Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to direct the Secretary to establish a demonstration program of grants to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) for building or expanding mathematics and science programs, upgrading laboratories, and purchasing equipment. Directs the Secretary and the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to assess long-term mathematics and science needs of the national security workforce and the larger Federal workforce.
Amends ESEA to authorize the Secretary to make grants to eligible partnerships for various authorized activities to encourage early foreign language studies.
Directs the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) that develop innovative programs for teaching foreign languages.
Amends the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 to direct the Secretary of Defense, through the National Security Education Trust, to make grants to IHEs to produce graduates in a range of disciplines with advanced proficiency in languages most critical to U.S. national security.
Directs the National Research Council to study the feasibility of establishing a National Language Foundation.
[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1799 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1799
To strengthen the national security by encouraging and assisting in the
expansion and improvement of educational programs to meet critical
needs at the elementary, secondary, and higher education levels.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 11, 2001
Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Thompson, 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 strengthen the national security by encouraging and assisting in the
expansion and improvement of educational programs to meet critical
needs at the elementary, secondary, and higher education levels.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Homeland Security Education Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) American elementary and secondary schools need more
qualified teachers in mathematics and science.
(2) American colleges and universities must place new
emphasis on improving the teaching in areas of discipline that
are critical to the interests of the United States.
(3) American elementary and secondary schools need the
equipment and resources to improve education in science and
mathematics.
(4) Foreign language proficiency is crucial to the economic
competitiveness and national security of the United States.
Significant improvement in the quantity and quality of foreign
language instruction offered in United States elementary and
secondary schools is necessary.
(5) All Americans need a global perspective. To understand
the world around us, we must acquaint ourselves with the
languages, cultures, and history of other nations.
(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to ensure national
security through increasing the quantity, diversity and quality of the
teaching and learning of subjects in the fields of science,
mathematics, and foreign language.
TITLE I--LOANS TO STUDENTS IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
SEC. 101. SUBSIDIZED INTEREST LOANS TO STUDENTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Education shall establish and
implement a program under the guaranteed and direct student loan
program provisions of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) to cancel the obligation of loan borrowers (who
are United States citizens, United States nationals, permanent legal
residents, or citizens of the Freely Associated States) to pay interest
on a loan provided for under such title in order to serve as an
incentive for students to obtain degrees in science, engineering,
mathematics, or a foreign language.
(b) Guaranteed Student Loans.--Part B of title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after section 428K (20
U.S.C. 1078-11) the following:
``SEC. 428L. STUDENT LOAN INTEREST FORGIVENESS.
``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to forgive
interest payments on student loans under this part for selected
borrowers in repayment status who has obtained an undergraduate degree
in science, mathematics, engineering, or foreign language in order to
provide additional incentives for undergraduate students to pursue and
obtain degrees in these subjects.
``(b) Program Authorized.--
``(1) In general.--From the sums appropriated pursuant to
subsection (e), the Secretary shall carry out a program,
through the holder of the loan, assuming the obligation to
repay the interest on a loan amount for a loan made under this
part in accordance with subsection (c), for a borrower who--
``(A) is in need of the amount of the loan to
pursue a course of study at an accredited institution
of higher education;
``(B) is in good academic standing and is capable,
in the opinion of the institution involved, of
maintaining good standing in such course of study;
``(C) will obtain a bachelor's degree in either
science, mathematics, engineering, or a foreign
language;
``(D) has completed at least half of the course
requirements necessary to receive such degree; and
``(E) is not in default on a loan for which the
borrower seeks forgiveness of interest payments.
``(2) Selection of recipients.--The Secretary shall by
regulation, establish a formula that ensures fairness and
equality for applicants in the selection of borrowers for loan
interest repayment under this section, based on the amount
available pursuant to subsection (d).
``(c) Terms.--After a borrower has obtained a bachelor's degree in
science, mathematics, engineering, or a foreign language, the Federal
Government shall assume any interest payments due for as long as the
borrower is in loan repayment status, except that in failing to meet
any of the obligations set forth in this section, the borrower will
reimburse the United States Government for the amount of the assistance
provided including interest, at a rate and schedule to be determined by
the Secretary.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $100,000,000 for fiscal year
2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding
fiscal years.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Foreign language.--The term `foreign language'
includes the languages of Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Chinese,
Pashto, Persian-Farsi, Serbian-Croatian, Russian, Portuguese,
and any other language identified by the Secretary of
Education, in consultation with the Defense Language Institute,
the Foreign Service Institute, and the National Security
Education Program, as a critical foreign language need.
``(2) Science.--The term `science' means any of the natural
and physical sciences including, but not limited to, chemistry,
biology, physics, and computer science. Such term shall not
include any of the social sciences.''.
(c) Direct Student Loans.--Part D of title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``SEC. 460A. STUDENT LOAN INTEREST FORGIVENESS.
``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to forgive
interest payments on student loans under this section for a student in
repayment status who has obtained an undergraduate degree in science,
mathematics, engineering, or foreign language in order to provide
additional incentives for undergraduate students to pursue degrees in
these subjects.
``(b) Program Authorized.--
``(1) In general.--From the sums appropriated pursuant to
subsection (e), the Secretary shall cancel the obligation to
pay interest on a loan amount, in accordance with subsection
(c) for a loan under this part, for a borrower who--
``(A) is in need of the amount of the loan to
pursue a course of study at an accredited institution
of higher education;
``(B) is in good standing and is capable, in the
opinion of the institution, of maintaining good
standing in such course of study;
``(C) will obtain a bachelor's degree in either
science, mathematics, engineering, or a foreign
language;
``(D) has completed at least half of the course
requirements towards such degree; and
``(E) is not in default on a loan for which the
borrower seeks forgiveness of interest payments;
``(2) Selection of recipients.--The Secretary shall by
regulation, establish a formula that ensures fairness and
equality for applicants in the selection of borrowers for loan
interest repayment under this section, based on the amount
available pursuant to subsection (d).
``(c) Terms.--After a borrower has obtained a bachelor's degree in
science, mathematics, engineering, or foreign language, the Federal
Government shall assume any interest payments due for as long as the
borrower is in loan repayment status, except that in failing to meet
any of the obligations set forth in this section, the borrower will
reimburse the United States Government for the amount of the assistance
provided including interest, at a rate and schedule to be determined by
the Secretary.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $100,000,000 for fiscal year
2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding
fiscal years.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Foreign language.--The term `foreign language'
includes the languages of Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Chinese,
Pashto, Persian-Farsi, Serbian-Croatian, Russian, Portuguese,
and any language as identified by the Secretary of Education,
in consultation with the Defense Language Institute, the
Foreign Service Institute, and the National Security Education
Program, as a critical foreign language need.
``(2) Science.--The term `science' means any of the natural
and physical sciences including, but not limited to, chemistry,
biology, physics, and computer science. Such term shall not
include any of the social sciences.''.
SEC. 102. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Education shall propose regulations to carry out this
section and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report
on how the Secretary plans to implement the programs under the
amendments made by section 101 and advertise such programs to
institutions of higher learning and potential applicants. Not later
than 6 months after the date on which the comment period for the
regulations proposed under the preceding sentence ends, the Secretary
shall promulgate final regulations to carry out this section.
TITLE II--STRENGTHENING SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS INSTRUCTION AT
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
SEC. 201. FEDERAL GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Title XIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 8601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the
following:
``PART E--STRENGTHENING SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS INSTRUCTION
``SEC. 13501. FEDERAL GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
``(a) General Authority.--
``(1) Grant program.--The Secretary shall establish a
demonstration program under which the Secretary shall award
grants to eligible local educational agencies to enable such
agencies to develop programs that build or expand mathematics
and science curriculum, upgrade existing laboratory facilities,
and purchase equipment necessary to establish such programs.
``(2) Program requirements.--The program described in
paragraph (1) shall be designed to provide students with a rich
standards-based course of study in mathematics and science.
``(b) Eligible Local Educational Agency.--A local educational
agency shall be eligible to receive a grant under this section if the
agency--
``(1) provides assurances that it has executed conditional
agreements with representatives of the private sector to
provide services and funds described in subsection (c); and
``(2) agrees to enter into an agreement with the Secretary
to comply with the requirements of this section.
``(c) Private Sector Participation.--The conditional agreements
referred to in subsection (b)(1) shall describe participation by the
private sector in programs carried out under this section, including--
``(1) the donation of technology tools;
``(2) the establishment of internship and mentoring
opportunities for students who participate in a mathematics or
science program, paying particular attention to those students
who are members of traditionally under-represented groups in
these fields; or
``(3) the donation of scholarship funds for students to
pursue or continue a study of mathematics or science at
accredited institutions of higher education.
``(d) Application.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an eligible local educational agency (as
described in subsection (b)) shall submit an application to the
Secretary in accordance with guidelines established by the
Secretary pursuant to paragraph (2).
``(2) Guidelines.--
``(A) Requirements.--The guidelines referred to in
paragraph (1) shall require, at a minimum, that the
application include--
``(i) a description of proposed activities
consistent with the uses of funds and program
requirements under subsections (a)(1) and
(a)(2);
``(ii) a description of programs involving
innovative experience learning such as
laboratory experience;
``(iii) a description of any applicable
higher education scholarship program, including
criteria for selection, duration of
scholarship, number of scholarships to be
awarded each year, and funding levels for
scholarships; and
``(iv) evidence of private sector
participation and support in cash or in kind as
specified under subsection (c).
``(B) Guideline publication.--Not later than 6
months after the date of the enactment of this section,
the Secretary shall issue and publish proposed
guidelines under subparagraph (A). Not later than 6
months after the date on which the period for comment
concerning the proposed guidelines ends, the Secretary
shall issue final guidelines under such subparagraph.
``(3) Selection.--The Secretary shall select a local
educational agency to receive a grant under this section on the
basis of merit, as determined after the Secretary has conducted
a comprehensive review, and in accordance with subsection (e).
``(e) Priority.--The Secretary shall give special priority in
awarding grants under this section to eligible high need local
educational agencies (as such term is defined in section 201(b) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965).
``(f) Conditional Agreement.--In this section, the term
`conditional agreement' means an arrangement between representatives of
the private sector and local educational agencies to provide certain
services and funds, such as the donation of computer hardware and
software, donation of science laboratory equipment suitable for
students in kindergarten through 12th grades, the establishment of
internship and mentoring opportunities for students who participate in
mathematics, science, and information technology programs, and the
donation of scholarship funds for use at institutions of higher
education by eligible students who have participated in the
mathematics, science, and information technology programs.
``(g) Appropriations Authorized.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $75,000,000 for fiscal year
2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding
fiscal years.
``SEC. 13502. SCIENCE AND MATH EDUCATION STUDY.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the Director
of the National Science Foundation, shall conduct a study of how math
and science efforts at the National Science Foundation and the
Department of Education relating to students in kindergarten through
12th grade are coordinated, and if such coordination does not exist,
how such entities plan to coordinate such efforts.
``(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report concerning the findings made with
respect to the study conducted under subsection (a).
``SEC. 13503. DEFINITION.
``In this part, the term `science' means any of the natural and
physical sciences including chemistry, biology, physics, and computer
science. Such term does not include any of the social sciences.''.
SEC. 202. NATIONAL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Education, jointly with the
Director of the National Science Foundation, shall conduct an
assessment of the long-term mathematics and science needs of the
national security workforce and of the larger Federal workforce of
which the national security workforce is a part.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this section, the Secretary of Education shall prepare and submit to
the appropriate committees of Congress a report concerning the findings
made with respect to the assessment conducted under subsection (a).
TITLE III--PROMOTING FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION
SEC. 301. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Foreign language skills and area expertise are integral
to, or directly support, every foreign intelligence discipline
and are essential factors in national security readiness,
information superiority, and coalition peacekeeping or
warfighting missions.
(2) Federal intelligence and defense agencies have been
reporting shortfalls in language capability.
(3) Communicating in languages other than English and
understanding and accepting cultural and societal differences
is vital to the success of peacetime and wartime military
operations.
(4) The optimum time to begin learning a second language is
in elementary school, when children have the ability to learn
and excel in several foreign language acquisition skills,
including pronunciation.
(5) Foreign language study can increase children's capacity
for critical and creative thinking skills and children who
study a second language show greater cognitive development in
areas such as mental flexibility, creativity, tolerance, and
higher order thinking skills.
(6) Children who have studied a foreign language in
elementary school achieve expected gains and score higher on
standardized tests in reading, language arts, and mathematics
than children who have not studied a foreign language.
(7) Proficiency levels required to perform national
security functions have been raised. What was once considered
proficiency is no longer the case. The ability to comprehend
and articulate technical and complex information has become
critical.
(8) Languages taught in universities are often not the
languages that address national security needs. The top
languages the United States Defense Language Institute requires
are Arabic, Korean, Persian/Farsi, Serbian/Croatian,
Portuguese, Pashto, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese. Existing
foreign language proficiency in nontargeted languages also
provides a foundation for subsequent foreign languages, even if
unrelated.
(9) Immersion through work or schooling abroad is very
beneficial for developing needed language proficiencies.
(10) Federal agencies have identified the need for
employees with skills in cryptography, translation
(particularly with technical documents), debriefing and
interrogation.
SEC. 302. ENCOURAGING EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES.
(a) In General.--Part B of title VII of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7511 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 7207. ENCOURAGING EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible partnership.--The term `eligible
partnership' means a partnership that--
``(A) shall include--
``(i) a foreign language department of an
institution of higher education; and
``(ii) a local educational agency; and
``(B) may include--
``(i) another foreign language or teacher
training department of an institution of higher
education;
``(ii) another local educational agency, or
an elementary or secondary school;
``(iii) a business;
``(iv) a nonprofit organization of
demonstrated effectiveness, including a museum;
``(v) heritage or community centers for
language study;
``(vi) language resource centers; or
``(vii) the State foreign language
coordinator or State education agency.
``(2) High need local educational agency.--The term `high
need local educational agency' has the meaning given the term
in section 201(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
``(3) Less-commonly taught foreign languages.--The term
`less-commonly taught foreign languages' includes the languages
of Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Pashto, Persian-Farsi, Serbian-
Croatian, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, and any other language
identified by the Secretary of Education, in consultation with
the Defense Language Institute, the Foreign Service Institute,
and the National Security Education Program, as a critical
foreign language need.
``(4) Summer workshop or institute.--The term `summer
workshop or institute' means a workshop or institute, conducted
during the summer, that--
``(A) is conducted for a period of not less than 2
weeks;
``(B) provides for a program that provides direct
interaction between students and faculty; and
``(C) provides for followup training during the
academic year that--
``(i) except as provided in clause (ii) or
(iii), shall be conducted in the classroom for
a period of not less than 3 days, which may or
may not be consecutive;
``(ii) if the program described in
subparagraph (B) is for a period of not more
than 2 weeks, shall be conducted for a period
of more than 3 days; or
``(iii) if the program is for teachers in
rural school districts, may be conducted
through distance education.
``(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to improve the
performance of students in the study of foreign languages by
encouraging States, institutions of higher education, elementary
schools, and secondary schools to participate in programs that--
``(1) upgrade the status and stature of foreign language
teaching by encouraging institutions of higher education to
assume greater responsibility for improving foreign language
teacher education through the establishment of a comprehensive,
integrated system of recruiting and advising such teachers;
``(2) focus on education of foreign language teachers as a
career-long process that should continuously stimulate
teachers' intellectual growth and upgrade teachers' knowledge
and skills;
``(3) bring foreign language teachers in elementary schools
and secondary schools together with linguists or higher
education foreign language professionals to increase the
subject matter knowledge and improve the teaching skills of
teachers through the use of more sophisticated resources that
institutions of higher education are better able to provide
than the schools; and
``(4) develop more rigorous foreign language curricula that
are aligned with--
``(A) professional accepted standards for
elementary and secondary education instruction; and
``(B) the standards expected for post-secondary
study in foreign language.
``(c) Grants to Partnerships.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to
enable the eligible partnerships to pay the Federal share of
the costs of carrying out the authorized activities described
in this section.
``(2) Duration.--The Secretary shall award grants under
this section for a period of 5 years.
``(3) Federal share.--The Federal share of the costs of the
activities assisted under this section shall be--
``(A) 75 percent of the costs for the first year
that an eligible partnership receives a grant payment
under this section;
``(B) 65 percent of such costs for the second such
year; and
``(C) 50 percent of such costs for each of the
third, fourth, and fifth such years.
``(4) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the
costs of carrying out the authorized activities described in
this section may be provided in cash or in kind, fairly
evaluated.
``(5) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to eligible partnerships--
``(A) that include high need local educational
agencies; or
``(B) that emphasize the teaching of the less-
commonly taught foreign languages.
``(d) Applications.--
``(1) In general.--Each eligible partnership desiring a
grant under this section shall submit an application to the
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such
information as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Contents.--An application under paragraph (1) shall
include--
``(A) an assessment of the teacher quality and
professional development needs of all the schools and
agencies participating in the eligible partnership with respect to the
teaching and learning of foreign languages;
``(B) a description of how the activities to be
carried out by the eligible partnership will be based
on a review of relevant research, and an explanation of
why the activities are expected to improve student
performance and to strengthen the quality of foreign
language instruction; and
``(C) a description of--
``(i) how the eligible partnership will
carry out the authorized activities described
in subsection (e); and
``(ii) the eligible partnership's
evaluation and accountability plan as described
in subsection (f).
``(e) Authorized Activities.--An eligible partnership shall use the
grant funds provided under this section for 1 or more of the following
activities related to elementary schools or secondary schools:
``(1) Creating opportunities for enhanced and ongoing
professional development that improves the subject matter
knowledge of foreign language teachers.
``(2) Recruiting university students with foreign language
majors for teaching.
``(3) Promoting strong teaching skills for foreign language
teachers and teacher educators.
``(4) Establishing foreign language summer workshops or
institutes (including followup training) for teachers.
``(5) Establishing distance learning programs for foreign
language teachers.
``(6) Designing programs to prepare a teacher at a school
to provide professional development to other teachers at the
school and to assist novice teachers at such school, including
(if applicable) a mechanism to integrate experiences from a
summer workshop or institute.
``(7) Developing instruction materials.
``(f) Evaluation and Accountability Plan.--Each eligible
partnership receiving a grant under this section shall develop an
evaluation and accountability plan for activities assisted under this
section that includes strong performance objectives. The plan shall
include objectives and measures for--
``(1) increased participation by students in advanced
courses in foreign language;
``(2) increased percentages of secondary school classes in
foreign language taught by teachers with academic majors in
foreign language, respectively; and
``(3) increased numbers of foreign language teachers who
participate in content-based professional development
activities.
``(g) Report.--Each eligible partnership receiving a grant under
this section shall annually report to the Secretary regarding the
eligible partnership's progress in meeting the performance objectives
described in subsection (f).
``(h) Termination.--If the Secretary determines that an eligible
partnership is not making substantial progress in meeting the
performance objectives described in subsection (f) by the end of the
third year of a grant under this section, the grant payments shall not
be made for the fourth and fifth year of the grant.
``(i) Appropriations Authorized.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $50,000,000 for fiscal year
2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal
year.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 7206 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7516) is amended by
inserting ``other than section 7207,'' after ``this part,''.
SEC. 303. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVANCED FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION
GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to support programs
in colleges and universities that encourage students to develop both--
(1) an understanding of science and technology;
(2) foreign language proficiency; and
(3) foster future international scientific collaboration.
(b) Development.--The Secretary of Education shall develop a
program for the awarding of grants to institutions of higher learning
that develop innovative programs for the teaching of foreign languages.
(c) Regulations and Requirements.--The Secretary of Education shall
promulgate regulations for the awarding of grants under subsection (b).
Such regulations shall require institutions of higher learning to use
grant funds for, among other things--
(1) the development of an on-campus cultural awareness
program by which students attend classes taught in the foreign
language and study the science and technology developments and
practices in a non-English speaking country;
(2) immersion programs where students take science or
technology related coursework in a non-English speaking
country; and
(3) other programs, such as summer workshops, that
emphasize the intense study of a foreign language and science
technology.
(d) Grant Distribution.--In distributing grants to institutions of
higher education under this section, the Secretary of Education shall
give priority to--
(1) institutions that have programs focusing on curriculum
that combine the study of foreign languages and the study of
science and technology and produce graduates who have both
skills; and
(2) institutions teaching the less-commonly taught
languages of Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Pashto, Persian-Farsi,
Serbian-Croatian, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, and any
language identified by the Secretary of Education, in
consultation with the Defense Language Institute, the Foreign
Service Institute, and the National Security Education Program,
as a critical foreign language need.
(e) Science.--In this section, the term ``science'' means any of
the natural and physical sciences including chemistry, biology,
physics, and computer science. Such term does not include any of the
social sciences.
(f) Appropriations Authorized.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $15,000,000 for fiscal year
2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal
year.
SEC. 304. NATIONAL FLAGSHIP LANGUAGE INITIATIVE.
The David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 (50
U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 811. NATIONAL FLAGSHIP LANGUAGE INITIATIVE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, acting through the
National Security Education Trust, shall establish a program to award
grants to accredited United States institutions of higher education for
the purpose of producing graduates in a range of disciplines with
advanced levels of proficiency in the languages most critical to United
States national security.
``(b) Special Consideration.--An institution of higher education
that receives a grant under this section shall give special
consideration to student applicants who are Federal employees.
``(c) Report.--The Secretary of Defense shall annually submit a
report to Congress on the status of the program under this section.
``(d) Institution of Higher Education.--In this section, the term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given to such term in
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
``(e) Appropriations Authorized.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $20,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2002 through 2006.''.
SEC. 305. STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF A NATIONAL LANGUAGE FOUNDATION.
(a) In General.--The National Research Council shall conduct a
study on the feasibility of establishing a National Language Foundation
whose mission would include--
(1) research and development of teaching and learning
curriculum and software;
(2) the establishment or advancement of standards to be
used in the performance of language instruction and testing;
(3) service as a national resource center and provider for
both public and private sectors in language education and
training;
(4) the development of, and advocacy for, national policy
and programs to improve the skills and certify the
qualification of language teachers;
(5) the development of, and advocacy for, national policy
and programs related to the development of foreign language
capabilities and expansion of country and regional studies;
(6) the development of, and advocacy for, national
professional criteria for qualification, employment and
adequate compensation for language services; and
(7) the development of a better understanding of the
changing level of language proficiency and language needs of
the Federal Government.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the National Research Council shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report concerning the results of the study
conducted under subsection (a).
<all>
Introduced in Senate
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