[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 72 (Thursday, May 3, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5588-S5593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Akaka, and Mr. Cochran):
  S. 1294. 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. DURBIN. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support the 
Homeland Security Education Act. This bill encourages initiatives to 
increase the number of Americans trained in science, technology, 
engineering, math, and foreign languages.
  More than a century ago, Henry Ford revolutionized transportation and 
industry with the creation of the Model T. This car and the process 
designed to create it were so innovative that it was copied by every 
other company. The Model T became the base model for all cars that 
followed. This is a classic American story. Some of the most important 
scientific breakthroughs in modern history have occurred in the labs, 
workshops, and classrooms of America. We take pride in our Nation's 
ability to meet any challenge and solve any problem with innovation and 
discovery. But we are falling behind. Today's innovations in the auto 
industry come not from Detroit but from Japan. Engineers in Asia are 
designing tomorrow's hybrid car while Henry Ford's company and other 
American companies are just trying to keep up.
  America's colleges and universities can play an important role in 
reversing the decline in American innovation. The United States 
graduates some of the world's best engineers, scientists, and 
mathematicians, but a far higher proportion of the students in China, 
India, South Korea, and Japan are focusing on these fields. The 
National Academies of Science reports that in 2004, only 32 percent of 
the undergraduate degrees awarded in the United States were in science 
or engineering compared to 59 percent in China and 66 percent in Japan. 
If we do not address this crisis soon, China, India, and Japan will 
become the new centers for scientific and technological innovation, 
while American workers scramble to keep up. We must act now to ensure 
that America remains the world's economic, scientific, and 
technological leader.
  American workers are also increasingly finding themselves at a 
disadvantage in a multilingual global community. In our increasingly 
global economy and with a heightened concern for security in the post-
911 world, we need Americans who can speak a foreign language. Only 9 
percent of American students enroll in a foreign language course in 
college. We especially need to focus on less commonly taught languages, 
including Arabic, Farsi, Chinese, and Korean, and other languages that 
are of particular value in the world today.
  The best place to address both of these concerns is in the classroom. 
We must adapt our educational system by providing the teachers and 
resources needed to encourage students to study science, technology, 
engineering, mathematics, and foreign languages. The Homeland Security 
Education Act is an important step in the right direction.
  This bill would encourage students to pursue math, science, 
technology, engineering, and critical foreign languages by providing 
them with $5,000 scholarships. Scientists, engineers, technology 
professionals, and those fluent in foreign languages would be 
encouraged to return to the classroom and use their career experiences 
to inspire students in high-need or low-income schools. New grant 
programs would encourage educational institutions, public entities, and 
businesses to enter into partnerships that improve math and science 
curricula, establish programs that promote students' foreign language 
proficiency along with their science and technological knowledge, and 
create and establish foreign language pathways from elementary school 
through college. Finally, the bill would fund a student loan repayment 
program for qualified individuals trained in science, technology, 
engineering, math, and foreign languages who join the Federal 
workforce.
  Our country is quickly approaching a crisis of competitiveness. To 
avoid falling behind our international competitors in science and 
innovation, we must confront this problem immediately in our schools. 
We need to strengthen our students' proficiency in science, technology, 
engineering, math, and foreign languages and provide them with the 
incentives necessary to pursue careers in those fields. Today's 
students are tomorrow's innovators, scientists, and technology leaders, 
and we can't afford not to invest in them. I encourage my colleagues to 
join me in cosponsoring the Homeland Security Education Act.

[[Page S5589]]

  Mr. President, I ask 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. 1294

       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 ``Homeland Security Education 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Investing in science, technology, engineering, 
     mathematics, and foreign language education is essential to 
     maintaining the competitive advantage and national security 
     of the United States. Significant improvements in the 
     quantity and quality of science, technology, engineering, 
     mathematics, and foreign language instruction offered in 
     United States elementary schools and secondary schools are 
     necessary.
       (2) For the past 3 decades, about one-third of the 
     baccalaureate degrees awarded in the United States have been 
     granted in science and engineering, compared to 59 percent in 
     China and 66 percent in Japan.
       (3) The United States is behind its European counterparts 
     in foreign language skills, in that one-half of European 
     citizens speak a second language while only 9 percent of 
     Americans speak another language.
       (4) Elementary schools and secondary schools in the United 
     States need more qualified teachers, equipment, and resources 
     to improve education in mathematics, science, and foreign 
     languages.
       (5) The optimum time to begin learning a second language is 
     in elementary school, when children have the ability to learn 
     and excel in several foreign language acquisition skills, 
     including pronunciation.
       (6) Foreign language study can increase children's capacity 
     for critical and creative thinking skills, and children who 
     study a second language show greater cognitive development in 
     areas such as mental flexibility, creativity, tolerance, and 
     higher order thinking skills.
       (7) All people of the United States should strive to have a 
     global perspective. To understand the world around us, we 
     must acquaint ourselves with the languages, cultures, and 
     history of other nations.
       (8) Federal agencies have reported shortfalls in language 
     capability that is integral to, or directly supports, every 
     discipline and is an essential factor in national security 
     readiness, disaster response, law enforcement, information 
     superiority, and coalition peacekeeping or warfighting 
     missions.
       (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to ensure the 
     national security and the competitiveness of the United 
     States through increasing the quantity, diversity, and 
     quality of the teaching and learning of subjects in the 
     fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and 
     foreign language.

     SEC. 3. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, 
                   MATHEMATICS, AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION.

       (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to 
     establish and implement a program to award scholarships to 
     individuals who are citizens, nationals, or permanent legal 
     residents of the United States or citizens of the Freely 
     Associated States (as defined in section 103 of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003)), to serve as 
     incentives for students to obtain degrees in science, 
     technology, engineering, mathematics, and foreign language.
       (b) Scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering, 
     Mathematics, and Foreign Language Education.--Part A of title 
     IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et 
     seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

    ``Subpart 9--Scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering, 
              Mathematics, and Foreign Language Education

     ``SEC. 420K. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, 
                   ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE 
                   EDUCATION.

       ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to award 
     scholarships to students to provide incentives for pursuing 
     and obtaining a baccalaureate degree in science, technology, 
     engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language.
       ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Critical foreign language.--The term `critical 
     foreign language' means any language identified as critical 
     by the National Security Education Board and the Secretary.
       ``(2) Science.--The term `science' means any of the natural 
     and physical sciences, including chemistry, biology, physics, 
     and computer science. Such term shall not include any of the 
     social sciences.
       ``(c) Program Authorized.--From the amounts appropriated 
     under subsection (g), the Secretary shall carry out a program 
     to award scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each to 
     individuals who meet each of the following requirements:
       ``(1) The individual agrees to obtain a baccalaureate 
     degree in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a 
     critical foreign language.
       ``(2) The individual is a student at an institution of 
     higher education who is in good academic standing and is 
     capable, in the opinion of the Secretary, of maintaining good 
     standing in such course of study.
       ``(d) Selection of Recipients.--The Secretary shall 
     promulgate regulations to establish a formula for the 
     selection of scholarship recipients under this section that--
       ``(1) ensures fairness and equality for applicants in the 
     selection process, based on the amounts appropriated under 
     subsection (g); and
       ``(2) awards not less than 50 percent of amounts available 
     under this section for an academic year for scholarships to 
     students who meet the requirements described in subsection 
     (c) and are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant under subpart 1 
     for such year.
       ``(e) Failure to Complete Degree.--If, by the end of the 5-
     year period beginning when an individual receiving a 
     scholarship under this section begins a program of study in 
     accordance with the agreement described in subsection (c)(1), 
     the individual does not obtain a baccalaureate degree in 
     science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical 
     foreign language, the individual shall reimburse the Federal 
     Government for the amount of the scholarship, including 
     interest, at a rate and schedule to be determined by the 
     Secretary pursuant to regulations.
       ``(f) Report to Congress.--
       ``(1) Proposed regulations.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date of enactment of the Homeland Security Education Act, 
     the Secretary shall--
       ``(A) publish the proposed regulations that the Secretary 
     determines are necessary to carry out this section; and
       ``(B) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
     report on how the Secretary plans--
       ``(i) to implement the program under this section; and
       ``(ii) to advertise such program to institutions of higher 
     education and potential applicants.
       ``(2) Final regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     last day of the comment period for the proposed regulations 
     under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall promulgate the 
     final regulations to carry out this section.
       ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
     $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may be 
     necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.''.

     SEC. 4. FEDERAL GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

       (a) In General.--Title V of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

       ``PART E--STRENGTHENING MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION

     ``SEC. 5701. DEFINITIONS.

       ``In this part:
       ``(1) Conditional agreement.--The term `conditional 
     agreement' means an arrangement between representatives of 
     the private sector and a local educational agency to provide 
     certain services and funds to the local educational agency, 
     such as--
       ``(A) the donation of computer hardware and software;
       ``(B) the donation of science laboratory equipment suitable 
     for students in kindergarten through grade 12;
       ``(C) the establishment of internship and mentoring 
     opportunities for students who participate in mathematics, 
     science, and information technology programs under this part;
       ``(D) the donation of scholarship funds for use at 
     institutions of higher education by eligible students who 
     have participated in the mathematics, science, and 
     information technology programs under this part; and
       ``(E) the donation of technology tools.
       ``(2) Private sector.--The term `private sector' includes 
     corporations, institutions of higher education, State or 
     local government agencies, membership organizations, and 
     other similar entities involved in the mathematics and 
     science fields.
       ``(3) Science.--The term `science' means any of the natural 
     and physical sciences, including chemistry, biology, physics, 
     and computer science. The term does not include any of the 
     social sciences.

     ``SEC. 5702. FEDERAL GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

       ``(a) Grant Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall 
     establish a demonstration program under which the Secretary 
     shall award grants to local educational agencies to enable 
     such agencies to--
       ``(1) develop and implement programs that--
       ``(A) build or expand mathematics and science curricula;
       ``(B) provide--
       ``(i) a rich standards-based course of study in mathematics 
     and science to students; and
       ``(ii) opportunities for students who excel in mathematics 
     or science, particularly students who are members of 
     traditionally underrepresented groups in the fields of 
     mathematics or science, to be mentored by adults currently 
     active in the appropriate field;
       ``(2) provide mentoring opportunities for students in the 
     fields of mathematics and science;
       ``(3) upgrade existing laboratory facilities; or
       ``(4) purchase the equipment necessary to establish and 
     maintain such programs.
       ``(b) Application.--
       ``(1) In general.--A local educational agency desiring a 
     grant under this section shall submit an application to the 
     Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
     information as the Secretary

[[Page S5590]]

     may require by regulation, in accordance with paragraph (3).
       ``(2) Contents.--The application described in paragraph (1) 
     shall include--
       ``(A) a description of the proposed activities under the 
     grant, consistent with the uses of funds described in 
     subsection (a);
       ``(B) a description of how programs under the grant will 
     involve innovative experience learning, such as laboratory 
     experience;
       ``(C) a description of any mathematics and science 
     mentoring component (which may take place at the school, at a 
     workplace and paired with internships, or via the Internet), 
     including--
       ``(i) the program model and goals;
       ``(ii) the anticipated number of students served;
       ``(iii) the criteria for selecting students for the 
     mentoring component; and
       ``(iv) the mentoring best practices that will be followed;
       ``(D) a description of any applicable higher education 
     scholarship program, including--
       ``(i) the criteria for student selection;
       ``(ii) the duration of the scholarships;
       ``(iii) the number of scholarships to be awarded each year; 
     and
       ``(iv) the funding levels for the scholarships;
       ``(E) evidence of the private sector participation and 
     support in cash or in kind, as required under subsection (c); 
     and
       ``(F) an assurance that, upon receipt of a grant under this 
     part, the local educational agency will--
       ``(i) execute a conditional agreement with a representative 
     of the private sector; and
       ``(ii) enter into an agreement with the Secretary to comply 
     with the requirements of this part.
       ``(3) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of the Homeland Security Education Act, the 
     Secretary shall issue and publish proposed regulations for 
     this subsection. Not later than 180 days after the date on 
     which the period for comment concerning the proposed 
     regulations ends, the Secretary shall issue the final 
     guidelines under this subsection.
       ``(c) Private Sector Participation.--A local educational 
     agency receiving a grant under this section shall enter into 
     a conditional agreement with a representative of the private 
     sector regarding the programs carried out under this section, 
     including not less than 1 conditional agreement with a 
     private sector entity that has agreed to recruit the entity's 
     employees or members in the mathematics and science fields to 
     serve as mentors to students.
       ``(d) Award Basis.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall select a local 
     educational agency to receive a grant under this section on 
     the basis of merit, as determined after the Secretary has 
     conducted a comprehensive review of the application.
       ``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
     Secretary shall give priority to a local educational agency 
     that is a high need local educational agency (as such term is 
     defined in section 201(b) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965).

     ``SEC. 5703. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     part $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may 
     be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 
     of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5618 
     the following:

       ``Part E--Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education

``Sec. 5701. Definitions.
``Sec. 5702. Federal grants to public schools.
``Sec. 5703. Authorization of appropriations.''.

     SEC. 5. FROM THE LABORATORY TO THE CLASSROOM SCHOLARSHIPS.

       (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to increase 
     the amount of elementary and secondary educators with a 
     background and expertise in scientific or engineering 
     subjects by awarding scholarships to practicing scientists 
     and engineers to encourage them to return to school to become 
     certified or licensed elementary and secondary teachers in 
     those disciplines.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Eligible individual.--The term ``eligible individual'' 
     means a person who--
       (A) is a citizen, national, or permanent legal resident of 
     the United States or a citizen of 1 of the Freely Associated 
     States (as defined in section 103 of the Higher Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003));
       (B) holds a baccalaureate or graduate degree in a 
     scientific or engineering field from an institution of higher 
     education; and
       (C) has not less than 3 years of work experience in a 
     scientific or engineering position.
       (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
       (3) Qualified expenses.--The term ``qualified expenses'' 
     means the tuition, books, fees, supplies, and equipment 
     required for a course of instruction, at the institution of 
     higher education the eligible individual chooses to attend, 
     that leads to elementary or secondary teaching certification 
     or licensure in any State, and other expenses for completing 
     a teacher preparatory program or obtaining a teaching 
     certificate or license.
       (4) Scientific or engineering.--The term ``scientific or 
     engineering'' means any discipline within the natural 
     sciences, physical sciences, technology, mathematics, or 
     engineering subject areas.
       (5) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
     States of the United States and the District of Columbia.
       (c) Program Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under subsection 
     (f), the Secretary of Education shall award scholarships to 
     eligible individuals which shall be used to enable the 
     individuals to pay for qualified expenses and attend an 
     institution of higher education of the individual's choosing.
       (2) Designation.--A scholarship awarded under this section 
     shall be known as a ``From the Laboratory to the Classroom 
     Scholarship''.
       (d) Amount; Duration.--
       (1) Amount.--A scholarship awarded under this section shall 
     be in an amount of not more than $15,000 per year.
       (2) Duration of scholarship.--A scholarship awarded to an 
     eligible individual under this section shall be for the 
     period of time required for the individual to complete a 
     course of study leading to elementary or secondary school 
     teacher certification or licensure in a State or a territory 
     of the United States, except that no scholarship shall exceed 
     a period of 2 years.
       (e) Terms of Scholarship.--
       (1) Employment as teacher.--As a condition of receiving a 
     scholarship under this section, an eligible individual shall 
     agree to be employed full-time as an elementary or secondary 
     education teacher in science, mathematics, or engineering at 
     a high-need, low-income school, as determined by the 
     Secretary, for a period of not less than 5 years after 
     receiving the teacher certification or licensure.
       (2) Failure to teach.--If an individual who receives a 
     scholarship under this section does not comply with paragraph 
     (1), the individual shall reimburse the Federal Government 
     for the amount of such scholarship, including interest, at a 
     rate and schedule to be determined by the Secretary.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       (1) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (2) $375,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (3) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
       (4) $600,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 
     2014.

     SEC. 6. ENCOURAGING EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES.

       (a) In General.--Title II of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

          ``PART E--ENCOURAGING EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES

     ``SEC. 2501. ENCOURAGING EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES.

       ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to 
     improve the performance of students in the study of foreign 
     languages by encouraging States, institutions of higher 
     education, elementary schools, and secondary schools to 
     participate in programs that--
       ``(1) upgrade the status and stature of foreign language 
     teaching by encouraging institutions of higher education to 
     assume greater responsibility for improving foreign language 
     teacher education through the establishment of a 
     comprehensive, integrated system of recruiting and advising 
     such teachers;
       ``(2) focus on the education of foreign language teachers 
     as a career-long process that should continuously stimulate 
     the teachers' intellectual growth and upgrade the teachers' 
     knowledge and skills;
       ``(3) bring foreign language teachers in elementary schools 
     and secondary schools together with linguists or higher 
     education foreign language professionals to increase the 
     subject matter knowledge and improve the teaching skills of 
     teachers through the use of more sophisticated resources that 
     institutions of higher education are better able to provide 
     than the schools; and
       ``(4) develop more rigorous foreign language curricula that 
     are aligned with--
       ``(A) professional accepted standards for elementary and 
     secondary education instruction; and
       ``(B) the standards expected for postsecondary study in 
     foreign language.
       ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Critical foreign languages.--The term `critical 
     foreign languages' refers to any language identified as 
     critical by the National Security Education Board and the 
     Secretary.
       ``(2) Eligible partnership.--The term `eligible 
     partnership' means a partnership that--
       ``(A) shall include--
       ``(i) a foreign language department of an institution of 
     higher education; and
       ``(ii) a local educational agency; and
       ``(B) may include--
       ``(i) another foreign language department, or a teacher 
     training department, of an institution of higher education;
       ``(ii) another local educational agency, or an elementary 
     school or secondary school;
       ``(iii) a business;
       ``(iv) a nonprofit organization, including a museum;
       ``(v) a heritage or community center for language study;
       ``(vi) a national language resource and training center 
     authorized under part A of title VI of the Higher Education 
     Act of 1965; or

[[Page S5591]]

       ``(vii) the State foreign language coordinator or State 
     educational agency.
       ``(3) High need local educational agency.--The term `high 
     need local educational agency' has the meaning given the term 
     in section 201(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
       ``(4) Summer workshop or institute.--The term `summer 
     workshop or institute' means a workshop or institute that--
       ``(A) is conducted for a period of not less than 2 weeks 
     during the summer;
       ``(B) provides direct interaction between students and 
     faculty; and
       ``(C) provides for followup training during the academic 
     year that--
       ``(i) except as provided in clause (ii) or (iii), shall be 
     conducted in the classroom for a period of not less than 3 
     days, which may or may not be consecutive;
       ``(ii) if the program described in subparagraph (A) is for 
     a period of not more than 2 weeks, shall be conducted for a 
     period of more than 3 days; and
       ``(iii) may be conducted through distance education.
       ``(c) Grants to Partnerships.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award 
     grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to 
     enable the eligible partnerships to pay the Federal share of 
     the costs of carrying out the authorized activities described 
     in this section.
       ``(2) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall 
     be for a period of 5 years.
       ``(3) Federal share.--The Federal share of the costs of the 
     activities described in this section shall be--
       ``(A) 75 percent of the costs for the first year of a grant 
     under this section;
       ``(B) 65 percent of such costs for the second such year; 
     and
       ``(C) 50 percent of such costs for each of the third, 
     fourth, and fifth such years.
       ``(4) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the 
     costs of carrying out the authorized activities described in 
     this section may be provided in cash or in kind, fairly 
     evaluated.
       ``(5) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
     Secretary shall give priority to eligible partnerships--
       ``(A) that include high need local educational agencies; or
       ``(B) that emphasize the teaching of the critical foreign 
     languages.
       ``(d) Applications.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each eligible partnership desiring a 
     grant under this section shall submit an application to the 
     Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by 
     such information as the Secretary may require.
       ``(2) Contents.--An application submitted under paragraph 
     (1) shall include--
       ``(A) an assessment of the teacher quality and professional 
     development needs of all the schools and educational agencies 
     participating in the eligible partnership with respect to the 
     teaching and learning of foreign languages;
       ``(B) a description of how the activities to be carried out 
     by the eligible partnership will be based on a review of 
     relevant research, and an explanation of why the activities 
     are expected to improve student performance and to strengthen 
     the quality of foreign language instruction; and
       ``(C) a description of--
       ``(i) how the eligible partnership will carry out the 
     authorized activities described in subsection (e); and
       ``(ii) the eligible partnership's evaluation and 
     accountability plan in accordance with subsection (f).
       ``(e) Authorized Activities.--An eligible partnership that 
     receives a grant under this section may use the grant funds 
     to carry out activities such as--
       ``(1) creating opportunities for enhanced and ongoing 
     professional development that improves the subject matter 
     knowledge of foreign language teachers;
       ``(2) recruiting students from 4-year institutions of 
     higher education with foreign language majors for teaching;
       ``(3) promoting strong teaching skills for foreign language 
     teachers and teacher educators;
       ``(4) establishing foreign language summer workshops or 
     institutes (including followup training) for teachers;
       ``(5) establishing distance learning programs for foreign 
     language teachers;
       ``(6) designing programs to prepare a teacher at a school 
     to provide professional development to other teachers at the 
     school and to assist novice teachers at the school, including 
     (if applicable) a mechanism to integrate experiences from a 
     summer workshop or institute; and
       ``(7) developing instruction materials.
       ``(f) Evaluation and Accountability Plan.--Each eligible 
     partnership receiving a grant under this section shall 
     develop an evaluation and accountability plan for activities 
     assisted under this section that includes strong performance 
     objectives and measures for--
       ``(1) increased participation by students in advanced 
     courses in foreign language;
       ``(2) increased percentages of secondary school classes in 
     foreign language taught by teachers with academic majors in 
     foreign language; and
       ``(3) increased numbers of foreign language teachers who 
     participate in content-based professional development 
     activities.
       ``(g) Report.--Each eligible partnership receiving a grant 
     under this section shall annually report to the Secretary 
     regarding the eligible partnership's progress in meeting the 
     performance objectives described in subsection (f).
       ``(h) Termination.--If the Secretary determines that an 
     eligible partnership is not making substantial progress in 
     meeting the performance objectives described in subsection 
     (f) by the end of the third year of a grant under this 
     section, the Secretary shall not make grant payments to the 
     eligible partnership for the fourth and fifth years of the 
     grant.
       ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
     $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may be 
     necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 
     of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2441 
     the following:

          ``Part E--Encouraging Early Foreign Language Studies

``Sec. 2501. Encouraging early foreign language studies.''.

     SEC. 7. SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, AND ADVANCED 
                   FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM.

       (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to support 
     programs in institutions of higher education that encourage 
     students--
       (1) to develop an understanding of science, technology, and 
     engineering;
       (2) to develop foreign language proficiency; and
       (3) to foster future international scientific 
     collaboration.
       (b) Development.--The Secretary of Education shall develop 
     and carry out a program to award grants to institutions of 
     higher education that develop innovative programs for the 
     teaching of foreign languages.
       (c) Regulations and Requirements.--The Secretary of 
     Education shall promulgate regulations for the awarding of 
     grants under subsection (b).
       (d) Application.--An institution of higher education 
     desiring a grant under this section shall submit an 
     application to the Secretary of Education at such time, in 
     such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
     shall require.
       (e) Use of Funds.--An institution of higher education 
     receiving a grant under this section shall use grant funds 
     for, among other things--
       (1) the development of an on-campus cultural awareness 
     program by which students attend classes taught in the 
     foreign language and study the science, technology, or 
     engineering developments and practices in a non-English-
     speaking country;
       (2) immersion programs where students study science, 
     technology, or engineering related coursework in a non-
     English-speaking country; and
       (3) other programs, such as summer workshops, that 
     emphasize the intense study of a foreign language and 
     science, technology, or engineering.
       (f) Grant Distribution.--In awarding grants to institutions 
     of higher education under this section, the Secretary of 
     Education shall give priority to--
       (1) institutions that have programs focusing on a 
     curriculum that combines the study of foreign languages and 
     the study of science and technology and produces graduates 
     who have both skills; and
       (2) institutions teaching the languages identified as 
     critical by the National Security Education Board and the 
     Secretary of Education.
       (g) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001).
       (2) Science.--The term ``science'' means any of the natural 
     and physical sciences, including chemistry, biology, physics, 
     and computer science. Such term does not include any of the 
     social sciences.
       (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section, $15,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each 
     succeeding fiscal year.

     SEC. 8. NATIONAL SECURITY EDUCATION PROGRAM SERVICE 
                   AGREEMENT.

       Section 802(b)(2) of the David L. Boren National Security 
     Education Act of 1991 (50 U.S.C. 1902(b)(2)) is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(2) will--
       ``(A) in the case of a recipient of a scholarship, not 
     later than 3 years after the date of the recipient's 
     completion of the study for which scholarship assistance was 
     provided under the program, work--
       ``(i) for not less than 1 year in a position in the 
     Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, 
     the Department of State, or any element of the intelligence 
     community that is certified by the Secretary as contributing 
     to national security;
       ``(ii) if such recipient demonstrates to the Secretary of 
     Defense that no position described in clause (i) is 
     available, for not less than 1 year in a position in another 
     department or agency of the Federal Government that is 
     certified by the Secretary as contributing to national 
     security; or
       ``(iii) if such recipient demonstrates to the Secretary of 
     Defense that no position described in clause (i) or (ii) is 
     available, for not less than 1 academic year in a position in 
     the field of education in a discipline related to the studies 
     supported under this section; or

[[Page S5592]]

       ``(B) in the case of a recipient of a fellowship, not later 
     than 2 years after the date of the recipient's completion of 
     the study for which the fellowship assistance was provided 
     under the program, work--
       ``(i) for not less than 1 year in a position in the 
     Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, 
     the Department of State, or any element of the intelligence 
     community that is certified by the Secretary as contributing 
     to national security;
       ``(ii) if such recipient demonstrates to the Secretary of 
     Defense that no position described in clause (i) is 
     available, for not less than 1 year in a position in another 
     department or agency of the Federal Government that is 
     certified by the Secretary as contributing to national 
     security; or
       ``(iii) if such recipient demonstrates to the Secretary of 
     Defense that no position described in clause (i) or (ii) is 
     available, for not less than 1 academic year in a position in 
     the field of education in a discipline related to the studies 
     supported under this section.''.

     SEC. 9. CRITICAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION PROGRAM.

       (a) Grants Authorized.--From amounts appropriated under 
     subsection (f), the Secretary of Education shall award grants 
     to institutions of higher education to pay the Federal share 
     of programs established by the institutions, in collaboration 
     with elementary schools and secondary schools, for language 
     learning pathways that train students from kindergarten 
     through graduate education to be proficient in the critical 
     foreign languages.
       (b) Application Requirements.--An institution of higher 
     education desiring a grant under this section shall submit an 
     application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
     and containing such information as the Secretary of Education 
     shall require. In the application, the institution of higher 
     education shall--
       (1) demonstrate the ability of the institution to 
     collaborate effectively with elementary schools and secondary 
     schools to ensure that students who successfully achieve an 
     advanced proficiency level in a critical foreign language at 
     such schools will continue studying a foreign language at an 
     institution of higher education and achieve a superior 
     proficiency level while enrolled in an academic degree 
     program;
       (2) demonstrate that the program designed by the 
     institution under this section can be replicated for use by 
     other institutions of higher education and elementary schools 
     and secondary schools in the United States; and
       (3) agree to provide the non-Federal share of the costs of 
     the program under this section.
       (c) Federal Share; Non-Federal Share.--The Federal share of 
     the costs of the program under this section shall be not more 
     than 90 percent of such costs. The non-Federal share shall be 
     not less than 10 percent of such costs, and may be provided 
     in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated.
       (d) Program.--A program assisted under this section may 
     include--
       (1) study or work abroad opportunities;
       (2) experiential and community learning;
       (3) distance learning;
       (4) language learning for professional purposes, business, 
     and other disciplines; and
       (5) innovative opportunities for language learning through 
     immersion, internships, and community service.
       (e) Definition of Critical Foreign Language.--In this 
     section, the term ``critical foreign language'' means any 
     language identified as critical by the National Security 
     Education Board and the Secretary of Education.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2008 and each succeeding fiscal year.

     SEC. 10. WORLD LANGUAGE TEACHING SCHOLARSHIPS.

       (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to increase 
     the number of elementary school and secondary school 
     educators with foreign language proficiency by awarding 
     scholarships to language proficient individuals to enable the 
     individuals to become certified or licensed as foreign 
     language teachers.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Eligible individual.--The term ``eligible individual'' 
     means a person who--
       (A) is a citizen, national, or permanent legal resident of 
     the United States or is a citizen of 1 of the Freely 
     Associated States (as defined in section 103 of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003));
       (B) holds at least a baccalaureate degree from an 
     institution of higher education; and
       (C) demonstrates written and verbal fluency in a critical 
     foreign language.
       (2) Critical foreign language.--The term ``critical foreign 
     language'' means any language identified as critical by the 
     National Security Education Board and the Secretary of 
     Education.
       (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
       (4) Qualified expenses.--The term ``qualified expenses'' 
     means the tuition, books, fees, supplies, and equipment 
     required for a course of instruction, at the institution of 
     higher education the eligible individual chooses to attend, 
     that leads to elementary or secondary teaching certification 
     or licensure in any State, and other expenses for completing 
     a teacher preparatory program or obtaining a teaching 
     certificate or license.
       (5) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
     States of the United States and the District of Columbia.
       (c) Program Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under subsection 
     (e), the Secretary of Education shall award scholarships to 
     eligible individuals that shall be used to pay for the 
     qualified expenses of a teacher certification or licensure 
     program.
       (2) Designation.--A scholarship under this section shall be 
     known as a ``World Language Teaching Scholarship''.
       (d) Amount; Duration; Terms.--
       (1) Amount.--A scholarship awarded under this section shall 
     be in an amount of not more than $15,000 per year.
       (2) Duration of scholarship.--A scholarship awarded to an 
     eligible individual under this section shall be for the 
     number of years required to complete a course of study 
     leading to elementary or secondary school teaching 
     certification or licensure in a State or a territory of the 
     United States, except that no scholarship shall exceed a 
     period of 2 years.
       (3) Terms of scholarship.--
       (A) Employment as a teacher.--As a condition of receiving a 
     scholarship under this section, an eligible individual shall 
     agree to be employed full-time as a foreign language 
     elementary or secondary education teacher at a high-need, 
     low-income school, as determined by the Secretary, for a 
     period of not less than 5 years.
       (B) Failure to teach.--If an individual who receives a 
     scholarship under this section does not comply with 
     subparagraph (A), the individual shall reimburse the Federal 
     Government for the amount of such scholarship, including 
     interest, at a rate and schedule to be determined by the 
     Secretary.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       (1) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (2) $375,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (3) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
       (4) $600,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 
     2013.

     SEC. 11. PILOT PROGRAM FOR STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT FOR FEDERAL 
                   EMPLOYEES WITH CRITICAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, 
                   ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE 
                   SKILLS.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter VII of chapter 53 of title 5, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
     5379 the following:

     ``Sec. 5379a. Pilot program for student loan repayment for 
       Federal employees with critical science, technology, 
       engineering, mathematics, and foreign language skills

       ``(a) In this section:
       ``(1) The term `agency' means any agency that, based on the 
     agency's human capital strategic plan, has a shortfall in the 
     number of individuals possessing critical science, 
     technology, engineering, mathematics, and foreign language 
     skills.
       ``(2) The term `human capital strategic plan' means an 
     agency's strategic plan under section 306 of this title.
       ``(3) The term `student loan' means--
       ``(A) a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B of 
     title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 
     et seq.);
       ``(B) a loan made under part D or E of title IV of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq., 1087aa 
     et seq.); or
       ``(C) a health education assistance loan made or insured 
     under part A of title VII of the Public Health Service Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 292 et seq.) or under part E of title VIII of such 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 297a et seq.).
       ``(b) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management 
     shall establish and administer a program under which not less 
     than 3 but not more than 5 agencies, for a period of 5 years, 
     shall set aside an amount, as described in subsection (d), to 
     fund a student loan repayment program under section 5379 of 
     this title to repay (by direct payments on behalf of the 
     employee) any student loan previously taken out by employees 
     possessing science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or 
     foreign language skills deemed critical to an agency under 
     the agency's human capital strategic plan.
       ``(c) A program established under this section shall remain 
     in effect for the 5-year period beginning on the date of 
     enactment of the Homeland Security Education Act. 
     Notwithstanding the previous sentence, such program shall 
     continue to pay an employee recruited under this program who 
     is in compliance with this section and section 5379 of this 
     title the employee's benefits under this section through the 
     commitment period in accordance with section 5379(c).
       ``(d) Each agency participating in this program shall set 
     aside enough funds to repay the student loans of at least 
     one-half of the number of employees needed with critical 
     science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or foreign 
     language skills, according to the agency's human capital 
     strategic plan.
       ``(e)(1) Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
     of the Homeland Security Education Act and after 
     consultations with the heads of agencies, the Director of the 
     Office of Personnel Management shall propose regulations for 
     the pilot program.
       ``(2) Not later than 180 days after the date on which the 
     comment period for proposed regulations under paragraph (1) 
     ends, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management 
     shall promulgate final regulations.
       ``(f)(1)(A) Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of the Homeland Security

[[Page S5593]]

     Education Act, the Director of the Office of Personnel 
     Management shall report to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress on the implementation of the program under this 
     section.
       ``(B) As part of its annual report on the Federal 
     Government's student loan repayment program under section 
     5379, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management 
     shall report on the status of the program established under 
     this section and the success of such program in recruiting 
     and retaining employees possessing such skills, including an 
     assessment as to whether the program should be expanded to 
     other agencies or to individuals possessing other critical 
     skills.
       ``(2) The head of each agency establishing a student loan 
     repayment program under this section shall provide any 
     necessary information to the Director of the Office of 
     Personnel Management to enable the Director to carry out this 
     subsection.
       ``(g) For the purpose of enabling the Federal Government to 
     recruit and retain employees possessing critical science, 
     technology, engineering, mathematics, and foreign language 
     skills under this section, there are authorized to be 
     appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
     section for each fiscal year.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     sections for chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5379 
     the following:

``Sec. 5379a. Pilot program for student loan repayment for Federal 
              employees with critical science, technology, engineering, 
              mathematics, and foreign language skills.''.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today, along with my friends 
Senators Durbin and Cochran, to reintroduce legislation that will 
provide students much needed educational opportunities in foreign 
languages and science, technology engineering and mathematics, STEM.
  The future economic health and security of our Nation depends on 
programs such as those called for in our legislation. This country's 
national security depends upon having a workforce with the necessary 
science, technology, engineering, math, and foreign language skills to 
rapidly and efficiently adapt to the challenges of globalization. Yet, 
we are falling behind.
  According to a study conducted by the Committee on Economic 
Development, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other Federal 
Government agencies do not have a sufficient number of personnel 
trained in critical languages to translate intelligence information in 
a timely manner. Similarly, a GAO report issued August 4, 2006, GAO-06-
894 noted that the State Department was still suffering from gaps in 
language proficiency which could adversely impact its ability to 
communicate with foreign audiences and execute critical duties.
  We all know that we live in a global marketplace. The United States, 
which has the world's largest economy, is the engine for global 
economic growth. However, this also means that American workers must 
compete with others in the global market for skilled labor. The signs 
have long been clear that we are failing to develop the next generation 
of workers. As a recent study by the National Center for Public Policy 
and Higher Education observes, in the United States ``about one-quarter 
of 15-year-olds fall into the lowest proficiency level on assessments 
of skills and knowledge.'' The United States ranks 16th among 27 
countries in the number of students who earn a college degree or 
certificate. We can delay no longer in taking the steps to train 
students to compete and thrive in a multi-lingual and technologically 
complex environment.
  Our bill the Homeland Security Education Act, provides schools with 
the framework they need to prepare our Nation's youth for the future. 
Its enactment is a critical step in reenergizing and reinvigorating our 
education system to meet the needs of our Nation. It will increase 
students' proficiency in foreign languages and encourage them to become 
scientists and engineers.
  The Homeland Security Education Act provides schools with the 
equipment and materials necessary to teach STEM and foreign language 
courses by encouraging public private partnerships to improve science 
and math curricular--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-12; developing 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 creating 
language learning pathways to facilitate proficiency in critical 
foreign languages from kindergarten through graduate school.
  In addition, this act addresses the shortage of STEM and foreign 
language teachers. Our Nation needs mathematicians, scientists, and 
linguists in order to compete in a global mart. Accordingly, our bill 
awards scholarships in the amount of $15,000 to language proficient 
individuals and to practicing scientists and engineers to encourage 
them to become certified to teach these critical skills to students in 
high-need, low-income schools. The bill would also allow National 
Security Education Program scholarship and fellowship recipients to 
meet their service requirements by teaching in critical areas if they 
cannot find a national security position in the Federal service. In 
addition, a key provision awards grants to build professional 
development programs, summer workshops or institutes, and foreign 
language distance learning programs for elementary and secondary school 
teachers in order to facilitate partnerships between 12 schools and 
institutions of higher education.
  Not only do we need to encourage individuals and professionals to 
become teachers in these critical need areas, we also need to encourage 
students to study languages, science, technology, engineering, and math 
by underscoring the importance of these subjects to our country's 
security and economic well-being. As Secretary of Education Margaret 
Spellings noted in January 2006, only 44 percent of this country's high 
school students are studying any foreign language, while learning a 
second or even a third language is compulsory for students in the 
European Union, China, Thailand, and many other nations. 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. Our children deserve better opportunities to become math, 
science, and language proficient. The Homeland Security Education Act 
helps correct this growing skill gap between students in the United 
States and students across the globe by providing scholarships for 
students to earn their degrees in STEM or a foreign language.
  Mr. President, education is the foundation of our Nation's long-term 
security. In order to fulfill our role as a world leader, this Nation 
needs Americans who are well educated and can communicate and compete 
in a global environment. The bill we are introducing today will help us 
meet this essential goal.
                                 ______