out section 745--
                    ``(A) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
                    ``(B) $7,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 
                through 2011; and
                    ``(C) such sums as may be necessary for each 
                succeeding fiscal year.
            ``(2) Availability of funds.--Amounts made available 
        pursuant to an authorization of appropriation in this 
        subsection are authorized to remain available until 
        expended.''.

                  TITLE VI--EXPORT PROMOTION PROGRAMS

SEC. 601. INCREASE IN NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL SERVICE OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO 
              CHINA.

    (a) Increase in Number of Commercial Service Officers and Other 
Personnel.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, in addition to the total number of full-time employees 
        assigned to the United States and Foreign Commercial Service as 
        of the date of the enactment of this Act at the United States 
        Embassy in the People's Republic of China and each United 
        States consulate in China, the Secretary of Commerce is 
        authorized to hire and assign an additional 17 Commercial 
        Service Officers as the Secretary considers necessary and 
        appropriate.
            (2) Assignment.--Each such Commercial Service Officer shall 
        be assigned to the United States Embassy in the People's 
        Republic of China or a United States consulate in China, 
        including the consular facility established pursuant to section 
        201 of this Act.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce to carry out this section--
                    (A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
                    (B) $4,250,000 for fiscal year 2008 and each 
                subsequent fiscal year.
            (2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) are 
        authorized to remain available until expended.

SEC. 602. GRANTS TO STATES TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE OFFICES TO PROMOTE 
              EXPORTS TO CHINA.

    (a) Grants.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United 
States and Foreign Commercial Service, shall provide grants to States 
to establish and operate State offices to provide assistance to United 
States exporters for the promotion of exports to the People's Republic 
of China.
    (b) Amount.--The amount of a grant under subsection (a) shall not 
exceed 33 percent of the total costs to establish and operate a State 
office described in such subsection.
    (c) Regulations.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall promulgate such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 2301(j)(5) of the Export Enhancement Act of 
        1988 (15 U.S.C. 4721(j)(5)).
            (2) United states exporter.--The term ``United States 
        exporter'' has the meaning given the term in section 2301(j)(3) 
        of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4721(j)(3)).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce to carry out this section $10,000,000 
        for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2011.
            (2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) are 
        authorized to remain available until expended.

SEC. 603. TRADE OUTREACH AT OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF SMALL 
              BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

    Section 22 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Promotion of Exports to China.--The Office shall provide 
strategic guidance to small business concerns with respect to exporting 
services and products to the People's Republic of China.''.
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