[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2307-S2308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Wicker):
S. 4541. 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 unanious 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. 4541
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 2026''.
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) 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. While study abroad
numbers have rebounded, according to Open Doors 2025,
participation remains 14 percent below pre-pandemic levels.
In today's global society, 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 and security of the United States in
tackling global challenges that affect the people of the
United States 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) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Senator Paul
Simon Study Abroad Program, as renamed pursuant to subsection
(b)(1)(A).
(5) 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.).
(6) 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.
(7) 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 IDEAS Program, or any successor program, as
the ``Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program''; and
(B) enhance the Program in accordance with this section.
(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.--
[[Page S2308]]
(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, for fiscal year 2027 and for each
subsequent fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary to
carry out the Program.
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