Establishes the National Foreign Language Coordination Council to develop and implement a national foreign language strategy. Includes heads of certain federal agencies as members of the Council.
Establishes a National Language Director, to be appointed by the President, to: (1) chair the Council; (2) develop and oversee implementation of the strategy; (3) establish formal relationships among major stakeholders, including federal, state, and local government agencies, academia, industry, labor, and heritage communities; and (4) coordinate and lead a public information campaign.
Requires the Council to consult with states to provide for designation of state contact persons. Encourages formation of state interagency councils, or designation of state lead agencies, to coordinate with the Council and state and local agencies.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4196 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4196
To establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 2, 2005
Mr. Baird introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE COORDINATION
COUNCIL.
(a) Establishment.--There is established the National Foreign
Language Coordination Council (in this section referred to as the
``Council''), which shall be an independent establishment as defined
under section 104 of title 5, United States Code.
(b) Membership.--The Council shall consist of the following members
or their designees:
(1) The National Language Director, who shall serve as the
chairperson of the Council.
(2) The Secretary of Education.
(3) The Secretary of Defense.
(4) The Secretary of State.
(5) The Secretary of Homeland Security.
(6) The Attorney General.
(7) The Director of National Intelligence.
(8) The Secretary of Labor.
(9) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
(10) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(11) The Secretary of Commerce.
(12) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(13) The Secretary of the Treasury.
(14) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(15) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(16) The Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank
of the United States.
(17) The heads of such other Federal agencies as the
Council considers appropriate.
(c) Responsibilities.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall be charged with--
(A) developing a national foreign language
strategy, within 18 months of the date of enactment of
this section, in consultation with--
(i) State and local government agencies;
(ii) academic sector institutions;
(iii) foreign language related interest
groups;
(iv) business associations;
(v) industry;
(vi) heritage associations; and
(vii) other relevant stakeholders;
(B) conducting a survey of the status of Federal
agency foreign language and area expertise and agency
needs for such expertise; and
(C) monitoring the implementation of such strategy
through--
(i) application of current and recently
enacted laws; and
(ii) the promulgation and enforcement of
rules and regulations.
(2) Strategy content.--The strategy developed under
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) identification of crucial priorities across all
sectors;
(B) identification and evaluation of Federal
foreign language programs and activities, including--
(i) any duplicative or overlapping programs
that may impede efficiency;
(ii) recommendations on coordination;
(iii) program enhancements; and
(iv) allocation of resources so as to
maximize use of resources;
(C) needed national policies and corresponding
legislative and regulatory actions in support of, and
allocation of designated resources to, promising
programs and initiatives at all levels (Federal, State,
and local), especially in the less commonly taught
languages that are seen as critical for national
security and global competitiveness during the next 20
to 50 years;
(D) effective ways to increase public awareness of
the need for foreign language skills and career paths
in all sectors that can employ those skills, with the
objective of increasing support for foreign language
study among--
(i) Federal, State, and local leaders;
(ii) students;
(iii) parents;
(iv) elementary, secondary, and
postsecondary educational institutions; and
(v) employers;
(E) recommendations for incentives for related
educational programs, including foreign language
teacher training;
(F) coordination of cross-sector efforts, including
public-private partnerships;
(G) coordination initiatives to develop a strategic
posture for language research and recommendations for
funding for applied foreign language research into
issues of national concern;
(H) recommendations for assistance for--
(i) the development of foreign language
achievement standards; and
(ii) corresponding assessments for the
elementary, secondary, and postsecondary
education levels, including the National
Assessment of Educational Progress in foreign
languages;
(I) recommendations for development of--
(i) language skill-level certification
standards;
(ii) frameworks for pre-service and
professional development study for those who
teach foreign language; and
(iii) suggested graduation criteria for
foreign language studies and appropriate non-
language studies, such as--
(I) international business;
(II) national security;
(III) public administration;
(IV) health care;
(V) engineering;
(VI) law;
(VII) journalism; and
(VIII) sciences;
(J) identification of and means for replicating
best practices at all levels and in all sectors,
including best practices from the international
community; and
(K) recommendations for overcoming barriers in
foreign language proficiency.
(d) Submission of Strategy to President and Congress.--Not later
than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Council
shall prepare and transmit to the President and the relevant committees
of Congress the strategy required under subsection (c).
(e) Meetings.--The Council may hold such meetings, and sit and act
at such times and places, as the Council considers appropriate, but
shall meet in formal session at least 2 times a year. State and local
government agencies and other organizations (such as academic sector
institutions, foreign language-related interest groups, business
associations, industry, and heritage community organizations) shall be
invited, as appropriate, to public meetings of the Council at least
once a year.
(f) Staff.--
(1) In general.--The Director may--
(A) appoint, without regard to the provisions of
title 5, United States Code, governing the competitive
service, such personnel as the Director considers
necessary; and
(B) compensate such personnel without regard to the
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter
53 of that title.
(2) Detail of government employees.--Upon request of the
Council, any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the
Council without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without
interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege
(3) Experts and consultants.--With the approval of the
Council, the Director may procure temporary and intermittent
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(4) Travel expenses.--Council members and staff shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States
Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business
in the performance of services for the Council.
(5) Security clearance.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
appropriate Federal agencies or departments shall
cooperate with the Council in expeditiously providing
to the Council members and staff appropriate security
clearances to the extent possible pursuant to existing
procedures and requirements.
(B) Exception.--No person shall be provided with
access to classified information under this section
without the appropriate required security clearance
access.
(6) Compensation.--The rate of pay for any employee of the
Council (including the Director) may not exceed the rate
payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section
5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(g) Powers.--
(1) Delegation.--Any member or employee of the Council may,
if authorized by the Council, take any action that the Council
is authorized to take in this section.
(2) Information.--
(A) Council authority to secure.--The Council may
secure directly from any Federal agency such
information, consistent with Federal privacy laws,
including The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(20 U.S.C. 1232g) and Department of Education's General
Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232(h)), the
Council considers necessary to carry out its
responsibilities.
(B) Requirement to furnish requested information.--
Upon request of the Director, the head of such agency
shall furnish such information to the Council.
(3) Donations.--The Council may accept, use, and dispose of
gifts or donations of services or property.
(4) Mail.--The Council may use the United States mail in
the same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal
agencies.
(h) Conferences, Newsletter, and Website.--In carrying out this
section, the Council--
(1) may arrange Federal, regional, State, and local
conferences for the purpose of developing and coordinating
effective programs and activities to improve foreign language
education;
(2) may publish a newsletter concerning Federal, State, and
local programs that are effectively meeting the foreign
language needs of the Nation; and
(3) shall create and maintain a website containing
information on the Council and its activities, best practices
on language education, and other relevant information.
(i) Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
this section, and annually thereafter, the Council shall prepare and
transmit to the President and the relevant committees of Congress a
report that describes--
(1) the activities of the Council;
(2) the efforts of the Council to improve foreign language
education and training; and
(3) impediments to the use of a National Foreign Language
program, including any statutory and regulatory restrictions.
(j) Establishment of a National Language Director.--
(1) In general.--There is established a National Language
Director who shall be appointed by the President. The National
Language Director shall be a nationally recognized individual
with credentials and abilities across the sectors to be
involved with creating and implementing long-term solutions to
achieving national foreign language and cultural competency.
(2) Responsibilities.--The National Language Director
shall--
(A) develop and monitor the implementation of a
national foreign language strategy across all sectors;
(B) establish formal relationships among the major
stakeholders in meeting the needs of the Nation for
improved capabilities in foreign languages and cultural
understanding, including Federal, State, and local
government agencies, academia, industry, labor, and
heritage communities; and
(C) coordinate and lead a public information
campaign that raises awareness of public and private
sector careers requiring foreign language skills and
cultural understanding, with the objective of
increasing interest in and support for the study of
foreign languages among national leaders, the business
community, local officials, parents, and individuals.
(k) Encouragement of State Involvement.--
(1) State contact persons.--The Council shall consult with
each State to provide for the designation by each State of an
individual to serve as a State contact person for the purpose
of receiving and disseminating information and communications
received from the Council.
(2) State interagency councils and lead agencies.--Each
State is encouraged to establish a State interagency council on
foreign language coordination or designate a lead agency for
the State for the purpose of assuming primary responsibility
for coordinating and interacting with the Council and State and
local government agencies as necessary.
(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as necessary to carry out this section.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Education Reform.
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