,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aaih ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #aa1 #bjai,mr4 ,durbin 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,wicker1 and ,mr4 ,leahy7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,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 ,education4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,senator ,paul ,simon ,study ,abroad ,program ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,to prepare students for success in the modern global economy1 opportunities for study abroad should be included as part of a well-rounded education4 7#b7 ,study abroad programs provide students with unparalleled access to international knowledge1 an unmatched opportunity to learn foreign languages1 and a unique environment for developing cultural understanding1 all of which are knowledge and skills needed in today's global economy4 7#c7 ,less than #b percent of all enrolled postsecondary students in the ,united ,states study abroad for credit in any given year1 and minority students1 first generation college students1 community college students1 and students with disabilities are significantly underrepresented in study abroad participation4 7#d7 ,congress authorized the establishment of the ,commission on the ,abraham ,lincoln ,study ,abroad ,fellowship ,program pursuant to section #ajd of the ,miscellaneous ,appropriations and ,offsets ,act1 #bjjd 7division ,h of ,public ,law #ajh-aii74 ,pursuant to its mandate1 the ,lincoln ,commission submitted to ,congress and the ,president a report of its recommendations for greatly expanding the opportunity for students at institutions of higher education in the ,united ,states to study abroad1 with special emphasis on studying in developing nations4 7#e7 ,according to the ,lincoln ,commission1 experience shows that leadership from administrators and faculty will drive the number of study abroad participants higher and improve the quality of programs4 ,such leadership is the only way that study abroad will become an integral part of the undergraduate experience44 ,a competitive grant program is necessary to encourage and support such leadership4 7#f7 ,student safety while studying abroad is and must continue to be a priority for institutions of higher education and study abroad programs4 #c4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to ensure that significantly more students have access to quality study abroad opportunities2 7#b7 to ensure that the diversity of students studying abroad reflects the diversity of students and institutions of higher education in the ,united ,states2 7#c7 to encourage greater diversity in study abroad destinations by increasing the portion of study abroad that takes place in nontraditional study abroad destinations1 especially in developing countries2 and 7#d7 to encourage a greater commitment by institutions of higher education to expand study abroad opportunities4 #d4 ,senator ,paul ,simon ,study ,abroad ,program ,section #gda of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aach7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#ab7 and 7#ac7 as paragraphs 7#ac7 and 7#ad71 respectively2 and 7,b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#aa7 the following3 7#ab7 awarding grants under the ,senator ,paul ,simon ,study ,abroad ,program described in subsection 7g72 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7g7 ,senator ,paul ,simon ,study ,abroad ,program 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja7;a74 7,b7 ,national of the united states ,the term national of the ,united ,states means a national of the ,united ,states or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence 7as those terms are defined in section #aja of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja774 7,c7 ,nontraditional study abroad destination ,the term nontraditional study abroad destination means a location that is determined by the ,secretary to be a less common destination for students who study abroad4 7,d7 ,student ,the term student means a national of the ,united ,states who is enrolled at an institution of higher education located within the ,united ,states4 7,e7 ,study abroad ,the term study abroad means an educational program of study1 work1 research1 internship1 or combination thereof that is conducted outside the ,united ,states and that carries academic credit4 7#b7 ,senator paul simon study abroad program 7,a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,department a program to be called the ,senator ,paul ,simon ,study ,abroad ,program4 7,b7 ,objectives ,the objectives of the program established under subparagraph 7,a7 are1 that not later than #aj years after the date of enactment of the ,senator ,paul ,simon ,study ,abroad ,program ,act of #bjai-- 7i7 not less than #a1jjj1jjj undergraduate students will study abroad annually2 7ii7 the demographics of study abroad participation will reflect the demographics of the ,united ,states undergraduate population by increasing the participation of underrepresented groups2 and 7iii7 an increasing portion of study abroad will take place in nontraditional study abroad destinations1 with a substantial portion of such increases in developing countries4 7,c7 ,competitive grants to institutions of higher education ,in order to accomplish the objectives set forth in subparagraph 7,b71 the ,secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis to institutions of higher education1 individually or in a consortium1 based on applications by the institutions that-- 7i7 set forth detailed plans for using grant funds to further such objectives2 7ii7 include an institutional commitment to expanding access to study abroad2 7iii7 include plans for evaluating progress made in increasing access to study abroad2 7iv7 describe how increases in study abroad participation achieved through the grant will be sustained in subsequent years2 and 7v7 demonstrate that the programs have established health and safety guidelines and procedures1 informed by ,department of ,state travel advisories and other appropriate ,federal agencies and resources1 including the ,overseas ,security ,advisory ,council1 the ,,usa ,study ,abroad ,office of the ,department of ,state1 and the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention4 7,d7 ,nongovernmental institutions ,consortia of institutions of higher education applying for grants described in subparagraph 7,c7 may include nongovernmental institutions that provide and promote study abroad opportunities for students4 7,e7 ,commission on the abraham lincoln study abroad fellowship program ,in administering the program1 the ,secretary shall take fully into account the recommendations of the ,commission on the ,abraham ,lincoln ,study ,abroad ,fellowship ,program1 established pursuant to section #ajd of the ,miscellaneous ,appropriations and ,offsets ,act1 #bjjd 7division ,h of ,public ,law #ajh-aii74 7,f7 ,consultation ,in carrying out this paragraph1 the ,secretary shall consult with representatives of diverse institutions of higher education1 educational policy organizations1 and others with appropriate expertise4 7#c7 ,annual report ,not later than ,december #ca of each year following the date of enactment of the ,senator ,paul ,simon ,study ,abroad ,program ,act of #bjai1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the implementation of this subsection during the prior fiscal year4 7#d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year #bjbj and each subsequent fiscal year4 4