[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H5944-H5948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SENATOR PAUL SIMON STUDY ABROAD FOUNDATION ACT OF 2007

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1469) to establish the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad 
Foundation under the authorities of the Mutual Educational and Cultural 
Exchange Act of 1961, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1469

       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 ``Senator Paul Simon Study 
     Abroad Foundation Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) According to President George W. Bush, ``America's 
     leadership and national security rest on our commitment to 
     educate and prepare our youth for active engagement in the 
     international community.''.
       (2) According to former President William J. Clinton, 
     ``Today, the defense of United States interests, the 
     effective management of global issues, and even an 
     understanding of our Nation's diversity require ever-greater 
     contact with, and understanding of, people and cultures 
     beyond our borders.''.
       (3) Congress authorized the establishment of the Commission 
     on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program 
     pursuant to section 104 of the Miscellaneous Appropriations 
     and Offsets Act, 2004 (division H of Public Law 108-199). 
     Pursuant to its mandate, the Lincoln Commission has submitted 
     to Congress and the President a report of its recommendations 
     for greatly expanding the opportunity for students at 
     institutions of higher education in the United States to 
     study abroad, with special emphasis on studying in developing 
     nations.
       (4) According to the Lincoln Commission, ``[s]tudy abroad 
     is one of the major means of producing foreign language 
     speakers and enhancing foreign language learning'' and, for 
     that reason, ``is simply essential to the [N]ation's 
     security''.
       (5) Studies consistently show that United States students 
     score below their counterparts in other advanced countries on 
     indicators of international knowledge. This lack of global 
     literacy is a national liability in an age of global trade 
     and business, global interdependence, and global terror.
       (6) Americans believe that it is important for their 
     children to learn other languages, study abroad, attend a 
     college where they can interact with international students, 
     learn about other countries and cultures, and generally be 
     prepared for the global age.
       (7) In today's world, it is more important than ever for 
     the United States to be a responsible, constructive leader 
     that other countries are willing to follow. Such leadership 
     cannot be sustained without an informed citizenry with 
     significant knowledge and awareness of the world.
       (8) Study abroad has proven to be a very effective means of 
     imparting international and foreign-language competency to 
     students.
       (9) In any given year, only approximately one percent of 
     all students enrolled in United States institutions of higher 
     education study abroad.
       (10) Less than 10 percent of the students who graduate from 
     United States institutions of higher education with bachelors 
     degrees have studied abroad.
       (11) Far more study abroad must take place in developing 
     countries. Ninety-five percent of the world's population 
     growth over the next 50 years will occur outside of Europe. 
     Yet in the academic year 2004-2005, 60 percent of United 
     States students studying abroad studied in Europe, and 45 
     percent studied in four countries--the United Kingdom, Italy, 
     Spain, and France--according to the Institute of 
     International Education.
       (12) The Final Report of the National Commission on 
     Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (The 9/11 Commission 
     Report) recommended that the United States increase support 
     for ``scholarship, exchange, and library programs''. The 9/11 
     Public Discourse Project, successor to the 9/11 Commission, 
     noted in its November 14, 2005, status report that this 
     recommendation was ``unfulfilled,'' and stated that ``The 
     U.S. should increase support for scholarship and exchange 
     programs, our most powerful tool to shape attitudes over the 
     course of a generation.''. In its December 5, 2005, Final 
     Report on the 9/11 Commission Recommendations, the 9/11 
     Public Discourse Project gave the government a grade of ``D'' 
     for its implementation of this recommendation.
       (13) Investing in a national study abroad program would 
     help turn a grade of ``D'' into an ``A'' by equipping United 
     States students to communicate United States values and way 
     of life through the unique dialogue that takes place among 
     citizens from around the world when individuals study abroad.
       (14) An enhanced national study abroad program could help 
     further the goals of other United States Government 
     initiatives to promote educational, social, and political 
     reform and the status of women in developing and reforming 
     societies around the world, such as the Middle East 
     Partnership Initiative.
       (15) To complement such worthwhile Federal programs and 
     initiatives as the Benjamin A. Gilman International 
     Scholarship Program, the National Security Education Program, 
     and the National Security Language Initiative, a broad-based 
     undergraduate study abroad program is needed that will make 
     many more study abroad opportunities accessible to all 
     undergraduate students, regardless of their field of study, 
     ethnicity, socio-economic status, or gender.

     SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to significantly enhance the global competitiveness and 
     international knowledge base of the United States by ensuring 
     that more United States students have the opportunity to 
     acquire foreign language skills and international knowledge 
     through significantly expanded study abroad;
       (2) to enhance the foreign policy capacity of the United 
     States by significantly expanding and diversifying the talent 
     pool of individuals with non-traditional foreign language 
     skills and cultural knowledge in the United States who are 
     available for recruitment by United States foreign affairs 
     agencies, legislative branch agencies, and nongovernmental 
     organizations involved in foreign affairs activities;
       (3) to ensure that an increasing portion of study abroad by 
     United States students will take place in nontraditional 
     study abroad destinations such as the People's Republic of 
     China, countries of the Middle East region, and developing 
     countries; and
       (4) to create greater cultural understanding of the United 
     States by exposing foreign students and their families to 
     United States students in countries that have not 
     traditionally hosted large numbers of United States students.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate.
       (2) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Board of Directors 
     of the Foundation established pursuant to section 5(d).
       (3) Chief executive officer.--The term ``Chief Executive 
     Officer'' means the chief executive officer of the Foundation 
     appointed pursuant to section 5(c).
       (4) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the Senator 
     Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation established by section 
     5(a).
       (5) 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)).
       (6) Nontraditional study abroad destination.--The term 
     ``nontraditional study abroad destination'' means a location 
     that is determined by the Foundation to be a less common 
     destination for United States students who study abroad.
       (7) Study abroad.--The term ``study abroad'' means an 
     educational program of study, work, research, internship, or 
     combination thereof that is conducted outside the United 
     States and that carries academic credit toward fulfilling the 
     participating student's degree requirements.
       (8) United states.--The term ``United States'' means any of 
     the several States, the

[[Page H5945]]

     District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana 
     Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and any 
     other territory or possession of the United States.
       (9) United states student.--The term ``United States 
     student'' means a national of the United States who is 
     enrolled at an institution of higher education located within 
     the United States.

     SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SENATOR PAUL 
                   SIMON STUDY ABROAD FOUNDATION.

       (a) Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--There is established in the executive 
     branch a corporation to be known as the ``Senator Paul Simon 
     Study Abroad Foundation'' that shall be responsible for 
     carrying out this Act under the authorities of the Mutual 
     Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 
     et seq.). The Foundation shall be a government corporation, 
     as defined in section 103 of title 5, United States Code.
       (2) Board of directors.--The Foundation shall be governed 
     by a Board of Directors chaired by the Secretary of State (or 
     the Secretary's designee) in accordance with subsection (d).
       (3) Intent of congress.--It is the intent of Congress in 
     establishing the structure of the Foundation set forth in 
     this subsection to create an entity that will administer a 
     study abroad program that--
       (A) serves the long-term foreign policy and national 
     security needs of the United States; but
       (B) operates independently of short-term political and 
     foreign policy considerations.
       (b) Mandate of Foundation.--In administering the program 
     referred to in subsection (a)(3), the Foundation shall--
       (1) promote the objectives and purposes of this Act;
       (2) through responsive, flexible grant-making, promote 
     access to study abroad opportunities by United States 
     students at diverse institutions of higher education, 
     including two-year institutions, minority-serving 
     institutions, and institutions that serve nontraditional 
     students;
       (3) through creative grant-making, promote access to study 
     abroad opportunities by diverse United States students, 
     including minority students, students of limited financial 
     means, and nontraditional students;
       (4) raise funds from the private sector to supplement funds 
     made available under this Act; and
       (5) be committed to minimizing administrative costs and to 
     maximizing the availability of funds for grants under this 
     Act.
       (c) Chief Executive Officer.--
       (1) In general.--There shall be in the Foundation a Chief 
     Executive Officer who shall be responsible for the management 
     of the Foundation.
       (2) Appointment.--The Chief Executive Officer shall be 
     appointed by the Board and shall be a recognized leader in 
     higher education, business, or foreign policy, chosen on the 
     basis of a rigorous search.
       (3) Relationship to board.--The Chief Executive Officer 
     shall report to and be under the direct authority of the 
     Board.
       (4) Compensation and rank.--
       (A) In general.--The Chief Executive Officer shall be 
     compensated at the rate provided for level III of the 
     Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United 
     States Code.
       (B) Amendment.--Section 5314 of title 5, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``Chief Executive Officer, Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad 
     Foundation.''.
       (5) Authorities and duties.--The Chief Executive Officer 
     shall be responsible for the management of the Foundation and 
     shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the 
     Foundation.
       (6) Authority to appoint officers.--In consultation and 
     with approval of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall 
     appoint all officers of the Foundation.
       (d) Board of Directors.--
       (1) Establishment.--There shall be in the Foundation a 
     Board of Directors.
       (2) Duties.--The Board shall perform the functions 
     specified to be carried out by the Board in this Act and may 
     prescribe, amend, and repeal bylaws, rules, regulations, and 
     procedures governing the manner in which the business of the 
     Foundation may be conducted and in which the powers granted 
     to it by law may be exercised.
       (3) Membership.--The Board shall consist of--
       (A) the Secretary of State (or the Secretary's designee), 
     the Secretary of Education (or the Secretary's designee), the 
     Secretary of Defense (or the Secretary's designee), and the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development (or the Administrator's designee); and
       (B) five other individuals with relevant experience in 
     matters relating to study abroad (such as individuals who 
     represent institutions of higher education, business 
     organizations, foreign policy organizations, or other 
     relevant organizations) who shall be appointed by the 
     President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 
     of which--
       (i) one individual shall be appointed from among a list of 
     individuals submitted by the majority leader of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (ii) one individual shall be appointed from among a list of 
     individuals submitted by the minority leader of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (iii) one individual shall be appointed from among a list 
     of individuals submitted by the majority leader of the 
     Senate; and
       (iv) one individual shall be appointed from among a list of 
     individuals submitted by the minority leader of the Senate.
       (4) Chief executive officer.--The Chief Executive Officer 
     of the Foundation shall serve as a nonvoting, ex officio 
     member of the Board.
       (5) Terms.--
       (A) Officers of the federal government.--Each member of the 
     Board described in paragraph (3)(A) shall serve for a term 
     that is concurrent with the term of service of the 
     individual's position as an officer within the other Federal 
     department or agency.
       (B) Other members.--Each member of the Board described in 
     paragraph (3)(B) shall be appointed for a term of 3 years and 
     may be reappointed for a term of an additional 3 years.
       (C) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Board shall be filled in 
     the manner in which the original appointment was made.
       (6) Chairperson.--There shall be a Chairperson of the 
     Board. The Secretary of State (or the Secretary's designee) 
     shall serve as the Chairperson.
       (7) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Board 
     described in paragraph (3) shall constitute a quorum, which, 
     except with respect to a meeting of the Board during the 135-
     day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, shall include at least one member of the Board described 
     in paragraph (3)(B).
       (8) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at the call of the 
     Chairperson.
       (9) Compensation.--
       (A) Officers of the federal government.--
       (i) In general.--A member of the Board described in 
     paragraph (3)(A) may not receive additional pay, allowances, 
     or benefits by reason of the member's service on the Board.
       (ii) Travel expenses.--Each such member of the Board shall 
     receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under 
     subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
       (B) Other members.--
       (i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), a 
     member of the Board described in paragraph (3)(B) while away 
     from the member's home or regular place of business on 
     necessary travel in the actual performance of duties as a 
     member of the Board, shall be paid per diem, travel, and 
     transportation expenses in the same manner as is provided 
     under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
     Code.
       (ii) Limitation.--A member of the Board may not be paid 
     compensation under clause (i) for more than 90 days in any 
     calendar year.

     SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment of the Program.--There is hereby 
     established a program, which shall--
       (1) be administered by the Foundation; and
       (2) award grants to--
       (A) United States students for study abroad;
       (B) nongovernmental institutions that provide and promote 
     study abroad opportunities for United States students, in 
     consortium with institutions described in subparagraph (C); 
     and
       (C) institutions of higher education, individually or in 
     consortium,
     in order to accomplish the objectives set forth in subsection 
     (b).
       (b) Objectives.--The objectives of the program established 
     under subsection (a) are that, within 10 years of the date of 
     the enactment of this Act--
       (1) not less than one million undergraduate United States 
     students will study abroad annually for credit;
       (2) the demographics of study-abroad participation will 
     reflect the demographics of the United States undergraduate 
     population, including students enrolled in community 
     colleges, minority-serving institutions, and institutions 
     serving large numbers of low-income and first-generation 
     students; and
       (3) an increasing portion of study abroad will take place 
     in nontraditional study abroad destinations, with a 
     substantial portion of such increases taking place in 
     developing countries.
       (c) Mandate of the Program.--In order to accomplish the 
     objectives set forth in subsection (b), the Foundation shall, 
     in administering the program established under subsection 
     (a), take fully into account the recommendations of the 
     Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship 
     Program (established pursuant to section 104 of the 
     Miscellaneous Appropriations and Offsets Act, 2004 (division 
     H of Public Law 108-199)).
       (d) Structure of Grants.--In accordance with the 
     recommendations of the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln 
     Study Abroad Fellowship Program, grants awarded under the 
     program established under subsection (a) shall be structured 
     to the maximum extent practicable to promote appropriate 
     reforms in institutions of higher education in order to 
     remove barriers to participation by students in study abroad.
       (e) Balance of Long-Term and Short-Term Study Abroad 
     Programs.--In administering the program established under 
     subsection (a), the Foundation shall seek an appropriate 
     balance between--
       (1) longer-term study abroad programs, which maximize 
     foreign-language learning and intercultural understanding; 
     and

[[Page H5946]]

       (2) shorter-term study abroad programs, which maximize the 
     accessibility of study abroad to nontraditional students.
       (f) Quality and Safety in Study Abroad.--In administering 
     the program established under subsection (a), the Foundation 
     shall require that institutions receiving grants demonstrate 
     that--
       (1) the study abroad programs for which students receive 
     grant funds are for academic credit; and
       (2) the programs have established health and safety 
     guidelines and procedures.

     SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT.

       (a) Report Required.--Not later than March 31, 2008, and 
     each March 31 thereafter, the Foundation shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
     implementation of this Act during the prior fiscal year.
       (b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include--
       (1) the total financial resources available to the 
     Foundation during the year, including appropriated funds, the 
     value and source of any gifts or donations accepted pursuant 
     to section 8(a)(6), and any other resources;
       (2) a description of the Board's policy priorities for the 
     year and the bases upon which competitive grant proposals 
     were solicited and awarded to institutions of higher 
     education, nongovernmental institutions, and consortiums 
     pursuant to section 6(a)(2)(B) and 6(a)(2)(C);
       (3) a list of grants made to institutions of higher 
     education, nongovernmental institutions, and consortiums 
     pursuant to section 6(a)(2)(B) and 6(a)(2)(C) that includes 
     the identity of the institutional recipient, the dollar 
     amount, and the estimated number of study abroad 
     opportunities provided to United States students by each 
     grant;
       (4) a description of the bases upon which the Foundation 
     made grants directly to United States students pursuant to 
     section 6(a)(2)(A);
       (5) the number and total dollar amount of grants made 
     directly to United States students by the Foundation pursuant 
     to section 6(a)(2)(A); and
       (6) the total administrative and operating expenses of the 
     Foundation for the year, as well as specific information on--
       (A) the number of Foundation employees and the cost of 
     compensation for Board members, Foundation employees, and 
     personal service contractors;
       (B) costs associated with securing the use of real property 
     for carrying out the functions of the Foundation;
       (C) total travel expenses incurred by Board members and 
     Foundation employees in connection with Foundation 
     activities; and
       (D) total representational expenses.

     SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE FOUNDATION; RELATED PROVISIONS.

       (a) Powers.--The Foundation--
       (1) shall have perpetual succession unless dissolved by a 
     law enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act;
       (2) may adopt, alter, and use a seal, which shall be 
     judicially noticed;
       (3) may make and perform such contracts, grants, and other 
     agreements with any person or government however designated 
     and wherever situated, as may be necessary for carrying out 
     the functions of the Foundation;
       (4) may determine and prescribe the manner in which its 
     obligations shall be incurred and its expenses allowed and 
     paid, including expenses for representation;
       (5) may lease, purchase, or otherwise acquire, improve, and 
     use such real property wherever situated, as may be necessary 
     for carrying out the functions of the Foundation;
       (6) may accept cash gifts or donations of services or of 
     property (real, personal, or mixed), tangible or intangible, 
     for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act;
       (7) may use the United States mails in the same manner and 
     on the same conditions as the executive departments;
       (8) may contract with individuals for personal services, 
     who shall not be considered Federal employees for any 
     provision of law administered by the Office of Personnel 
     Management;
       (9) may hire or obtain passenger motor vehicles; and
       (10) shall have such other powers as may be necessary and 
     incident to carrying out this Act.
       (b) Principal Office.--The Foundation shall maintain its 
     principal office in the metropolitan area of Washington, 
     District of Columbia.
       (c) Applicability of Government Corporation Control Act.--
       (1) In general.--The Foundation shall be subject to chapter 
     91 of subtitle VI of title 31, United States Code, except 
     that the Foundation shall not be authorized to issue 
     obligations or offer obligations to the public.
       (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 9101(3) of title 31, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(R) the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation.''.
       (d) Inspector General.--
       (1) In general.--The Inspector General of the Department of 
     State shall serve as Inspector General of the Foundation, 
     and, in acting in such capacity, may conduct reviews, 
     investigations, and inspections of all aspects of the 
     operations and activities of the Foundation.
       (2) Authority of the board.--In carrying out the 
     responsibilities under this subsection, the Inspector General 
     shall report to and be under the general supervision of the 
     Board.
       (3) Reimbursement and authorization of services.--
       (A) Reimbursement.--The Foundation shall reimburse the 
     Department of State for all expenses incurred by the 
     Inspector General in connection with the Inspector General's 
     responsibilities under this subsection.
       (B) Authorization for services.--Of the amount authorized 
     to be appropriated under section 10(a) for a fiscal year, up 
     to $2,000,000 is authorized to be made available to the 
     Inspector General of the Department of State to conduct 
     reviews, investigations, and inspections of operations and 
     activities of the Foundation.

     SEC. 9. GENERAL PERSONNEL AUTHORITIES.

       (a) Detail of Personnel.--Upon request of the Chief 
     Executive Officer, the head of an agency may detail any 
     employee of such agency to the Foundation on a reimbursable 
     basis. Any employee so detailed remains, for the purpose of 
     preserving such employee's allowances, privileges, rights, 
     seniority, and other benefits, an employee of the agency from 
     which detailed.
       (b) Reemployment Rights.--
       (1) In general.--An employee of an agency who is serving 
     under a career or career conditional appointment (or the 
     equivalent), and who, with the consent of the head of such 
     agency, transfers to the Foundation, is entitled to be 
     reemployed in such employee's former position or a position 
     of like seniority, status, and pay in such agency, if such 
     employee--
       (A) is separated from the Foundation for any reason, other 
     than misconduct, neglect of duty, or malfeasance; and
       (B) applies for reemployment not later than 90 days after 
     the date of separation from the Foundation.
       (2) Specific rights.--An employee who satisfies paragraph 
     (1) is entitled to be reemployed (in accordance with such 
     paragraph) within 30 days after applying for reemployment 
     and, on reemployment, is entitled to at least the rate of 
     basic pay to which such employee would have been entitled had 
     such employee never transferred.
       (c) Hiring Authority.--Of persons employed by the 
     Foundation, not to exceed 30 persons may be appointed, 
     compensated, or removed without regard to the civil service 
     laws and regulations.
       (d) Basic Pay.--The Chief Executive Officer may fix the 
     rate of basic pay of employees of the Foundation without 
     regard to the provisions of chapter 51 of title 5, United 
     States Code (relating to the classification of positions), 
     subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title (relating to 
     General Schedule pay rates), except that no employee of the 
     Foundation may receive a rate of basic pay that exceeds the 
     rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 
     5315 of such title.
       (e) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``agency'' means an executive agency, as 
     defined by section 105 of title 5, United States Code; and
       (2) the term ``detail'' means the assignment or loan of an 
     employee, without a change of position, from the agency by 
     which such employee is employed to the Foundation.

     SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and each 
     subsequent fiscal year.
       (2) Amounts in addition to other available amounts.--
     Amounts authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1) are in 
     addition to amounts authorized to be appropriated or 
     otherwise made available for educational exchange programs, 
     including the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange 
     Program and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship 
     Program, administered by the Bureau of Educational and 
     Cultural Affairs of the Department of State.
       (b) Allocation of Funds.--
       (1) In general.--The Foundation may allocate or transfer to 
     any agency of the United States Government any of the funds 
     available for carrying out this Act. Such funds shall be 
     available for obligation and expenditure for the purposes for 
     which the funds were authorized, in accordance with authority 
     granted in this Act or under authority governing the 
     activities of the United States Government agency to which 
     such funds are allocated or transferred.
       (2) Notification.--The Foundation shall notify the 
     appropriate congressional committees not less than 15 days 
     prior to an allocation or transfer of funds pursuant to 
     paragraph (1).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.

[[Page H5947]]

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution 
and yield myself such time as I might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a singularly important piece of legislation 
which I bring to my colleagues with great personal enthusiasm and some 
fond memories.
  Let me first pay tribute to our late colleague, Senator Paul Simon, 
after whom this legislation is named. Paul was a firm champion not only 
of education, higher education, but also education abroad, this 
incredibly important aspect in a growingly interdependent world. It is 
appropriate that this piece of legislation be named after our great 
late colleague, Paul Simon.
  Mr. Speaker, for 10 years, first I established and then I had the 
privilege of directing the Study Abroad Program of the California State 
University and College System. When I established that program, it was 
a path-breaking enterprise because historically study abroad was the 
privilege of only the wealthy and those who attended uniquely elite 
institutions.
  Our legislation expands the opportunity for study abroad that 
hopefully will involve annually about a million of our college and 
university students.
  Not too many years ago, study abroad was the opportunity for some 
wealthy college students to spend some time in France or Italy or maybe 
in Germany. But in an increasingly globalized world, our need to have 
young men and women who are conversant in the languages of many 
countries and who are familiar with the cultures of many countries is 
an absolute necessity for our national security and our national well-
being.
  This historic piece of legislation will democratize the program of 
Study Abroad, which used to be the privilege of a very thin layer of 
our society. It opens up for every American college student, 
irrespective of his or her socioeconomic status, the opportunity of 
spending a year or more involved in serious language and area study all 
over the world.

                              {time}  1510

  At a time when new languages are required by vast numbers of our 
young people, Chinese, Indian, Arabic and others, this will provide a 
dramatic upgrading of our ability to interact with the rest of the 
globe. I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation 
which will usher in a new era for American higher education for college 
students all over the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that an exchange of letters between the Committee 
of Foreign Affairs and the Committee of Oversight and Government Reform 
be included in the Record at this time.

         House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and 
           Government Reform,
                                     Washington, DC, June 5, 2007.
     Hon. Tom Lantos,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     Rayburn House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Lantos: I am writing about H.R. 1469, a bill 
     to establish the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation. 
     The Committee on Foreign Affairs reported this legislation to 
     the House on May 9, 2007.
       I appreciate your effort to consult with the Committee on 
     Oversight and Government Reform regarding those provisions of 
     H.R. 1469 that fall within the Oversight Committee's 
     jurisdiction. These provisions address issues related to the 
     Federal civil service, Federal property management, and the 
     duties of inspectors general.
       In the interest of expediting consideration of H.R. 1469, 
     the Oversight Committee will not request a sequential 
     referral of this bill. I would, however, request your support 
     for the appointment of conferees from the Oversight Committee 
     should H.R. 1469 or a similar Senate bill be considered in 
     conference with the Senate. Moreover, this letter should not 
     be construed as a waiver of the Oversight Committee's 
     legislative jurisdiction over subjects addressed in H.R. 1469 
     that fall within the jurisdiction of the Oversight Committee.
       Please include our exchange of letters on this matter in 
     the Congressional Record during consideration of this 
     legislation on the House floor.
       Again, I appreciate your willingness to consult the 
     Committee on these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Henry A. Waxman,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                     Washington, DC, June 5, 2007.
     Hon. Henry Waxman,
     Chairman, Committee Oversight and Government Reform,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     1469, the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 
     2007.
       I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this 
     legislation. I recognize that the bill contains provisions 
     that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Oversight and Government Reform. I acknowledge that the 
     Committee will not seek a sequential referral of the bill and 
     agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the 
     bill does not in any way serve as a jurisdictional precedent 
     as to our two committees.
       Further, as to any House-Senate conference on the bill, I 
     understand that your Committee reserves the right to seek the 
     appointment of conferees for consideration of portions of the 
     bill that are within the Committee's jurisdiction, and I 
     agree to support a request by the Committee with respect to 
     serving as conferees on the bill, consistent with the 
     Speaker's practice in this regard.
       I will ensure that our exchange of letters are included in 
     the Congressional Record and I look forward to working with 
     you on this important legislation. If you wish to discuss 
     this matter further, please contact me or have your staff 
     contact my staff.
           Cordially,
                                                       Tom Lantos,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I am very proud to join Chairman Lantos in introducing his bill, H.R. 
1469, the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 2007. The 
Act gives effect to key recommendations of the bipartisan, 
congressionally mandated report of the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad 
Commission as well as the 9/11 Commission report.
  The United States has an increasing need for foreign language 
expertise, cultural knowledge and better people-to-people diplomacy. We 
saw a dramatic example of this need, lamentably, after the events of 9/
11 when we faced a sudden shortage of qualified speakers of Arabic, 
Farsi and other strategic languages. A study released last August by 
the Government Accountability Office indicated that serious language 
gaps remain within the State Department that can adversely impact 
State's ability to communicate with foreign audiences and execute 
critical duties. Study abroad by more American students in places other 
than traditional destinations in western Europe is essential to our 
Nation's security and future leadership in the world.
  For these reasons, the gentleman from California's bill, H.R. 1469, 
aims to increase the number and diversity of American students studying 
abroad with an eventual goal of 1 million per year. It ensures that 
most of the increase occurs in nontraditional and strategically 
important destinations, such as China, the Middle East and the 
developing world.
  This Act will establish the Simon Study Abroad Foundation, an 
independent U.S. Government corporation that can raise private sector 
funds to promote its work, freed from the large bureaucracies and 
short-term agendas of other U.S. agencies. By offering competitive 
grants to universities and educational consortiums based on its 
priorities, the Foundation will generate broader interest among 
American schools in study abroad programs, leveraging an impact far 
greater than a mere direct grant program for students.
  To ensure maximum transparency and efficiency, the Foundation will be 
subject to oversight by an Inspector General and annual congressional 
reporting requirements.
  I appreciate Chairman Lantos incorporating my proposals for those 
oversight mechanisms in the introduced text of the bill.
  I also was pleased to consult with him regarding the small changes 
made to the bill after committee consideration. Three minor changes 
make explicit what was already implicit in the bill: Two of them 
confirm that the Foundation is a new and different approach not 
intended to supplant other exchange and direct-grant programs currently 
run by the State Department. The third makes clear that the Foundation 
should take care to fund only safe, high-quality study abroad programs. 
A fourth, substantive change aims to make the Foundation more

[[Page H5948]]

cost-effective by eliminating the compensation for board members that 
was part of the originally introduced text.
  In sum, this Act, Mr. Speaker, represents a creative, forward-
thinking initiative to protect American leadership and security in a 
fast-changing world. H.R. 1469 deserves our enthusiastic support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in 
support of H.R. 1469, the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Act of 2007. 
This important piece of legislation seeks to enhance the enrollment, 
diversity, and range of countries relating to U.S. college study abroad 
programs.
  The United States is failing to take full advantage of a valuable 
tool that should be used to enhance our standing in the world and to 
improve our national security. Opportunities for students to study 
abroad is integral to creating intercultural awareness, a globally 
competent workforce, ensuring America's economic competitiveness, and 
protecting national security. Students can be powerfully effective 
diplomats for American culture, democratic values, and foreign policy.
  H.R. 1469 aims to improve the diversity, the range of countries, and 
number of students that study abroad while in college. Only about 1 
percent of all U.S. college students study abroad, and the vast 
majority study in Europe. Just 9 percent of those students are minority 
students, even though African American, Native American, and Hispanic 
students make up 30 percent of the total U.S. college enrollment.
  Inspired by the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and the 
congressionally chartered Lincoln Commission, the Senator Paul Simon 
Act will create a new government corporation charged with democratizing 
study abroad for American students the way that the GI Bill 
democratized higher education.
  The Simon Foundation Act is visionary legislation sponsored by 
Senators Richard Durbin and Norm Coleman, and the chairman and ranking 
member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Lantos and Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen. The legislation authorizes $80 million annually for 10 years 
in order to assist 1 million American students study abroad each year 
by 2018. This funding from the Department of State budget will directly 
support student scholarships and organizations like Bardoli Global 
around the Nation.
  Bardoli Global is an organization that originated in my congressional 
district. It exists to provide greater access to study abroad 
opportunities for outstanding African American, Native American, and 
Hispanic American student leaders and to make those students globally 
competent change agents for their communities. The organization's 
Houston pilot program will soon expand to five other cities across the 
Nation in 2008.
  Mr. Speaker, we must act now to enact the vision of the late Senator 
Paul Simon from Illinois who worked tirelessly to promote a public-
private partnership to democratize study abroad. We must act quickly to 
achieve equity and diversity in study abroad, especially targeting 
traditionally underrepresented students. I strongly urge my colleagues 
to support this bill.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, as always, it's a pleasure to work 
with Chairman Lantos.
  I have no further requests for speakers, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1469, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________