S.Amdt. 946

SA 946. Mr. KERRY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 2354, making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 480, between lines 15 and 16, insert the following:

vietnam education foundation

Sec. 70_. (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of State may award 1 or more grants, using a transparent and competitive selection process, to institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) and not-for-profit organizations in the United States engaged in promoting institutional innovation in Vietnamese higher education: Provided, That grant funds awarded under this subsection shall be used to support the establishment of 1 or more independent, not-for-profit academic institutions in Vietnam that meets standards comparable to those required for accreditation under section 101(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, with graduate level programs in public policy, management, and related fields, that support the equitable and sustainable socioeconomic development of Vietnam, feature teaching and research components, promote the development of institutional capacity and innovation in Vietnam, operate according to core principles of good governance, and are autonomous: Provided further, That each institution of higher education and not-for-profit organization desiring a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary of State at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require: Provided further, That the Secretary of State may use amounts from the Vietnam Debt Repayment Fund made available under section 207(c) of the Vietnam Education Foundation Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 2452 note) for grants authorized under this subsection: Provided further, That the Secretary of State shall submit an annual report to the appropriate congressional committees that summarizes the activities carried out under this subsection during the most recent fiscal year.

(b) Transfer of Functions and Assets.--All functions and assets of the Vietnam Education Foundation, as of the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, are transferred to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State.

(c) Use of Funds.--In addition to the purpose set forth in paragraph (2) of section 207(c) of the Vietnam Education Foundation Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 2452 note), during each of the fiscal years 2012 through 2018, the amounts deposited into the Vietnam Debt Repayment Fund pursuant to paragraph (1) of such section shall be made available by the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the request of the Secretary of State, to--

(1) institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))), selected by the Secretary of State through a transparent and competitive process, for the purpose of supporting the establishment of 1 or more independent, not-for-profit academic institutions in Vietnam that meets standards comparable to those required for accreditation under section 101(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, with graduate level programs in public policy, management, and related fields; and

(2) not-for-profit organizations in the United States, selected by the Secretary of State through a transparent and competitive process, for the purpose of supporting the establishment of a new, independent Vietnamese academic institution that meets standards comparable to those required for accreditation under section 101(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.