[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1105 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







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--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (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
                    (B) in paragraph (4)--
                            (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)'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (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:
    ``(d) Allowances.--
            ``(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--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (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.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (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--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``$11,000,000'' and inserting 
                ``$20,000,000''; and
                    (B) by striking ``1999'' and inserting ``2006''; 
                and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (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.
    ``(b) Summer Stipends.--
            ``(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.''.
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