[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 137 (Wednesday, September 6, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S12746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                THE NATIONAL SECURITY EDUCATION PROGRAM

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, this Defense appropriations bill 
includes $7.5 million for the National Security Education Program. I 
want to congratulate my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee for 
ensuring funding for this important program.
  The National Security Education Program has enjoyed bipartisan 
support. President Bush signed the National Security Education Act, 
which established the National Security Education Program, in December 
1991. The chief Senate sponsor of the bill was Senator David Boren, who 
is now president of the University of Oklahoma. Senators Nunn and 
Warner were cosponsors.
  The National Security Education Program was designed to support study 
abroad by U.S. students. The program emphasizes the study of foreign 
languages and preparation for possible careers in national security. 
Funds go to U.S. institutions, undergraduate scholarships, and graduate 
fellowships.
  The program guarantees a return on the Federal investment by 
requiring that recipients of fellowships and scholarships be obligated 
to serve in a Federal Government agency or an educational institution 
in the area of study for which the scholarship or fellowship was 
awarded.
  According to CRS, this is the only major Federal program that 
supports study abroad by U.S. citizen undergraduate students.
  The program operates from interest on a trust fund, based on a one-
time 1992 appropriation of $150 million. In fiscal year 1995, the trust 
fund yielded $15 million.
  Pressured to find savings in these tight budget times, the 
Appropriations Committee voted to cut funding for the program and 
eliminate the trust fund in the Defense supplemental bill we considered 
earlier this year. I offered an amendment on the Senate floor that 
restored funding for the program. The amendment was accepted on a voice 
vote.
  A compromise was reached in conference whereby all 1995 funding was 
saved but the trust fund was reduced from $150 million to $75 million. 
This was a fair compromise given that the House also had originally 
voted to eliminate the program.
  I am pleased that for fiscal year 1996, the Appropriations Committee 
decided to continue funding for the program, even though it is 
necessarily based on a smaller trust fund which yields less interest 
than it had previously. This is an effective program that addresses a 
serious national interest and I commend the committee for its wise 
action.
  Foreign language proficiency is crucial to our national defense and 
security but there is much that needs to be done. Of the 500,000 
American troops the United States sent to the Persian Gulf, only five 
could translate Iraqi intelligence documents. The United States has the 
only foreign service in the world you can get into without the 
knowledge of a foreign language.
  Foreign language proficiency and knowledge of other cultures is also 
important for our economic competitiveness. There is a simple rule of 
business: ``You can buy in any language, but if you want to sell you 
have to speak the language of your customer.'' The fact is that four 
out of five new jobs in the United States are created through foreign 
trade.
  An article that appeared on the front page of the business section of 
the Sunday Los Angeles Times on August 28, 1994 noted that: ``In a 
global economy, study and business experience abroad are critical. Yet 
Americans stay home while 400,000 foreign students come here to 
learn.''
  Last year, the National Security Education Program supported 317 
students from 150 U.S. institutions who studied in 48 countries with 34 
different languages. The average award was $8,000 per student. Cutting 
the program would yield very small savings. But the dividends from such 
programs are very real.
  I hope the Senate can maintain support for this program when the bill 
moves to conference.
  I thank my colleagues.
  

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