Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2023
This bill expands access to study abroad for U.S. undergraduate students. It revises the Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students program (commonly known as the IDEAS program) and formally renames the program as the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4588 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4588
To ensure that significantly more students graduate college with the
international knowledge and experience essential for success in today's
global economy through the establishment of the Senator Paul Simon
Study Abroad Program in the Department of State.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 12, 2023
Mr. Schneider (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To ensure that significantly more students graduate college with the
international knowledge and experience essential for success in today's
global economy through the establishment of the Senator Paul Simon
Study Abroad Program in the Department of State.
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 ``Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad
Program Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) To prepare students for success in the modern global
economy, opportunities for study abroad should be included as
part of a well-rounded education.
(2) Study abroad programs provide students with
unparalleled access to international knowledge, an unmatched
opportunity to learn world languages, and a unique environment
for developing cultural understanding, all of which are
knowledge and skills needed in today's global economy.
(3) Only 10 percent of United States college students study
abroad before they graduate, leaving 90 percent of graduates
entering the workforce without the global skills, knowledge,
and experiences afforded by study abroad programs that will
position them for success in the global economy. Minority
students, first-generation college students, community college
students, and students with disabilities are also significantly
underrepresented in study abroad participation.
(4) Congress authorized the establishment of the Commission
on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program
(referred to in this section as the ``Lincoln Commission'')
under section 104 of the Miscellaneous Appropriations and
Offsets Act, 2004 (division H of Public Law 108-199). Pursuant
to its mandate, the Lincoln Commission submitted a report to
Congress and to the President containing its recommendations
for greatly expanding the opportunity for students at
institutions of higher education in the United States to study
abroad, with special emphasis on studying in developing
nations.
(5) According to the Lincoln Commission, ``[e]xperience
shows that leadership from administrators and faculty will
drive the number of study abroad participants higher and
improve the quality of programs. Such leadership is the only
way that study abroad will become an integral part of the
undergraduate experience.'' A competitive grant program is
necessary to encourage and support such leadership.
(6) Student health, safety, and security while studying
abroad is, and must continue to be, a priority for institutions
of higher education and study abroad programs.
(7) The COVID-19 pandemic prevented students from
participating in study abroad due to travel restrictions and
reduced budgets. According to Open Doors 2022, published by the
Institute of International Education in partnership with the
Department of State, study abroad participation at colleges and
universities in the United States plummeted by 91 percent
during the 2020-2021 academic year. In the post-pandemic world,
increasing access to study abroad for students at institutions
of higher education across the United States is critical to
ensuring that those students gain the skills, knowledge, and
experiences necessary to maintain the leadership of the United
States in tackling global challenges, such as pandemics, and
succeeding in a global economy.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to ensure that significantly more students have access
to quality study abroad opportunities, especially among low-
income students and students of color;
(2) to ensure that the diversity of students studying
abroad reflects the diversity of students and institutions of
higher education in the United States;
(3) to encourage greater diversity in study abroad
destinations by increasing the portion of study abroad that
takes place in nontraditional study abroad destinations,
especially in developing countries; and
(4) to encourage a greater commitment by United States
institutions of higher education to expand study abroad
opportunities.
SEC. 4. SENATOR PAUL SIMON STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM.
(a) 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 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.
(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 the Senator
Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2023--
(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 not less than $10,000,000 to carry out the Program for
fiscal year 2024 and for each subsequent fiscal year.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
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