Operation Overlord Study Abroad Program Act of 2020
This bill authorizes the Department of State to establish a two-week study abroad program in Normandy, France, for eligible U.S. high school students to learn about the historical relationship between the United States and France.
The State Department may accept and use donations for program expenditures and shall use such funds before any funds appropriated by the government.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7189 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7189
To establish a youth study abroad program in the Department of State
for United States secondary school students to study in Normandy,
France, to learn about the relationship between the United States and
France, the World War II military operation known as Operation
Overlord, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 11, 2020
Mr. Tipton (for himself and Ms. Sherrill) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a youth study abroad program in the Department of State
for United States secondary school students to study in Normandy,
France, to learn about the relationship between the United States and
France, the World War II military operation known as Operation
Overlord, and for other purposes.
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 ``Operation Overlord Study Abroad
Program Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The United States and France have shared close
cultural, economic, social, and diplomatic relations since 1776
when French forces supported the American Colonies during the
Revolutionary War to gain freedom from Great Britain.
(2) World War II cemented this positive relationship
between the United States and France.
(3) On June 6, 1944, the United States, as a member of the
Allied Forces, led the military operation known as Operation
Overlord.
(4) Operation Overlord consisted of a series of prolonged
parachute and glider landings, large naval bombardments,
massive air attacks, and amphibious landings on the beaches of
Normandy known as Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.
(5) Over 2,000,000 military service members of the Allied
Forces landed in France during Operation Overlord, which
resulted in approximately 226,000 casualties. Of those
casualties, approximately 153,000 were injured, and 72,000 were
either killed or declared missing in action.
(6) Operation Overlord resulted in a victory for the Allied
Forces as they forced Nazi Germany to withdraw from Normandy
and move eastward toward Paris.
(7) June 6, 2020, is the 76th anniversary of the start of
Operation Overlord.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States owes to the generation of Americans
known as the Greatest Generation an immense level of respect
and gratitude for risking their lives by serving in the Allied
Forces to defeat Nazi Germany;
(2) it is vital that the stories of the men and women who
fought in Operation Overlord are not forgotten, allowing our
youth to remember some of the greatest acts of heroism recorded
in human history; and
(3) the United States hopes to maintain strong ties with
the Government of France and ensure the lessons learned from
Operation Overlord are not forgotten.
SEC. 4. OPERATION OVERLORD ACADEMIC STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in cooperation with the
Government of France, may establish in the Department of State a 2-week
academic study abroad program (referred to in this section as the
``study abroad program''), during either the month of July or August,
in Normandy, France, for eligible individuals to learn about the
historical relationship between the United States and France by--
(1) attending a secondary school or post-secondary school
in France for the duration of the study abroad program with
academic course work emphasizing--
(A) the history, constitution, and political
development of France; and
(B) the relationship between the United States and
France during World War II, focusing on the military
operation known as Operation Overlord; and
(2) visiting historical sites.
(b) Eligibility.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible to participate in this
study abroad program, an individual shall--
(A) be a citizen of the United States between 16 to
18 years of age;
(B) be a freshman, sophomore, or junior at the time
such individual submits an application for
participation in the study abroad program;
(C) have an overall grade point average of at least
2.8 on a 4.0 scale at the time of the submission of the
application;
(D) provide at least 1 letter of recommendation
from a secondary school teacher who knows the
individual;
(E) agree to participate in the presentation under
subsection (f);
(F) either be enrolled in, or have completed, at
least one college preparatory history course; and
(G) satisfy any other qualifications the Secretary
of State determines appropriate.
(2) Preference.--Preference for participation in the study
abroad program shall be given to individuals who speak the
French language conversationally.
(c) Selection.--
(1) Number of eligible individuals.--The Secretary shall
select not more than 100 eligible individuals for participation
in the study abroad program from a compiled list of eligible
individuals nominated by United States Senators pursuant to
paragraph (2).
(2) Nomination by senators.--Each United States Senator
shall nominate and submit to the Secretary the name of one
eligible individual from their State to participate in the
study abroad program.
(d) Use of Funds.--Funds donated pursuant to subsection (h) and
appropriated under subsection (i) to carry out the study abroad program
shall be used for the following purposes:
(1) Room and board.
(2) Round trip international airfare, including airport
transfers.
(3) Entrance fees to all sites, museums, and historic
attractions.
(4) Transportation while outside of the United States.
(5) Any tuition and academic materials required by the host
secondary school or post-secondary school in France.
(6) Gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, and servers.
(7) Backpack, luggage tags, and customized name badge.
(8) Pre-tour required readings and books.
(e) Application.--To be eligible to participate in the study abroad
program, an eligible individual shall submit to the Secretary of State
an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary of State may require.
(f) Presentation.--
(1) In general.--As a condition on participation in the
study abroad program, not later than 2 months after the study
abroad program has concluded, each individual participating in
the study abroad program under this section shall present to
one history teacher from their school a 30-minute presentation
on their study abroad experience.
(2) Verification required.--Not later than 30 days after
the completion of the presentation required under paragraph
(1), each individual participating in the study abroad program
under this section shall submit to the Secretary--
(A) a digital copy of all presentation materials
used by the individual for purposes of the
presentation; and
(B) a letter signed by a history teacher who
witnessed the presentation.
(g) Annual Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the
conclusion of the scholarship program each year, the Secretary
of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate a report on the study abroad program.
(2) Matters included.--Each report required under paragraph
(1) shall include information relating to the following:
(A) The implementation of the study abroad program.
(B) A financial report, including--
(i) the number and amount of charitable
contributions to the study abroad program; and
(ii) a comparison of such contributions
from the preceding year of the study abroad
program.
(C) The number of participants.
(D) The names and locations of the secondary
schools and post-secondary schools in France attended
by the participants.
(E) A description of the academic curricula.
(F) A description of any other activities the
participants carried out during their participation.
(h) Acceptance and Use of Donations.--The Secretary of State may
accept and use donations to carry out the study abroad program. Amounts
received by the Secretary of State in the form of donations shall be
expended prior to the use of funds appropriated under subsection (i).
The Secretary of State may reject a gift under this section when the
rejection is in the interest of the Government.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the study
abroad program for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy and the Environment.
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