II
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1105
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 23, 2005
Mr. Dodd (for himself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Levin, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Akaka) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
A BILL
To amend title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding international and foreign language studies.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
International and Foreign Language
Studies Act of 2005
.
Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
In recent years, foreign language needs have significantly increased throughout the Federal Government due to the presence of a wider range of security threats, the emergence of new nation states, and the globalization of the United States economy.
Likewise, American businesses increasingly need internationally and multiculturally experienced employees to compete in the global economy and to manage a culturally diverse workforce.
In 2005, the Federal Government requires 34,000 employees with foreign language skills across more than 70 Federal agencies.
Federal agency officials have stated that, over the years, translator and interpreter shortfalls have adversely affected agency operations and hindered United States military, law enforcement, intelligence, counterterrorism, and diplomatic efforts.
In a 2002 General Accounting Office report, the United States Army reported that it was experiencing serious shortfalls of translators and interpreters in 5 of its 6 critical languages: Arabic, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Persian-Farsi, and Russian.
The number of Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships awarded in 2003 was 30 percent less than the number awarded at its high point in 1967.
In the 2000–2001 school year, the number of foreign language degrees conferred was 1 percent of the total number of undergraduate degrees conferred, less than .05 percent of the total number of masters degrees conferred, and 1 percent of the total number of doctoral degrees conferred.
In the 2004 National Survey of Student Engagement, almost 1/3 of undergraduates reported taking foreign language coursework, while only 11 percent reported having studied abroad.
According to the American Council on Education, in recent studies, 1/2 of all students surveyed had taken not less than 1 international course during the 2000–2001 school year, but foreign language enrollment remained static.
In 2002, 79 percent of Americans agreed that students should have a study-abroad experience sometime during college.
More than 40 percent of Americans said they were more likely to favor an increase in State-level funding for foreign language education at their local college or university after September 11, 2001.
References
Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
International and foreign language studies
Findings
Section 601 (20 U.S.C. 1121) is amended—
in subsection (a)(3), by striking
post-Cold War
; and
in subsection (b)(1)(D), by inserting
, including through linkages with overseas institutions
before
the semicolon.
Graduate and undergraduate language and area centers and programs
Section 602 (20 U.S.C. 1122) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (2)—
in subparagraph (G), by striking
and
after the semicolon;
in subparagraph (H), by striking the period
and inserting ; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
support for instructors of the less commonly taught languages.
; and
in paragraph (4)—
by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (E) as subparagraphs (D) through (F), respectively;
by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
Programs of linkage or outreach between or among—
foreign language, area studies, or other international fields; and
State educational agencies or local educational agencies.
; and
in subparagraph (F) (as redesignated by
clause (i)), by striking and (D)
and inserting (D), and
(E)
;
in subsection (b)—
in the subsection heading, by inserting
and
Undergraduate
after Graduate
; and
by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
Eligible student
A student receiving a stipend described in paragraph (1) shall be engaged—
in an instructional program with stated performance goals for functional foreign language use or in a program developing such performance goals, in combination with area studies, international studies, or the international aspects of a professional studies program; and
in the case of an undergraduate student, in the intermediate or advanced study of a less commonly taught language; or
in the case of a graduate student, in graduate study in connection with a program described in subparagraph (A), including predissertation level study, preparation for dissertation research, dissertation research abroad, or dissertation writing.
; and
by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
Allowances
Graduate level recipients
A stipend awarded to a graduate level recipient may include allowances for dependents and for travel for research and study in the United States and abroad.
Undergraduate level recipients
A stipend awarded to an undergraduate level recipient may include an allowance for educational programs in the United States or abroad that—
are closely linked to the overall goals of the recipient’s course of study; and
have the purpose of promoting foreign language fluency and cultural knowledge.
.
Use of funds in undergraduate international studies and foreign language programs
Section 604 (20 U.S.C. 1124) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (2)—
by redesignating subparagraphs (I) through (M) as subparagraphs (J) through (N), respectively; and
by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following:
providing subgrants to undergraduate students for educational programs abroad that—
are closely linked to the overall goals of the program for which the grant is awarded; and
have the purpose of promoting foreign language fluency and cultural knowledge;
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Limitation on undergraduate grants
An institution of higher education, a combination of such institutions, or a partnership awarded a grant under this section shall use not more than 10 percent of the grant funds for the use described in paragraph (2)(I).
; and
by striking subsection (c).
Authorized activities
Section 605(a) (20 U.S.C. 1125(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (8), by striking
and
after the semicolon;
in paragraph (9), by striking the period
and inserting ; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
the systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of data that contribute to achieving the purposes of this part.
.
Technological innovation and cooperation for foreign information access
Section 606 (20 U.S.C. 1126) is amended—
by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
Authority
The Secretary is authorized to make grants to eligible entities for the purpose of developing innovative techniques or programs using electronic technologies to collect, organize, preserve, and widely disseminate information from foreign sources on world regions and countries other than the United States that address our Nation’s teaching and research needs in international education and foreign languages.
;
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (1), by striking to
facilitate access to or
and by inserting to acquire, facilitate
access to, or
;
in paragraph (3), by inserting and
standards
after means
;
in paragraph (6), by striking
and
;
in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and
by adding at the end the following:
to establish linkages, between the eligible entities and libraries, organizations, and institutions of higher education overseas, to facilitate carrying out the purpose described in subsection (a); or
to carry out other activities that the Secretary determines are consistent with the purpose of the grants under this section.
;
in subsection (c), by striking
institution or consortium
and inserting eligible
entity
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Definition of eligible entity
In this
section, the term eligible entity
means—
an institution of higher education;
a public or nonprofit private library;
a consortium of such institutions or libraries; or
a partnership between—
such an institution or library; and
a nonprofit educational organization.
.
Authorization of appropriations
Section 610 (20
U.S.C. 1128b) is amended by striking $80,000,000 for fiscal year
1999
and inserting $120,000,000 for fiscal year
2006
.
Business and international education programs
Authorization of appropriations
Section 614 (20 U.S.C. 1130b) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
by striking $11,000,000
and
inserting $20,000,000
; and
by striking 1999
and
inserting 2006
; and
in subsection (b)—
by striking $7,000,000
and
inserting $10,000,000
; and
by striking 1999
and
inserting 2006
.
Institute for international public policy
Waiver of match requirement for professional development program
Section 621(e) (20 U.S.C. 1131(e)) is amended—
by striking Match required.—The
eligible
and inserting
Matching funds.—
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the eligible
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Waiver
The Secretary may waive the requirement of paragraph (1) for an eligible recipient if the Secretary determines such waiver is appropriate.
.
Institutional development
Section 622(a) (20
U.S.C. 1131–1(a)) is amended by striking international affairs
programs.
and inserting international affairs, international
business, and foreign language study programs at such colleges, universities,
and institutions, respectively, through increased collaboration with
institutions of higher education that receive funding under this
title.
.
Advanced degree in international relations
Section 624 (20 U.S.C. 1131b) is amended—
in the section heading, by striking
masters
and inserting
advanced
;
in the first sentence, by inserting
, and in exceptional circumstances, a doctoral degree,
after
masters degree
; and
in the second sentence, by striking
masters degree
and inserting advanced
degree
.
Financial assistance
Financial assistance
Part C of title VI (20 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) is amended—
by redesignating sections 626, 627, and 628 as sections 627, 628, and 629, respectively; and
by inserting after section 625 the following new section:
Financial assistance
Authority
The Institute may provide financial assistance, in the form of summer stipends described in subsection (b) and Ralph Bunche scholarship assistance described in subsection (c), to needy students to facilitate the participation of the students in the Institute programs under this part.
Summer stipends
Requirements
A student receiving a summer stipend under this section shall use such stipend to defray the student's cost of participation in a summer institute program funded under this part, including the costs of travel, living, and educational expenses necessary to the student’s participation in such program.
Amount
A summer stipend awarded to a student under this section shall be not more than $3,000 per summer.
Ralph Bunche Scholarship
Requirements
A student receiving a Ralph Bunche scholarship under this section—
shall be a full-time student at an institution of higher education who is accepted into a program funded under this part; and
shall use such scholarship to pay costs related to the cost of attendance, as defined in section 472, at the institution of higher education at which the student is enrolled.
Amount and duration
A Ralph Bunche scholarship awarded to a student under this section shall not exceed $5,000 per academic year.
.
Technical amendment
Section 628 (as
redesignated by subsection (a)(1)) is amended by striking section
626
and inserting section 627
.
Biennial report
Part C of title VI (20 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) is further amended—
in section 627 (as redesignated by section 304(a)(1))—
by striking annually
;
and
by inserting in 2006, and biennially
thereafter
after a report
; and
in section 628 (as redesignated by section
304(1)), by striking annual
.
Authorization of appropriations
Section 629 (as
redesignated by section 304(a)(1)) (20 U.S.C. 1131f) is amended by striking
1999
and inserting 2006
.
General provisions
Evaluation, outreach, and information dissemination
Part D of title VI (20 U.S.C. 1132) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Evaluation, outreach, and information dissemination
The Secretary may use not more than 1 percent of the funds made available for this title to carry out program evaluation, national outreach, and information dissemination activities relating to the programs authorized under this title.
.