[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 119 (Wednesday, July 12, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2363-S2364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Wicker):
  S. 2261. 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. Madam 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:

       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 2023''.

     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 world 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 to be, a priority for 
     institutions of higher education and study abroad programs.
       (7) The COVID-19 pandemic prevented students from 
     participating in study abroad due to travel restrictions and 
     reduced budgets. According to Open Doors 2022, published by 
     the Institute of International Education in partnership with 
     the Department of State, study abroad participation at 
     colleges and universities in the United States plummeted by 
     91 percent during the 2020-2021 academic year. In the post-
     pandemic world, increasing access to study abroad for 
     students at institutions of higher education across the 
     United States is 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, especially among low-
     income students and students of color;
       (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 United States 
     institutions of higher education to expand study abroad 
     opportunities.

     SEC. 4. SENATOR PAUL SIMON STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM.

       (a) 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--
       (A) an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in 
     the United States or a national of the United States or (as 
     such terms are defined in paragraphs (20) and (22) of section 
     101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (8 
     U.S.C. 1101(a))) who is enrolled at an institution of higher 
     education located within the United States; or
       (B) an individual who is an eligible noncitizen for Federal 
     student aid, as determined by the Secretary of Education for 
     purposes of the Federal student loan program under title IV 
     of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).
       (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.
       (6) World language.--The term ``world language'' means any 
     natural language other than English, including--
       (A) languages determined by the Secretary of State to be 
     critical to the national security interests of the United 
     States;
       (B) classical languages;
       (C) American sign language; and
       (D) Native American languages.
       (b) 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 subsection.
       (2) Objectives.--The objectives of the Program are that not 
     later than 10 years after the date of enactment of the 
     Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2023--
       (A) not fewer than 1,000,000 undergraduate students from 
     the United States will study abroad annually;
       (B) the demographics of study abroad participation will 
     reflect the demographics of the United States undergraduate 
     population by increasing the participation rate of 
     underrepresented groups; and
       (C) an increasing portion of study abroad will take place 
     in nontraditional study abroad destinations, with a 
     substantial portion of such increases in developing 
     countries.
       (3) Competitive grants to institutions of higher 
     education.--

[[Page S2364]]

       (A) In general.--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--
       (i) set forth detailed plans for using grant funds to 
     further such objectives;
       (ii) include an institutional commitment to expanding 
     access to study abroad;
       (iii) include plans for evaluating progress made in 
     increasing access to study abroad;
       (iv) describe how increases in study abroad participation 
     achieved through the grant will be sustained in subsequent 
     years; and
       (v) 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.
       (B) Priority.--In awarding grants under subparagraph (A), 
     the Secretary may give priority to--
       (i) minority-serving institutions listed under section 
     371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1067q(a)));
       (ii) eligible institutions (as defined in section 312(b) of 
     the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(b)) that 
     qualify for the Strengthening Institutions Program of the 
     Department of Education; and
       (iii) institutions that offer study abroad programs with a 
     significant world language learning component, as applicable.
       (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) shall 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.
       (c) Annual Report.--Not later than December 31 of each 
     year, the Secretary of State shall submit an annual report to 
     the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
     that details the implementation of the Program during the 
     most recently concluded fiscal year.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     the Program for fiscal year 2024 and for each subsequent 
     fiscal year.
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