S.Amdt. 2434

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

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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.
______