[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 176 (Tuesday, November 15, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6697-S6698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Wicker):
S. 5098. A bill to ensure that significantly more students graduate
college with the international knowledge and experience essential for
success in today's global economy through the establishment of the
Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program in the Department of State; to
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr. DURBIN. 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. 5098
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 Program Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) To prepare students for success in the modern global
economy, opportunities for study abroad should be included as
part of a well-rounded education.
(2) Study abroad programs provide students with
unparalleled access to international knowledge, an unmatched
opportunity to learn foreign languages, and a unique
environment for developing cultural understanding, all of
which are knowledge and skills needed in today's global
economy.
(3) Only 10 percent of United States college students study
abroad before they graduate, leaving 90 percent of graduates
entering the workforce without the global skills, knowledge,
and experiences afforded by study abroad programs that will
position them for success in the global economy. Minority
students, first-generation college students, community
college students, and students with disabilities are also
significantly underrepresented in study abroad participation.
(4) Congress authorized the establishment of the Commission
on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program
(referred to in this section as the ``Lincoln Commission'')
under section 104 of the Miscellaneous Appropriations and
Offsets Act, 2004 (division H of Public Law 108-199).
Pursuant to its mandate, the Lincoln Commission submitted a
report to Congress and to the President containing 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.
(5) According to the Lincoln Commission, ``[e]xperience
shows that leadership from administrators and faculty will
drive the number of study abroad participants higher and
improve the quality of programs. Such leadership is the only
way that study abroad will become an integral part of the
undergraduate experience.'' A competitive grant program is
necessary to encourage and support such leadership.
(6) Student health, safety, and security while studying
abroad is, and must continue
[[Page S6698]]
to be, a priority for institutions of higher education and
study abroad programs.
(7) The COVID-19 pandemic has limited or prevented students
from participating in study abroad due to travel restrictions
and reduced budgets. In the post-pandemic world, increasing
access to study abroad for students at institutions of higher
education throughout the United States will be critical to
ensuring that those students gain the skills, knowledge, and
experiences necessary to maintain the leadership of the
United States in tackling global challenges, such as
pandemics, and succeeding in a global economy.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to ensure that significantly more students have access
to quality study abroad opportunities;
(2) to ensure that the diversity of students studying
abroad reflects the diversity of students and institutions of
higher education in the United States;
(3) to encourage greater diversity in study abroad
destinations by increasing the portion of study abroad that
takes place in nontraditional study abroad destinations,
especially in developing countries; and
(4) to encourage a greater commitment by institutions of
higher education to expand study abroad opportunities.
SEC. 4. SENATOR PAUL SIMON STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM.
(a) Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program.--
(1) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations and under the authority of the Mutual
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451
et seq.), the Secretary of State shall--
(A) rename the Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for
U.S. Students Program (commonly known as ``IDEAS'') as the
``Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program'' (referred to in
this section as the ``Program''); and
(B) enhance the program in accordance with this paragraph.
(2) Objectives.--Not later than 10 years after the date of
enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act
of 2022, the Program shall strive to accomplish the following
objectives:
(A) At least 1,000,000 undergraduate students from the
United States are studying abroad annually.
(B) The demographics of study abroad participation reflect
the demographics of the United States undergraduate
population through an increase in the participation rate of
previously underrepresented groups.
(C) An increasing portion of study abroad takes place in
nontraditional study abroad destinations, with a substantial
portion of such increases in developing countries.
(3) Competitive grants to institutions of higher
education.--In order to accomplish the objectives described
in paragraph (2), the Secretary of State shall award grants,
on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education,
either individually or as part of a consortium, based on
applications by such institutions that--
(A) set forth detailed plans for using grant funds to
further such objectives;
(B) include an institutional commitment to expanding access
to study abroad;
(C) include plans for evaluating progress made in
increasing access to study abroad;
(D) describe how increases in study abroad participation
achieved through the grant will be sustained in subsequent
years; and
(E) demonstrate that the study abroad programs have
established health, safety, and security guidelines and
procedures, informed by Department of State travel advisories
and other appropriate Federal agencies and resources,
including the Overseas Security Advisory Council and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(4) Implementation of lincoln commission recommendations.--
In administering the Program, the Secretary of State shall
take fully into account the recommendations of the Lincoln
Commission, including--
(A) institutions of higher education applying for grants
described in paragraph (3) may use Program funds to support
direct student costs;
(B) diversity shall be a defining characteristic of the
Program; and
(C) quality control shall be a defining characteristic of
the Program.
(5) Consultation.--In carrying out this subsection, the
Secretary of State shall consult with representatives of
diverse institutions of higher education and educational
policy organizations and other individuals with appropriate
expertise.
(b) Annual Report.--Not later than December 31 of each
year, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
that describes the implementation of the Program during the
most recently concluded fiscal year.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out the Program such sums as may
be necessary for fiscal year 2023 and for each subsequent
fiscal year.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Consortium.--The term ``consortium'' means a group
that--
(A) includes at least 1 institution of higher education;
and
(B) may include nongovernmental organizations that provide
and promote study abroad opportunities for students.
(2) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given
such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(3) Nontraditional study abroad destination.--The term
``nontraditional study abroad destination'' means a location
that is determined by the Secretary of State to be a less
common destination for students who study abroad.
(4) Student.--The term ``student'' means an individual
who--
(A) meets the requirements under section 484(a)(5) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(a)(5)); and
(B) is enrolled at an institution of higher education
located within the United States.
(5) Study abroad.--The term ``study abroad'' means an
educational program of study, work, service learning,
research, internship, or combination of such activities
that--
(A) is conducted outside of the United States; and
(B) carries academic credit.
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