[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4758-S4759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2434. Mr. DURBIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. SENATOR PAUL SIMON STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM ACT OF 
                   2024.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the 
     ``Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2024''.
       (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 this Act--
       (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.--
       (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.
       (e) 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

[[Page S4759]]

     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.
                                 ______