To support the acquisition of foreign language skills among participants in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

SA 2488. Mr. WARNER (for Mr. Coleman) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1042, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; as follows:

On page 92, after line 25, add the following:

SEC. 538. PROMOTION OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS AMONG MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall support the acquisition of foreign language skills among cadets and midshipmen in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, including through the development and implementation of--

(1) incentives for cadets and midshipmen to participate in study of a foreign language, including special emphasis for Arabic, Chinese, and other “strategic languages”, as defined by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with other relevant agencies; and

(2) a recruiting strategy to target foreign language speakers, including members of heritage communities, to participate in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

(b) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the actions taken to carry out this section.