[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 167 (Wednesday, December 21, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14319-S14322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER:

[[Page S14319]]

  S. 2157. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for 
the Purple Heart to be awarded to prisoners of war who die in captivity 
under circumstances not otherwise establishing eligibility for the 
Purple Heart; to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce legislation 
today to provide for the Purple Heart to be awarded to all prisoners of 
war who die in captivity, regardless of the cause of death. The ``Honor 
Our Fallen Prisoners of War Act'' was previously introduced by 
Representative Bob Filner in the House of Representatives. I am proud 
to join him in this effort.
  The ``Honor Our Fallen Prisoners of War Act'' would make members of 
the Armed Forces who die in captivity of any circumstance eligible for 
the Purple Heart. Currently, only prisoners of war who die during their 
imprisonment of wounds inflicted by an instrument of war are eligible 
for posthumous Purple Heart recognition. Those who die of starvation, 
disease, abuse, or other causes during captivity are not.
  I believe this is an injustice to the thousands of POWs who paid the 
ultimate price in service to our Nation. The purpose of the Purple 
Heart is to honor those who are killed or wounded in action as the 
result of an act of an enemy of the United States. It makes no sense 
that prisoner of war camps--where thousands of Americans have been held 
against their will and have endured great suffering at the hands of 
enemy forces--are not considered a battlefield.
  The legislation is retro-active to December 7, 1941 and would 
therefore include all POWs who have died in captivity since World War 
II.
  The ``Honor Our Fallen Prisoners of War Act'' has been endorsed by 
the Tiger Survivors, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of the 
Purple Heart, Korean War Veterans Association, National League of POW/
MIA Families, and a number of other prominent veterans organizations.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself and Ms. Collins):
  S. 2158. A bill to establish a National Homeland Security Academy 
within the Department of Homeland Security; to the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce today the 
National Homeland Security Academy Act of 2005. I am delighted that 
Chairman Collins has joined me in sponsoring this legislation.
  Shortly after the Homeland Security Department was formed in 2003, I 
laid out my vision for what the country needed to do to protect against 
another terrorist attack, or major natural disaster, in a speech at 
George Washington University. Among the areas I identified as in need 
of additional work was the training of those who agreed to commit 
themselves to the protection of Americans here at home. At the time, I 
said we needed to make sure homeland security professionals were given 
the full range of skills necessary to make this country as safe as it 
should be and I proposed a National Homeland Security Academy to 
educate and train the best and brightest of our future leaders.
  The bill Senator Collins and I are introducing today, the National 
Homeland Security Academy Act of 2005, is the fulfillment of that idea.
  It was clear to me as I was working to create a Department of 
Homeland Security that we would need to find a way to make sure 
Department professionals, as well as the State and local officials with 
whom they work, understand the full scope and range of responsibilities 
entrusted to the Department--not just the details of their own 
particular jobs. This academy would accomplish that. It would cultivate 
leaders, teach the full range of skills necessary for robust homeland 
security, and provide cross-disciplinary and joint education and 
training to government officials at the Federal, State and local levels 
so that they can develop the bonds and relationships that will make 
their work more efficient and effective.
  The National Homeland Security Academy Act of 2005 is the product of 
my work with the Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs Committee, Senator Collins, as well as homeland security 
experts, scholars, and education and professional development experts. 
Together, we have refined the concept of homeland security education 
and training to meet the Department's needs today and into the future.
  The academy I envision would be a professional development 
institution, much like the War College created by the Department of 
Defense to provide its leaders with a deep and thorough understanding 
of military and defense matters. The National Homeland Security Academy 
would ensure that new and mid-level executive employees at the 
Department of Homeland Security--as well as other Federal, State, and 
local leaders with homeland security responsibilities--have a thorough 
understanding of the strategic missions of the Department, as well 
access to hands-on training exercises, and real-time simulation.
  Four months ago, Hurricane Katrina reminded us in no uncertain terms 
that our homeland security workers at all levels still have much to 
learn. How and when to share critical information? What does it mean to 
activate the National Response Plan? Who is responsible for which 
emergency response mission? These are the types of questions we on the 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee have been hearing 
as we investigate why the preparedness for and response to the 
hurricane was so lacking. The National Homeland Security Academy would 
provide answers to these and many more questions and ensure homeland 
security officials are better equipped to respond to the next disaster.
  The centerpiece of the Academy would be the National Homeland 
Security Education and Strategy Center, where Federal homeland security 
officials would receive initial and continuing homeland security 
education. The Academy would also incorporate the Center for Homeland 
Defense and Security run by the Naval Postgraduate School at the 
Direction of the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and 
Preparedness. In addition, the bill establishes a National Homeland 
Security Education Network comprised of the academies and training 
centers within the jurisdiction of DHS--like the Federal Law 
Enforcement Training Center--as well as a communications network 
capable of providing distance learning opportunities.
  It also creates a new State and Local Education and Training 
Coordinator within the Office of State and Local Government 
Coordination and Preparedness to address one of the most frequent 
criticisms local first responders have with the Department of Homeland 
Security, and that is the fact that many people in the Department seem 
to be unaware of or unwilling to make use of excellent state and local 
education and training programs. A liaison officer would rectify that.
  This bill does not change the system for first responder training. 
Local first responders will continue to work with the Office of State 
and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness to ensure they have 
the necessary training to deal with the situations they face everyday. 
But we believe that bringing people together from all levels of 
government to study homeland security issues from different 
perspectives would be healthy. And we do think that homeland security 
will benefit overall from the relationships that would inevitably form 
between officials at every level and from every corner of the country.
  The National Homeland Security Act of 2005 addresses a deficiency in 
the education and training of our homeland security professionals by 
helping to foster connected, experienced, and knowledgeable homeland 
security leaders who will be able to provide the best possible 
protection for the American people. I look forward to working with 
Chairman Collins in the next session to mark up this bill and make it 
law.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2158

       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 Homeland Security 
     Academy Act of 2005''.

[[Page S14320]]

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) homeland security poses a complex challenge for the 
     Nation that can only be successfully addressed by the 
     combined effort of Federal, State, and local governments and 
     the private sector;
       (2) the United States fields a dedicated workforce to 
     provide homeland security, but lacks a coordinated homeland 
     security education system that links a strategy-based 
     education with hands on training and real time simulation, 
     and fails to make such a system available to the appropriate 
     government and private sector personnel on a wide scale;
       (3) officials at all levels of government should understand 
     the strategic mission of the Department of Homeland Security, 
     and have access to continuing education and hands-on training 
     exercises;
       (4) the development of a program of professional education 
     and training that links strategy and training, and 
     coordinates current training among the many academies and 
     training facilities that fall under the jurisdiction of the 
     Department of Homeland Security, is essential to meeting the 
     goals and intent of the Homeland Security Act of 2002;
       (5) lessons learned from the Department of Homeland 
     Security's Top Official Exercises (TOPOFF), and the tragedy 
     of Hurricane Katrina, demonstrate there is a need to build up 
     institutional knowledge within the Department and cultivate 
     leaders capable of guiding the Department and the Nation when 
     catastrophic incidents occur;
       (6) modern information technologies provide uniquely 
     powerful tools for ensuring that material is presented in a 
     way that facilitates rapid and effective learning for a 
     diverse student body, material being taught is continuously 
     upgraded and reviewed, and training is available anytime and 
     anywhere it is needed; and
       (7) as the Homeland Security Act of 2002 brought together a 
     number of Federal agencies with specific and often nonrelated 
     functions to form a single department, the National Homeland 
     Security Academy will draw upon the expertise of a variety of 
     existing academic institutions and innovative programs to 
     educate our homeland security workforce.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL HOMELAND SECURITY ACADEMY.

       (a) In General.--Title VIII of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 361 et seq.) is amended by adding after 
     section 801 the following:

     ``SEC. 802. NATIONAL HOMELAND SECURITY ACADEMY.

       ``(a) Establishment.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary--
       ``(A) shall establish the National Homeland Security 
     Academy (referred to in this section as the `Academy') within 
     the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and 
     Preparedness of the Department; and
       ``(B) may enter into cooperative agreements with other 
     agencies or entities to utilize space and provide for the 
     lease of real property for the Academy or any component of 
     the Academy.
       ``(2) Composition.--The Academy shall consist of--
       ``(A) the National Homeland Security Education and Strategy 
     Center (referred to in this section as the `Strategy Center') 
     to provide fundamental instruction and develop a homeland 
     security curriculum focusing primarily on the Federal 
     Government's overall strategy, goals, methods, and 
     techniques;
       ``(B) a communications network capable of delivering 
     distance learning opportunities, at the direction of the 
     Strategy Center;
       ``(C) the programs of the Office of State and Local 
     Government Coordination and Preparedness' Center for Homeland 
     Defense and Security located at the Naval Postgraduate 
     School, and such programs shall be incorporated into the 
     Academy in a manner to be determined by the Secretary; and
       ``(D) the National Homeland Security Education Network, 
     which--
       ``(i) shall be composed of representatives from all of the 
     academies and training centers within the jurisdiction of the 
     Department;
       ``(ii) shall work with the Academy to develop a 
     standardized homeland security curriculum to be incorporated, 
     as appropriate, at each academy and training center to ensure 
     that the focus of the individual centers is coordinated with 
     the centralized educational strategies and goals of the 
     Academy; and
       ``(iii) shall not affect the respective missions and goals 
     of the participating academies and training centers.
       ``(3) Mission.--The mission of the Academy shall be to--
       ``(A) establish an educational system to--
       ``(i) cultivate leaders in homeland security; and
       ``(ii) ensure that Federal, State, local, tribal, and 
     private sector officials get the full range of skills needed 
     to provide robust homeland security;
       ``(B) provide strategic education and training to carry out 
     the missions of the Department of Homeland Security;
       ``(C) provide cross-disciplinary and joint education and 
     training to Federal, State, and local government officials 
     responsible for the direct application and execution of vital 
     homeland security missions; and
       ``(D) focus primarily on shorter-term classes and exercises 
     to maximize participation by the homeland security community.
       ``(4) Enrollment target.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Strategy Center shall have an 
     initial annual enrollment target of 1,000 resident students, 
     as described in subsection (b)(3)(A).
       ``(B) Non-resident students.--The enrollment target under 
     subparagraph (A) does not include non-resident students, 
     including students who participate in electronic learning 
     systems.
       ``(5) Responsibilities.--
       ``(A) In general.--In addition to providing traditional 
     course work and hands-on training exercises, the Academy 
     shall encourage the development and use of modern technology 
     to ensure that the training offered at the Academy, and to 
     organizations and individuals receiving instruction over 
     electronic learning systems--
       ``(i) is tailored to the unique needs of the individuals 
     and groups that need training;
       ``(ii) efficiently uses such technology; and
       ``(iii) translates directly into practical skills.
       ``(B) Instructional materials.--The Academy shall develop 
     instructional requirements for courses related to its mission 
     that are supported with materials that are adequately 
     reviewed and continuously updated.
       ``(C) Certification.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Academy may establish certification 
     criteria for students in areas related to its mission, in 
     consultation with the Network established under subsection 
     (e).
       ``(ii) Recertification.--The criteria established under 
     clause (i) shall include requirements for recertification and 
     ensure the availability of needed assessment tools.
       ``(D) Information repository.--The Academy shall provide a 
     repository of approved instructional materials, instructional 
     software, and other materials that are easily accessible by 
     participants.
       ``(E) Communication networks.--The Academy shall certify, 
     and operate, if necessary, a secure, reliable communication 
     system capable of delivering instructional materials to 
     participants at any time and place.
       ``(F) Instruction and expertise.--The Academy shall certify 
     instructors, experts, counselors, and other individuals who 
     can provide answers and advice to students over communication 
     systems.
       ``(6) Strategy center.--
       ``(A) Responsibilities.--The Strategy Center shall--
       ``(i) provide curriculum development and classroom 
     instruction for resident students that focus on the strategic 
     goals, methods, and techniques for homeland security;
       ``(ii) provide instruction--

       ``(I) primarily to Federal employees described under 
     subsection (b)(3)(A) with homeland security responsibilities; 
     and
       ``(II) to small numbers of State and local government 
     officials and private individuals; and

       ``(iii) direct the operation of the Academy's electronic 
     learning systems.
       ``(B) Curriculum.--The curriculum taught at the Strategy 
     Center shall--
       ``(i) include basic education about homeland security, the 
     Department, and the relationship of the directorates within 
     the Department;
       ``(ii) include the relationship between the Department and 
     other Federal, State, and local agencies with homeland 
     security responsibilities; and
       ``(iii) be developed with assistance from the National 
     Homeland Security Education Network.
       ``(b) Administration.--
       ``(1) Executive director.--The Secretary shall appoint an 
     Executive Director for the Academy, who shall--
       ``(A) administer the operations of the Academy;
       ``(B) establish an Academic Board, to be headed by the Dean 
     of the Academic Board, appointed under paragraph (2);
       ``(C) hire initial staff and faculty, as appropriate and 
     necessary;
       ``(D) contract with practitioners and experts, as 
     appropriate, to supplement academic instruction;
       ``(E) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding long-
     term staffing and funding levels for the Academy; and
       ``(F) report to the Executive Director of the Office of 
     State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness.
       ``(2) Dean of the academic board.--The Executive Director 
     shall appoint, with the approval of the Secretary, a 
     permanent professor to serve as Dean of the Academic Board 
     and perform such duties as the Executive Director may 
     prescribe.
       ``(3) Director of admissions.--The Executive Director shall 
     appoint, with the approval of the Secretary, a Director of 
     Admissions, who shall--
       ``(A) grant admission to the Strategy Center to--
       ``(i) new employees of the Department, who have clear 
     homeland security responsibilities;
       ``(ii) mid-level executive employees of the Department, 
     including employees that receive academy or other training, 
     who demonstrate a need for cross-disciplinary or advanced 
     education and training and have been endorsed by the 
     appropriate Under Secretary;
       ``(iii) other Federal employees with homeland security 
     responsibilities who have been endorsed by the head of their 
     agency;
       ``(iv) State and local employees who--

       ``(I) demonstrate a clear responsibility for providing 
     homeland security; and

[[Page S14321]]

       ``(II) possess the nomination of the Governor of their 
     State, or Head of applicable jurisdiction; and

       ``(v) private sector applicants who demonstrate a clear 
     responsibility for providing homeland security;
       ``(B) ensure that students from each level of government 
     and the private sector are included in all programs and 
     classes, whenever appropriate; and
       ``(C) perform such duties as the Executive Director may 
     prescribe.
       ``(c) Board of Visitors.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--Before the Academy admits any 
     students, the Secretary shall establish a Board of Visitors 
     (in this section referred to as the `Board') to--
       ``(A) assist in the development of curriculum and programs 
     at the Academy; and
       ``(B) recommend the site for the location of the Strategy 
     Center.
       ``(2) Membership.--
       ``(A) Composition.--The Board will be composed of--
       ``(i) the Secretary, or designee, who shall serve as chair;
       ``(ii) the Executive Director of the Academy, or designee, 
     who shall be a nonvoting member;
       ``(iii) the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security 
     and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, or designee;
       ``(iv) the Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, or designee;
       ``(v) the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security of 
     the House of Representatives, or designee;
       ``(vi) the Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland 
     Security of the House of Representatives, or designee;
       ``(vii) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or 
     designee;
       ``(viii) the Secretary of Defense, or designee;
       ``(ix) the Secretary of Education, or designee;
       ``(x) the Secretary of Transportation, or designee;
       ``(xi) the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
     or designee;
       ``(xii) 4 persons, who shall be appointed by the Secretary 
     for 2-year terms to represent State and local governments; 
     and
       ``(xiii) 4 persons, who shall be appointed by the Secretary 
     for 2-year terms to represent first responders.
       ``(B) Prohibition.--Any person described under subparagraph 
     (A), whose membership on the Board would create a conflict of 
     interest, shall not serve as a member of the Board.
       ``(C) Vacancies.--If a member of the Board dies or resigns 
     from office, the official who designated the member shall 
     designate a successor for the unexpired portion of the term.
       ``(3) Duties.--
       ``(A) Academy visits.--The Board shall visit the Academy 
     not less than annually, and may, with the approval of the 
     Secretary, make other visits to the Academy in connection 
     with the duties of the Board or to consult with the Executive 
     Director of the Academy.
       ``(B) Inquiries.--The Board shall inquire into the 
     curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, 
     academic methods, student body composition, and other matters 
     relating to the Academy that the Board decides to consider.
       ``(C) Reports.--
       ``(i) Annual report.--Not later than 60 days after each 
     annual visit, the Board shall submit a written report to the 
     Secretary, which describes its action, and of its views and 
     recommendations pertaining to the Academy.
       ``(ii) Additional reports.--Any report of a visit, other 
     than the annual visit, shall, if approved by a majority of 
     the members of the Board, be submitted to the Secretary not 
     later than 60 days after the approval.
       ``(4) Travel expenses.--The members of the Board shall be 
     allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
     under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
     Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
     business in the performance of services for the Board.
       ``(d) Reports to Congress.--
       ``(1) Curriculum and attendance.--The Secretary shall 
     submit an annual report that describes the curriculum of, and 
     enrollment at, the Academy to--
       ``(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs of the Senate; and
       ``(B) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives.
       ``(2) Feasibility report.--Not later than 1 year after the 
     establishment of the Academy, the Secretary shall submit a 
     report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security 
     of the House of Representatives that--
       ``(A) recommends an appropriate combination of students 
     from Federal, State, and local government and the private 
     sector, and the percentage of costs related to the education 
     of each of these student groups that should be reimbursable;
       ``(B) describes the feasibility of expanding the Academy in 
     regional offices established by the Department or other 
     government or university programs to provide ongoing 
     education and training for Federal employees with homeland 
     security responsibilities; and
       ``(C) describes the feasibility of providing education for 
     the general public through electronic learning systems.
       ``(e) National Homeland Security Education Network.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--The Executive Director of the Academy 
     shall establish a National Homeland Security Education 
     Network (referred to in this section as the `Network'), as 
     described under subsection (a)(2)(B).
       ``(2) Membership.--The Network shall be comprised of 
     representatives from Federal training and certification 
     organizations, including--
       ``(A) the National Homeland Security Academy;
       ``(B) the Office of Domestic Preparedness;
       ``(C) the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium;
       ``(D) the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the 
     Naval Postgraduate School;
       ``(E) the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, 
     including all schools or training and education programs 
     managed or co-located with the Center;
       ``(F) the Customs and Border Protection Academy;
       ``(G) the Border Patrol Academy;
       ``(H) the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
     Academy;
       ``(I) the Secret Service Academy;
       ``(J) the United States Coast Guard Academy, including all 
     schools within the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard Academy;
       ``(K) the Emergency Management Institute;
       ``(L) the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
     Training Program;
       ``(M) the Federal Air Marshal Training Center;
       ``(N) the National Fire Academy; and
       ``(O) other relevant training facilities within the 
     Department.
       ``(3) Curriculum requirements.--The curriculum and course 
     work developed as part of the Network shall be incorporated 
     into the curriculum of the institutions listed under 
     paragraph (2), as appropriate, to ensure that students at 
     these institutions understand how their homeland security 
     responsibilities relate to other homeland security 
     responsibilities in the Department and other Federal, State, 
     and local agencies. The training centers and academies listed 
     under paragraph (2) shall retain their respective missions 
     and goals.
       ``(4) Semi-annual meetings.--The Executive Director and the 
     Dean of the Academic Board shall meet with the Network not 
     less than once every 6 months to--
       ``(A) discuss curriculum requirements; and
       ``(B) coordinate training activities within the Network.
       ``(5) Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this section, and every 2 years thereafter, the 
     Network shall submit a report to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives, which describes the Network's--
       ``(A) strategy for using advanced instructional 
     technologies;
       ``(B) plans for future improvement; and
       ``(C) success in working with other organizations in 
     achieving the goals described under subparagraphs (A) and 
     (B).''.
       (b) Technical Amendment.--Section 1(b) of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) is amended by 
     inserting after the item relating to section 801 the 
     following:

``Sec. 802. National Homeland Security Academy.''.

     SEC. 4. STATE AND LOCAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING COORDINATOR.

       The Secretary of Homeland Security shall appoint a State 
     and Local Education and Training Coordinator to serve in the 
     Office of State and Local Government Coordination and 
     Preparedness, who shall--
       (1) serve as the primary point of contact between Federal, 
     State, and local training facilities, the National Homeland 
     Security Academy, and the Office of State and Local 
     Government Coordination and Preparedness, in order to--
       (A) maximize the ability of the Academy to identify non-
     Academy programs that meet specific training goals and are 
     crucial to the Nation's homeland security mission; and
       (B) assist the Academy and the Office of State and Local 
     Government Coordination and Preparedness in determining where 
     to direct Federal training funds; and
       (2) at least semiannually, conduct meetings with a 
     coalition of State and local education and training 
     facilities to--
       (A) allow State and local fire, rescue, and law enforcement 
     training facilities to provide input on decisions made 
     concerning the training of first responders; and
       (B) increase curriculum coordination between the Academy 
     and Federal, State, and local facilities.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the 
     amendment made by section 3 such sums as may be necessary for 
     each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2009.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, each year Congress appropriates millions 
of dollars to institutions of higher learning that serve minority 
students. Currently, funds go to historically Black colleges and 
universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled 
colleges and universities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-
serving institutions. These funds--which exceeded $890 million in 
fiscal year 2005--

[[Page S14322]]

help institutions provide more higher education opportunities for low-
income minority students.
  For schools that serve a large number of low-income Asian Americans 
and Pacific Islanders, however, Federal assistance is not available. A 
need is not being served.
  Over 42 percent of Cambodian Americans, almost 35 percent of Laotian 
Americans and 25 percent of Vietnamese Americans live in poverty. And 
the graduation rates among these populations are low. Only 13.8 percent 
of Vietnamese Americans, 5.8 percent of Laotian Americans, 6.1 percent 
of Cambodian Americans, and 5.1 percent of Hmong have college degrees.
  So, today, I am introducing the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 
Higher Education Enhancement Act. I am pleased to be joined in this 
effort by Senator Akaka.
  This legislation creates a new Federal grant program for institutions 
where Asian and Pacific Islander students make up at least 10 percent 
of the undergraduate student body. Priority will be given based on the 
number of low-income students.
  The grants--authorized at $30 million in the first year, and such 
sums as necessary for the next 4 years--could be used for a variety of 
purposes, including outreach to secondary and elementary school 
students, curriculum development, tutoring, counseling, and student 
support services.
  Mr. President, we need to make college accessible for low-income 
Asian American students as we do for with other minority students. This 
bill is an important step toward this goal.
                                 ______