[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 67 (Thursday, May 25, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E837-E838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 4528

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                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 24, 2000

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill H.R. 4528 the 
International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000 along with the 
distinguished gentleman from New York, Mr. Hinchey to encourage 
undergraduate college students to study abroad for a year.
  Experts agree that a global society is the future. Americans, need to 
be prepared to operate in an international environment and economy. 
This preparation starts at a young age and is the reason I am 
introducing this measure to assist college-level students to study 
abroad.
  I have been a longstanding supporter of international exchanges, 
because exposure to a world outside of one's home country leads to 
greater understanding. People-to-people contact--the seeing, doing and 
interacting--is how we learn to appreciate similarities, differences or 
other ways of doing things. I would like to expand the horizons of our 
college students by providing incentive grants to encourage lower 
income students to consider a study abroad program.
  This bill authorizes $1.5 million to be made available to the State 
Department for grants up to $5,000. These incentive grants are to be 
used to cover travel or other expenses related to studying overseas. 
The intention of the bill is to provide current study abroad programs 
that exist on many college and university campuses with funds that 
would allow them to reach out to other students that may not have 
considered such study because of the added expense of travel and 
living.
  Developed with the assistance of college administrators and exchange 
experts, it is hoped that a streamlined program will encourage more 
students to participate in an overseas educational program and motivate 
them to learn and apply a foreign language. These experiences and 
skills will serve them well as they enter the workforce. Through these 
grants, I want to help prepare and motivate our young students to 
participate in the international arena.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit the full text of this important measure to be 
inserted at this point in the Record:

                               H.R. 4528

       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 Academic 
     Opportunity Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

       It is the purpose of this Act to establish an undergraduate 
     grant program for students of limited financial

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM FOR FOREIGN STUDY BY 
                   AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS OF LIMITED FINANCIAL 
                   MEANS.

       (a) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations and under the authorities of the Mutual 
     Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, the Secretary 
     of

[[Page E838]]

     State shall establish and carry out a program in each fiscal 
     year to award grants of up to $5,000, to individuals who meet 
     the requirements of subsection (b), toward the cost of 1 
     academic year of undergraduate study at an institution of 
     higher education in a foreign country.
       (b) Eligibility.--An individual referred to in subsection 
     (a) is an individual who--
       (1) is a student in good standing at an institution of 
     higher education in the United States (as defined in section 
     101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965);
       (2) has been accepted for an academic year of study at an 
     institution of higher education outside the United States (as 
     defined by section 102(b) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965);
       (3) is receiving any need-based student assistance under 
     title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and
       (4) is a citizen or national of the United States.
       (c) Application and Selection.--
       (1) Grant application and selection shall be carried out 
     through accredited institutions of higher education in the 
     United States or combination of such institutions under such 
     procedures as are established by the Secretary of State.
       (2) In considering applications for grants under this 
     section, priority consideration shall be given to applicants 
     who are receiving Federal Pell Grants under title IV of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965.

     SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

       The Secretary of State shall report annually to the 
     Congress concerning the grant program established under this 
     Act. Each such report shall include the following information 
     for the preceding year:
       (1) The number of participants.
       (2) The institutions of higher education in the United 
     States that participants attended.
       (3) The institutions of higher education outside the United 
     States participants attended during their year of study 
     abroad.
       (4) The areas of study of participants.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 for each 
     fiscal year to carry out this Act.

     SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act shall take effect October 1, 2000.

       

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