[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 67 (Thursday, May 19, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5543-S5545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Cochran, and Mr. Dodd):
  S. 1089. A bill to establish the National Foreign Language 
Coordination Council to develop and implement a foreign language 
strategy, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce the National 
Language Coordination Act of 2005 which provides a framework for 
leading and coordination the learning of foreign languages and 
cultures, with my good friends Senators Cochran and Dodd. 
  The National Foreign Language Coordination Act would create the 
position of a National Language Director and a National Foreign 
Language Coordination Council to develop and oversee the implementation 
of a foreign language strategy. The proposed Council, chaired by the 
National Language Director, would identify crucial priorities, increase 
public awareness of the need for foreign language skills, advocate 
maximum use of resources, coordinate cross-sector efforts, and monitor 
the foreign language activities of the Federal Government.
  The genesis of this legislation is a report entitled, ``A Call to 
Action for National Foreign Language Capabilities,'' issued by the 
National Language Conference held in June 2004 under the auspices of 
the Department of Defense. This conference was an extraordinary 
gathering of government, industry, academia, and language association 
representatives. The mission of this meeting was twofold: to discuss 
and deliberate initial strategic approaches to meeting the nation's 
language needs in the 21st century, and to identify actions that could 
move the United States toward a ``language-competent nation.'' It was 
hosted by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel 
and Readiness and by the Center for Advanced Study of Language (CASL) 
at the University of Maryland at College Park.
  I ask unanimous consent that the executive summary of the report, ``A 
Call to Action for National Foreign Language Capabilities,'' be printed 
in the Record following my remarks.
  I believe the recommendations of this report speak eloquently to the 
need for this legislation. As Dr. David Chu, Undersecretary of Defense 
for Personnel and Readiness, notes in his forward to the report, 
``improving the nation's foreign language capability requires immediate 
and long-term engagement.''
  The intent of this legislation is to ensure that immediate and long-
term engagement.
  The establishment of a National Language Director and the creation of 
a National Foreign Language Coordination Council will ensure that the 
key recommendations of the Department of Defense sponsored conference 
will be implemented, which include: developing policies and programs 
that build the nation's language and cultural understanding capability; 
engaging federal, state, and local agencies and the private sector in 
solutions; developing language and cultural competency across public 
and private sectors; developing language skills in a wide range of 
critical languages; strengthening our education system, programs, and 
tools in foreign languages and cultures; and integrating language 
training into career fields and increase the number of language 
professionals.
  The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, showed how much more was 
needed to improve education in these critical areas. The investigations 
surrounding the attacks have underscored how important foreign language 
proficiency is to our national security. The Joint Intelligence 
Committee inquiry into the terrorist attacks found that prior to 
September 11, the Intelligence Community was not prepared to handle the 
challenge of translating the volumes of foreign language counter-
terrorism intelligence that had been collected. Agencies within the 
Intelligence Community experienced backlogs in material awaiting 
translation and a shortage of language specialists and language-
qualified field officers in the most critical terrorism-related 
languages used by terrorists.
  America needs people who understand foreign cultures and who are 
fluent in locally-spoken languages. The stability and economic vitality 
of the United States and our national security depend on American 
citizens who are knowledgeable about the world. We need civil servants, 
including law enforcement officers, teachers, area experts, diplomats, 
and business people with the ability to communicate at an advanced 
level in the languages and understand the cultures of the people with 
whom they interact.
  Experts tell us we should develop long-term relationships with people 
from every walk of life all across the world, whether or not the 
languages they speak are considered critical for a particular issue or 
emergency.
  They are right.
  As then-Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz noted at the 
National Language Conference, ``The greater our ability to communicate 
with people, the easier the burden on our troops and the greater the 
likelihood that we can complete our missions and bring our people home 
safely. Even better, the greater our linguistic skill, the greater the 
possibility that we can resolve international differences and achieve 
our objectives without having to use force.''
  I am proud of my own State of Hawaii, whose language patterns reflect 
that we are a mixing pot of varying cultures. According to the 2000 
Census, more than 300,000 people or about 27 percent of those five 
years and older spoke a language other than English at home. This is 
compared to about 18 percent nationwide. Language education offerings 
to improve conversational proficiency with formal training in non-
English languages are working to keep pace with increased demand. In 
addition, enrollments in foreign language courses at the University of 
Hawaii have been markedly increasing--a trend that I am gratified to 
see happening across the country. But more needs to be done both in 
Hawaii and the rest of the country.
  I am a passionate believer in beginning these programs at the 
earliest age possible. Americans need to be open to the world; we need 
to be able to see the world through the eyes of others if we are going 
to understand how to resolve the complex problems we face.
  The need to hear and understand one another is timeless and 
essential.
  An ongoing commitment to developing language and cultural expertise

[[Page S5544]]

helps prevent a crisis from occurring and provides diplomatic and 
language resources when needed. We cannot afford to seek out foreign 
language skills after an event like 9/11 occurs. The failures of 
communication and understanding have already done their damage. We must 
provide an ongoing commitment to language education and encourage 
knowledge of foreign languages and cultures.
  The answer is simple. If we are committed to maintaining these 
relationships and creating a language proficient citizenry, we must 
have leadership. The National Foreign Language Coordination Act will 
provide this leadership and ensure that we are aware and involved in 
the world around us.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.
  There being no objection, the materials were ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

           Executive Summary--A Call to Action and Leadership

       Vision: Our vision is a world in which the United States is 
     a stronger global leader through proficiency in foreign 
     languages and understanding of the cultures of the world. 
     These abilities are strengths of our public and private 
     sectors and pillars of our educational system. The 
     government, academic, and private sectors contribute to, and 
     mutually benefit from, these national capabilities.
       The terrorist attacks of September 11th, the Global War on 
     Terrorism, and the continued threat to our Homeland have 
     defined the critical need to take action to improve the 
     foreign language and cultural capabilities of the Nation. We 
     must act now to improve the gathering and analysis of 
     information, advance international diplomacy, and support 
     military operations. We must act to retain our global market 
     leadership and succeed against increasingly sophisticated 
     competitors whose workforces possess potent combinations of 
     professional skills, knowledge of other cultures, and 
     multiple language proficiencies. Our domestic well-being 
     demands action to provide opportunities for all students to 
     learn foreign languages important for the Nation, develop the 
     capabilities of our heritage communities, and ensure services 
     that are core to our quality of life.
       Success in this crucial undertaking will depend on 
     leadership strong enough to:
       Implement policies, programs, and legislation that build 
     the national language and cultural understanding capability;
       Engage Federal, state, and local agencies and the private 
     sector in solutions;
       Develop language and cultural competency across public and 
     private sectors;
       Develop language skills in a wide range of critical 
     languages;
       Strengthen our education system, programs, and tools in 
     foreign languages and cultures; and
       Integrate language training into career fields and increase 
     the number of language professionals, especially in the less 
     commonly taught languages.
       Leadership must be comprehensive, as no one sector--
     government, industry, or academia--has all of the needs for 
     language and cultural competency, or all of the solutions. 
     Some actions must be initiated immediately by specific 
     agencies and Federal Departments should organize to work on 
     proposed recommendations. Other necessary solutions must be 
     long-term, strategic, and `` involve multiple organizations 
     in all levels. To accomplish this agenda, the Nation needs:
       A National Language Authority appointed by the President to 
     develop and implement a national foreign language strategy;
       A National Foreign Language Coordination Council to 
     coordinate implementation of the national foreign language 
     strategy.
       This is the Call to Action to move the Nation toward a 21st 
     century vision.

                                S. 1089

       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 ``National Foreign Language 
     Coordination Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) there is a severe shortage of qualified language 
     professionals, including teachers, translators, and 
     interpreters, especially in less commonly taught languages, 
     across the United States;
       (2) Federal, State, and local governments need individuals 
     with bilingual and bicultural capabilities, including--
       (A) diplomats;
       (B) defense and intelligence analysts;
       (C) military personnel;
       (D) foreign language instructors;
       (E) health professionals;
       (F) medical and social services providers;
       (G) court interpreters;
       (H) translators; and
       (I) law enforcement officers;
       (3) deficiencies in the national language capabilities 
     have--
       (A) undermined cross-cultural communication and 
     understanding at home and abroad;
       (B) restrained social mobility;
       (C) lessened national commercial competitiveness;
       (D) limited the effectiveness of public diplomacy;
       (E) restricted justice and government services to sectors 
     of society; and
       (F) threatened national security;
       (4) ample resources are not available to develop language 
     and cultural capabilities in all of the world's languages, 
     requiring prioritization of such resources; and
       (5) a National Foreign Language Coordination Council and a 
     National Language Director can help to raise public awareness 
     and provide top-down coordination and direction.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE 
                   COORDINATION COUNCIL.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established the National 
     Foreign Language Coordination Council (referred to as the 
     ``Council'' in this Act), which shall be an independent 
     establishment as defined under section 104 of title 5, United 
     States Code.
       (b) Membership.--The Council shall consist of the following 
     members or their designees:
       (1) The National Language Director, who shall serve as the 
     chairperson of the Council.
       (2) The Secretary of Education.
       (3) The Secretary of Defense.
       (4) The Secretary of State.
       (5) The Secretary of Homeland Security.
       (6) The Attorney General.
       (7) The Director of National Intelligence.
       (8) The Secretary of Labor.
       (9) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
       (10) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
       (11) The Secretary of Commerce.
       (12) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
       (13) The Secretary of the Treasury.
       (14) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
       (15) The Secretary of Agriculture.
       (16) The heads of such other Federal agencies as the 
     Council considers appropriate.
       (c) Responsibilities.--
       (1) In general.--The Council shall be charged with--
       (A) developing a national foreign language strategy within 
     18 months of the date of enactment of this Act; and
       (B) overseeing the implementation of such strategy.
       (2) Strategy content.--The strategy developed under 
     paragraph (1) shall include--
       (A) identification of crucial priorities across all 
     sectors;
       (B) identification and evaluation of Federal foreign 
     language programs and activities, including--
       (i) recommendations on coordination;
       (ii) program enhancements; and
       (iii) allocation of resources so as to maximize use of 
     resources;
       (C) needed national policies and corresponding legislative 
     and regulatory actions in support of, and allocation of 
     designated resources to, promising programs and initiatives 
     at all levels (Federal, State, and local), especially in the 
     less commonly taught languages that are seen as critical for 
     national security and global competitiveness in the next 20 
     to 50 years;
       (D) effective ways to increase public awareness of the need 
     for foreign language skills and career paths in all sectors 
     that can employ those skills, with the objective of 
     increasing support for foreign language study among--
       (i) Federal, State, and local leaders;
       (ii) students;
       (iii) parents;
       (iv) elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational 
     institutions; and
       (v) potential employers;
       (E) incentives for related educational programs, including 
     foreign language teacher training;
       (F) coordination of cross-sector efforts, including public-
     private partnerships;
       (G) coordination initiatives to develop a strategic posture 
     for language research and recommendations for funding for 
     applied foreign language research into issues of national 
     concern;
       (H) assistance for--
       (i) the development of foreign language achievement 
     standards; and
       (ii) corresponding assessments for the elementary, 
     secondary, and postsecondary education levels, including the 
     National Assessment of Educational Progress in foreign 
     languages;
       (I) development of--
       (i) language skill-level certification standards;
       (ii) an ideal course of pre-service and professional 
     development study for those who teach foreign language;
       (iii) suggested graduation criteria for foreign language 
     studies and appropriate non-language studies, such as--

       (I) international business;
       (II) national security;
       (III) public administration; and
       (IV) health care; and

       (J) identification of and means for replicating best 
     practices at all levels and in all sectors, including best 
     practices from the international community.
       (d) Meetings.--The Council may hold such meetings, and sit 
     and act at such times and places, as the Council considers 
     appropriate, but shall meet in formal session at least 2 
     times a year. State and local government agencies and other 
     organizations (such as

[[Page S5545]]

     academic sector institutions, foreign language-related 
     interest groups, business associations, industry, and 
     heritage community organizations) shall be invited, as 
     appropriate, to public meetings of the Council at least once 
     a year.
       (e) Staff.--
       (1) In general.--The Director may appoint and fix the 
     compensation of such additional personnel as the Director 
     considers necessary to carry out the duties of the Council.
       (2) Details from other agencies.--Upon request of the 
     Council, the head of any Federal agency may detail, on a 
     reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency to 
     the Council.
       (3) Experts and consultants.--With the approval of the 
     Council, the Director may procure temporary and intermittent 
     services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 
     Code.
       (f) Powers.--
       (1) Delegation.--Any member or employee of the Council may, 
     if authorized by the Council, take any action that the 
     Council is authorized to take in this Act.
       (2) Information.--The Council may secure directly from any 
     Federal agency such information the Council considers 
     necessary to carry out its responsibilities. Upon request of 
     the Director, the head of such agency shall furnish such 
     information to the Council.
       (3) Donations.--The Council may accept, use, and dispose of 
     gifts or donations of services or property.
       (4) Mail.--The Council may use the United States mail in 
     the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
     Federal agencies.
       (g) Conferences, Newsletter, and Website.--In carrying out 
     this Act, the Council--
       (1) may arrange Federal, regional, State, and local 
     conferences for the purpose of developing and coordinating 
     effective programs and activities to improve foreign language 
     education;
       (2) may publish a newsletter concerning Federal, State, and 
     local programs that are effectively meeting the foreign 
     language needs of the nation; and
       (3) shall create and maintain a website containing 
     information on the Council and its activities, best practices 
     on language education, and other relevant information.
       (h) Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Council 
     shall prepare and transmit to the President and Congress a 
     report that describes the activities of the Council and the 
     efforts of the Council to improve foreign language education 
     and training and impediments, including any statutory and 
     regulatory restrictions, to the use of each such program.

     SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL LANGUAGE DIRECTOR.

       (a) In General.--There is established a National Language 
     Director who shall be appointed by the President. The 
     National Language Director shall be a nationally recognized 
     individual with credentials and abilities across all of the 
     sectors to be involved with creating and implementing long-
     term solutions to achieving national foreign language and 
     cultural competency.
       (b) Responsibilities.--The National Language Director 
     shall--
       (1) develop and oversee the implementation of a national 
     foreign language strategy across all sectors;
       (2) establish formal relationships among the major 
     stakeholders in meeting the needs of the Nation for improved 
     capabilities in foreign languages and cultural understanding, 
     including Federal, State, and local government agencies, 
     academia, industry, labor, and heritage communities; and
       (3) coordinate and lead a public information campaign that 
     raises awareness of public and private sector careers 
     requiring foreign language skills and cultural understanding, 
     with the objective of increasing interest in and support for 
     the study of foreign languages among national leaders, the 
     business community, local officials, parents, and 
     individuals.
       (c) Compensation.--The National Language Director shall be 
     paid at a rate of pay payable for a position at level V of 
     the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United 
     States Code.

     SEC. 5. ENCOURAGEMENT OF STATE INVOLVEMENT.

       (a) State Contact Persons.--The Council shall consult with 
     each State to provide for the designation by each State of an 
     individual to serve as a State contact person for the purpose 
     of receiving and disseminating information and communications 
     received from the Council.
       (b) State Interagency Councils and Lead Agencies.--Each 
     State is encouraged to establish a State interagency council 
     on foreign language coordination or designate a lead agency 
     for the State for the purpose of assuming primary 
     responsibility for coordinating and interacting with the 
     Council and State and local government agencies as necessary.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

                          ____________________