[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 34 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2338-S2340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA (for himself and Mr. Durbin):
  S. 2450. A bill to strengthen national security by encouraging and 
assisting in the expansion and improvement of educational programs in 
order to meet critical needs at the elementary, secondary, and higher 
education levels, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce legislation 
with Senator Durbin that will increase educational opportunities in 
science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and foreign 
languages for all students.
  Last month, I shared with my colleagues the need to expand 
educational opportunities in these areas so that the youth of today can 
meet the challenges of tomorrow. The President, in his State of the 
Union address, said that America's ability to compete in global markets 
and to defend the nation against foreign threats depends on the 
strength of our educational system. On this point, he and I agree. Our 
future national and economic security are tied directly to our 
mathematical, scientific, and linguistic acumen.
  For example, prior to 9/11, the Intelligence Community was not 
prepared

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to handle the challenge of translating the volumes of foreign language 
counter-terrorism intelligence it had collected. The Intelligence 
Community faced backlogs in material awaiting translation, a shortage 
of language specialists and language-qualified field officers, and a 
readiness level of only 30 percent in the most critical foreign 
languages. This news, however, was not new. In 2000, Ellen Laipson, 
Vice Chairman of the National Intelligence Council, reported similar 
problems and said that thousands of technical papers providing details 
on foreign research and development in scientific or technical areas 
were not being translated because of the lack of personnel to interpret 
the material, which could lead to the possibility of ``a technological 
surprise.''
  It is clear that our national security relies on having a workforce 
skilled in the areas of science, technology, engineering, math, and 
foreign languages. We need to take action to strengthen education in 
these areas so that the United States can compete, prosper, and be 
secure in the 21st Century. A major investment in America's education 
system is necessary to ensure that we can communicate with and 
understand the cultures of our world partners and competitors. In the 
words of the Committee for Economic Development, ``we must redefine, as 
each generation has done, what it means to be an educated American in a 
changing world.'' Enactment of the Homeland Security Education Act 
provides the framework to enhance our education system to ensure that 
our nation's youth will have the skills needed for success.
  Our education system must be reenergized and reinvigorated to meet 
the needs of our nation by preparing students to be proficient in 
foreign languages and leaders in the scientific and engineering fields. 
Our schools need the equipment and the materials to teach the critical 
STEM and foreign language courses and bring these subjects to life. To 
address these issues our bill would: encourage public private 
partnerships to improve science and math curricula; upgrade laboratory 
facilities; provide scholarships for students to study math, science, 
or engineering at the university level; and establish internship and 
mentoring opportunities for students in grades K through 12; develop 
cultural awareness and immersion programs in colleges and universities 
that combine science, technology, and engineering instruction with 
foreign language to expand international understanding and scientific 
collaboration; and create language learning pathways to facilitate 
proficiency in critical foreign languages from Kindergarten through 
graduate school.

  However, no amount of funding or new programs will address the 
problem if there are not enough teachers trained in these subjects. To 
address the shortage of STEM and foreign language teachers, our bill 
includes provisions to award scholarships in the amount of $15,000 to 
language-proficient individuals and practicing scientists and engineers 
to return to school and earn their degrees and become certified to 
teach these critical skills to students in high-need, low income 
schools. Our bill would also allow National Security Education Program 
scholarship and fellowship recipients to meet their service 
requirements by teaching in these critical areas if they cannot find a 
national security position in the Federal Government.
  A key provision in the Homeland Security Education Act focuses on 
foreign language teacher training by awarding grants to facilitate 
partnerships between K through 12 schools and institutions of higher 
education to build professional development programs, summer workshops 
or institutes, and foreign language distance learning programs for 
elementary and secondary school teachers.
  In addition to providing new programs and teachers, we must encourage 
students to study these subjects. The U.S. currently lags far behind 
other countries in the number of students majoring in these critical 
areas. We must reverse this trend if we are to ensure an adequate 
supply of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics expertise 
in the years ahead. For example, only 32 percent of undergraduates in 
the United States receive their degrees in science and engineering, 
compared to 59 percent in China and 66 percent in Japan. The statistics 
are even worse for foreign language education, where fewer than one in 
10 college students enroll in a foreign language class. Our bill would 
provide financial incentives for students to take the tough classes, 
earn their degrees, and be trained in the skills that will help America 
succeed by providing them with $5,000 scholarships to earn degrees in 
STEM or a foreign language.
  I am proud of my home State of Hawaii, which appreciates the 
importance of learning other languages and understanding other cultures 
and where high school seniors take Advanced Placement (AP) exams in 
calculus, chemistry, physics, and science at rates that are higher 
than, and in some cases nearly double, the national average. Still, 
there definitely is room for more students to take AP exams and excel 
in these important areas.
  The Homeland Security Education Act would help make this a reality by 
complementing efforts such as the PACE bills, Senator Kennedy's 
legislation, and the President's education initiatives--all of which I 
support because they are positive steps to increasing educational 
opportunities in critical STEM and foreign language studies.
  Professor Richard Schmidt, Director of the National Foreign Language 
Resource Center at the University of Hawaii, said that ``this 
legislation has strong potential to produce the kind of close 
articulation between K through 12 and higher education programs that 
has been very difficult in the past.''
  I wish to thank Professor Schmidt, the University of Hawaii College 
of Education, and the National Council for Languages and International 
Studies for supporting this bill. I ask unanimous consent that letters 
of support be printed in the Record
  Education serves as the catalyst to ensure our Nation's long-term 
security. To remain a world leader we need Americans who are well-
educated and who can communicate in the global marketplace. The bill we 
introduce today will help us meet these essential requirements.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Homeland Security Education Act, 
and I look forward to working with them to strengthen our national 
security through enactment of our bill.
  There being no objection, the letters were ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:
                                    National Council for Languages


                                    and International Studies,

                                    Washington, DC, March 6, 2006.
     Hon. Daniel Akaka,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Akaka: I am writing on behalf of the National 
     Council for Languages and International Studies, representing 
     54 member language and international education associations, 
     to thank you for sponsoring the Homeland Security Education 
     Act (HSEA), which increases federal investment in foreign 
     language education, specifically in languages of critical 
     need to national security.
       The benefits of language learning as a part of a basic 
     education cannot be overstated. In addition to learning 
     another language, studies indicate that students develop 
     better problem-solving and cognitive skills. In addition to 
     being an essential part of a basic education, recent events 
     have demonstrated that early language learning is also 
     imperative for national security. The events of September 
     11th brought to light the scarcity of highly qualified 
     language professionals in the federal government workforce. 
     Our nation cannot develop the high-level language expertise 
     necessary to national security and economic competitiveness 
     if we do not have the programs that encourage proficiency in 
     critical languages.
       Recent studies and initiatives such as the National 
     Security Language Initiative, the Lincoln Commission Report, 
     and the Center for Education Development's report, Education 
     for Global Leadership: The Importance of lnternational 
     Studies and Foreign Language Education for U.S. Economic and 
     National Security provide a much-needed framework to develop 
     foreign language skills by calling for the implementation of 
     new and expanded language programs at all levels of education 
     and in the workforce. HSEA will provide the resources needed 
     to develop such critical programs.
       Legislation like HSEA provides the framework and funding 
     that is critical to carrying out these initiatives at the 
     primary, secondary and higher education levels. Its focus on 
     encouraging students to continue their language education as 
     well as providing the grants needed for institutions of 
     higher education to develop and strengthen foreign language 
     programs, this bill will create the resources needed to 
     address the issues facing the U.S. in today's world.
       This comprehensive and forward thinking legislation is 
     sorely needed. Thank you for

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     your assistance and support of languages, international 
     education and programs that promote better understanding of 
     other languages and cultures. If there is anything we can do 
     to help, please let us know.
           Sincerely,
                                            J. David Edwards, PhD,
      Executive Director.
                                  ____

                                   University of Hawai`i at Manoa,


                                         College of Education,

                                 Honolulu, Hawai`i, March 9, 2006.
     Hon. Daniel K. Akaka,
     U.S. Senate, 141 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Akaka: I am writing on behalf of the faculty 
     and students of the University of Hawai`i, College of 
     Education to express my enthusiastic support for the Homeland 
     Security Education Act proposed by you and Senator Durbin.
       It is clear that if we are to remain leaders in this 
     increasingly competitive world, America needs a workforce 
     skilled in science, mathematics, computer science, and 
     engineering. We also need a larger population of people able 
     to speak foreign languages and relate well with people from 
     other countries and cultures.
       The Homeland Security Education Act is designed very well 
     to address this need, as it provides scholarships for college 
     students entering those fields and for teacher candidates in 
     the sciences, mathematics, and languages. It also provides 
     grants to assist K-12 schools in improving related 
     instruction, to improve facilities and obtain equipment. 
     Three different grant programs support efforts to improve the 
     numbers of foreign language speakers. The student loan 
     program also holds promise of encouraging more people to 
     enter these fields.
       As Dean of the College of Education, I know first hand how 
     difficult it is to attract teacher candidates into 
     mathematics or science. The scholarships provided through the 
     Homeland Security Education Act will help us encourage more 
     students to enter these teaching fields. It may also be 
     helpful if the student loan repayment program could be 
     applied to individuals who enter the teaching profession and 
     teach in some of our more difficult to staff public schools.
       I am also finding it very difficult to find mathematics and 
     science educators to teach in our teacher preparation 
     programs. There is a severe national shortage of mathematics 
     and science educators with doctoral degrees. You may want to 
     consider providing support to individuals to obtain 
     doctorates in these areas.
       Your Homeland Security Education Act addresses a very 
     serious problem. If we do not address this problem today, our 
     nation will suffer because of it in the near future and for 
     many years to come. I sincerely hope that your colleagues in 
     congress will share your vision and choose to support this 
     important legislation.
       Thank you for your good leadership and for your continued 
     support for excellent education for all children.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Randy Hitz,
                                                             Dean.
                                 ______