[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3344-S3345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6158. Mr. DURBIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2027 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 end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:
SEC. __. SENATOR PAUL SIMON STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM.
(a) 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 a better understanding of other
societies, 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 international skills,
knowledge, and experiences afforded by study abroad programs
that will position them for success in careers that advance
United States interests abroad.
(4) According to Open Doors 2025, published by the
Institute of International Education in partnership with the
Department of State, of the nearly 300,000 United States
college students who studied abroad for credit during the
2023-2024 academic year, 34 percent were men, 11 percent had
a disability, and fewer than 2 percent attended a community
college in the United States.
(5) 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.
(6) 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.
(7) 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.
(8) According to Open Doors, study abroad participation at
colleges and universities in the United States plummeted by
91 percent during the 2020-2021 academic year due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. While study abroad numbers have rebounded,
according to the latest Open Doors data, participation
remains 14 percent below pre-pandemic levels.
(9) 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 international challenges that
affect the American people.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
(1) to ensure that significantly more students have access
to quality study abroad opportunities, especially among
students receiving Federal financial aid;
(2) to ensure that study abroad participation reflects all
types of students and institutions of higher education in the
United States;
(3) to expand study abroad opportunities to more
destinations, as recommended by the Lincoln Commission; and
(4) to encourage a greater commitment by United States
institutions of higher education to expand study abroad
opportunities.
(c) Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Consortium.--The term ``consortium'' means a group
that--
(i) includes at least 1 institution of higher education;
and
(ii) may include nongovernmental organizations that provide
and promote study abroad opportunities for students.
(B) 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)).
(C) Student.--The term ``student'' means an individual
who--
(i) meets the requirements under section 484(a)(5) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(a)(5)); and
(ii) is enrolled at an institution of higher education
located within the United States.
(D) Study abroad.--The term ``study abroad'' means an
educational program of study, work, service learning,
research, internship, or combination of such activities
that--
(i) is conducted outside of the United States; and
[[Page S3345]]
(ii) carries academic credit.
(E) World language.--The term ``world language'' means any
natural language other than English, including--
(i) languages determined by the Secretary of State to be
critical to the national security interests of the United
States;
(ii) classical languages;
(iii) American sign language; and
(iv) Native American languages.
(2) Senator paul simon study abroad program.--
(A) 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--
(i) rename the IDEAS Program, or any successor program, as
the ``Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program'' (referred to
in this subsection as the ``Program''); and
(ii) enhance the Program in accordance with this paragraph.
(B) Objectives.--The objectives of the Program are that not
later than 10 years after the date of the enactment of this
Act--
(i) not fewer than 1,000,000 undergraduate students from
the United States will study abroad annually;
(ii) study abroad participation will reflect all types of
students and institutions of higher education in the United
States; and
(iii) study abroad opportunities will expand to more
destinations that are less common for students to study
abroad as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
(C) Competitive grants to institutions of higher
education.--
(i) In general.--In order to accomplish the objectives
described in subparagraph (B), 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 opportunities for 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.
(ii) Considerations.--In awarding grants under clause (i),
the Secretary may consider institutions of higher education
that offer study abroad programs with a significant world
language learning component, as applicable.
(D) 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--
(i) institutions of higher education applying for grants
described in subparagraph (C) shall use Program funds to
support direct student costs;
(ii) study abroad participation shall reflect all types of
students and institutions of higher education in the United
States; and
(iii) quality control shall be a defining characteristic of
the Program.
(E) Consultation.--In carrying out this paragraph, the
Secretary of State shall consult with--
(i) representatives of institutions of higher education
that have a wide spectrum of study abroad programs;
(ii) representatives of educational policy organizations;
and
(iii) other individuals with appropriate expertise.
(3) Annual briefing.--Not later than December 31 of each
year, the Secretary of State shall provide a briefing 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.
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out
the Program for fiscal year 2027 and for each subsequent
fiscal year.
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