[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 31, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1425-S1428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Feingold, 
        and Mr. Durbin):
  S. 451. A bill to establish a National Foreign language Coordination 
Council; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I am pleased to reintroduce the National 
Foreign Language Coordination Act with my colleagues Senators Thad 
Cochran, Christopher Dodd, and Russell Feingold. We are joined by

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Representative Brian Baird, who is offering a companion bill in the 
House of Representatives today as well.
  The legislation we introduce today would implement a key 
recommendation of the 2004 Department of Defense, DOD, National 
Language Conference to establish a National Foreign Language 
Coordination Council, chaired by a National Language Director. An 
integrated foreign language strategy and sustained leadership within 
the Federal Government is needed to address the lack of foreign 
language proficient speakers in government and in business. Without 
such a coordinated strategy, I fear that the country's national and 
economic security will be at greater risk.
  The communications failures of 9/11 clearly demonstrate that we can 
no longer ignore the consequence of our citizens being unable to 
converse fluently in languages other than English. The fact that only 
9.3 percent of all Americans speak both their native languages and 
another language fluently, compared with 56 percent of people in the 
European Union is troubling. The Iraq Study Group reported last month 
that of the 1,000 American embassy employees in Baghdad, only 33 speak 
Arabic, and just 6 of them are fluent in this critical language. The 
shortfall of skilled linguists prompted the Iraq Study Group to 
recommend that ``The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and 
the Director of National Intelligence should accord the highest 
possible priority to professional language proficiency and cultural 
training, in general and specifically for U.S. officers and personnel 
about to be assigned to Iraq.''
  The Federal Government has an essential role to play by collaborating 
with educators, State and local governments, foreign language 
associations, and the private sector to increase the number of 
Americans who speak and understand foreign languages. A National 
Foreign Language Coordination Council brings these diverse interests 
together to shape a much needed, comprehensive approach. Just as I have 
advocated the need for deputy secretaries for management at the 
Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to direct and sustain 
management leadership, I envision a National Language Director to be 
responsible for maintaining and leading a cooperative effort to 
strengthen our foreign language capabilities.
  Our Nation's security is at risk without a sufficient number of 
foreign language proficient individuals. Counterterrorism intelligence 
will go untranslated and opportunities will be missed. Equally 
important is preserving the economic competitiveness of the United 
States. Globalization means that Americans must compete for jobs in a 
marketplace no longer confined to the boundaries of the United States. 
In short, both the security and economic vitality of the United States 
are tied to improving foreign language education. However, according to 
the Committee on Economic Development, many of our schools do not have 
foreign language programs that address the educational challenges of 
the 21st century. Many American students lack sufficient knowledge of 
other countries, languages, and cultures to compete effectively in the 
global marketplace.

  Specifically, our bill ensures that the key recommendations of the 
DOD National Language Conference will be implemented by: 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.
  Last week, the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, 
the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, which I chair, 
held a hearing on the Federal Government's language strategy. Dr. Diane 
Birckbich1er, director of the Foreign Language Center and chair of the 
Departments of French and Italian at Ohio State University, testified 
that ``if there is a national language strategy, it isn't very well 
known.'' She further recommended the development of a national language 
policy to create a language-ready workforce for the future.
  To strengthen the role of the United States in the world, our country 
must ensure that there is a sufficient number of individuals who are 
proficient in languages other than their native languages. Increasing 
foreign language skills enhances national security, just as increasing 
foreign language skills enhances the ability of Americans to compete on 
a more global playing field.
  I ask my colleagues to support this legislation and unanimous consent 
that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 451

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE 
                   COORDINATION COUNCIL.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National 
     Foreign Language Coordination Act of 2007''.
       (b) Establishment.--There is established in the Executive 
     Office of the President a National Foreign Language 
     Coordination Council (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Council'').
       (c) 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 Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank 
     of the United States.
       (17) The heads of such other Federal agencies as the 
     Council considers appropriate.
       (d) Responsibilities.--
       (1) In general.--The Council shall be charged with--
       (A) overseeing, coordinating, and implementing the National 
     Security Language Initiative;
       (B) developing a national foreign language strategy, 
     building upon the efforts of the National Security Language 
     Initiative, within 18 months after the date of the enactment 
     of this section, in consultation with--
       (i) State and local government agencies;
       (ii) academic sector institutions;
       (iii) foreign language related interest groups;
       (iv) business associations;
       (v) industry;
       (vi) heritage associations; and
       (vii) other relevant stakeholders;
       (C) conducting a survey of the status of Federal agency 
     foreign language and area expertise and agency needs for such 
     expertise; and
       (D) monitoring the implementation of such strategy 
     through--
       (i) application of current and recently enacted laws; and
       (ii) the promulgation and enforcement of rules and 
     regulations.
       (2) Strategy content.--The strategy developed under 
     paragraph (1) shall include--
       (A) recommendations for amendments to title 5, United 
     States Code, in order to improve the ability of the Federal 
     Government to recruit and retain individuals with foreign 
     language proficiency and provide foreign language training 
     for Federal employees;
       (B) the long term goals, anticipated effect, and needs of 
     the National Security Language Initiative;
       (C) identification of crucial priorities across all 
     sectors;
       (D) identification and evaluation of Federal foreign 
     language programs and activities, including--
       (i) any duplicative or overlapping programs that may impede 
     efficiency;
       (ii) recommendations on coordination;
       (iii) program enhancements; and
       (iv) allocation of resources so as to maximize use of 
     resources;
       (E) 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 during the next 
     20 to 50 years;
       (F) 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--

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       (i) Federal, State, and local leaders;
       (ii) students;
       (iii) parents;
       (iv) elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational 
     institutions; and
       (v) employers;
       (G) recommendations for incentives for related educational 
     programs, including foreign language teacher training;
       (H) coordination of cross-sector efforts, including public-
     private partnerships;
       (I) coordination initiatives to develop a strategic posture 
     for language research and recommendations for funding for 
     applied foreign language research into issues of national 
     concern;
       (J) recommendations for 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;
       (K) recommendations for development of--
       (i) language skill-level certification standards;
       (ii) frameworks for 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;
       (IV) health care;
       (V) engineering;
       (VI) law;
       (VII) journalism; and
       (VIII) sciences;

       (L) identification of and means for replicating best 
     practices at all levels and in all sectors, including best 
     practices from the international community; and
       (M) recommendations for overcoming barriers in foreign 
     language proficiency.
       (3) National security language initiative.--The term 
     ``National Security Language Initiative'' means the 
     comprehensive national plan of the President announced on 
     January 5, 2006, and under the direction of the Secretaries 
     of State, Education, and Defense and the Director of National 
     Intelligence to expand foreign language education for 
     national security purposes in the United States.
       (e) Submission of Strategy to President and Congress.--Not 
     later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this 
     section, the Council shall prepare and transmit to the 
     President and the relevant committees of Congress the 
     strategy required under subsection (d).
       (f) 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 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.
       (g) Staff.--
       (1) In general.--The Director may--
       (A) appoint, without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
     United States Code, governing the competitive service, such 
     personnel as the Director considers necessary; and
       (B) compensate such personnel without regard to the 
     provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of 
     that title.
       (2) Detail of government employees.--Upon request of the 
     Council, any Federal Government employee may be detailed to 
     the Council without reimbursement, and such detail shall be 
     without interruption or loss of civil service status or 
     privilege.
       (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.
       (4) Travel expenses.--Council members and staff 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 Council.
       (5) Security clearance.--
       (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
     appropriate Federal agencies or departments shall cooperate 
     with the Council in expeditiously providing to the Council 
     members and staff appropriate security clearances to the 
     extent possible pursuant to existing procedures and 
     requirements.
       (B) Exception.--No person shall be provided with access to 
     classified information under this section without the 
     appropriate required security clearance access.
       (6) Compensation.--The rate of pay for any employee of the 
     Council (including the Director) may not exceed the rate 
     payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 
     5316 of title 5, United States Code.
       (h) 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 section.
       (2) Information.--
       (A) Council authority to secure.--The Council may secure 
     directly from any Federal agency such information, consistent 
     with Federal privacy laws, including The Family Educational 
     Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g) and Department of 
     Education's General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 
     1232(h)), the Council considers necessary to carry out its 
     responsibilities.
       (B) Requirement to furnish requested information.--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.
       (i) Conferences, Newsletter, and Website.--In carrying out 
     this section, 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.
       (j) Annual Report.--
       (1) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     Council shall prepare and transmit to the President and the 
     relevant committees of Congress a report that describes--
       (A) the activities of the Council;
       (B) the efforts of the Council to improve foreign language 
     education and training; and
       (C) impediments to the use of a National Foreign Language 
     program, including any statutory and regulatory restrictions.
       (2) Relevant committees.--For purposes of paragraph (1), 
     the relevant committees of Congress include--
       (A) in the House of Representatives--
       (i) the Committee on Appropriations;
       (ii) the Committee on Armed Services;
       (iii) the Committee on Education and Labor;
       (iv) the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform;
       (v) the Committee on Small Business;
       (vi) the Committee on Foreign Affairs; and
       (vii) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence;
       (B) in the Senate--
       (i) the Committee on Appropriations;
       (ii) the Committee on Armed Services;
       (iii) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions;
       (iv) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs;
       (v) the Committee on Foreign Relations; and
       (vi) the Select Committee on Intelligence.
       (k) Establishment of a National Language Director.--
       (1) 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 the sectors 
     to be involved with creating and implementing long-term 
     solutions to achieving national foreign language and cultural 
     competency.
       (2) Responsibilities.--The National Language Director 
     shall--
       (A) develop and monitor the implementation of a national 
     foreign language strategy, built upon the efforts of the 
     National Security Language Initiative, across all sectors;
       (B) 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
       (C) 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.
       (l) Encouragement of State Involvement.--
       (1) 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.
       (2) 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.
       (m) Congressional Notification.--The Council shall provide 
     to Congress such information as may be requested by Congress, 
     through reports, briefings, and other appropriate means.
       (n) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as necessary to carry out this 
     section.

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