,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dgfg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #be1 #bjbe,mr4 ,olszewski 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,bera1 ,mrs4 ,mc,clain ,delaney1 ,ms4 ,clarke of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,fields1 ,mrs4 ,mc,iver1 and ,mr4 ,thanedar7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to encourage the growth of educational exchanges between international scholars and ,united ,states junior or community colleges and ,united ,states postsecondary vocational institutions1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,community ,college ,educational ,exchange ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate4 7#b7 ,educational exchange ,the term educational exchange means an activity listed in section #ajb7;a77#a77;,b7 of the ,mutual ,educational and ,cultural ,exchange ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bdeb7;a77#a77;,b774 7#c7 ,eligible institutions ,the term eligible institutions means ,united ,states junior or community colleges and ,united ,states postsecondary vocational institutions that the ,secretary of ,state and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development have identified that-- 7,a7 have entered into a grant1 contract1 or cooperative agreement with the ,department of ,state or the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development2 or 7,b7 are eligible to participate in programs and initiatives under the jurisdiction of either such agency4 7#d7 ,junior or community college ,the term junior or community college mean an institution of higher education 7as such term is defined in section #cab7;f7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb7;c777-- 7,a7 that admits as regular students persons who are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in the ,state in which the institution is located and who have the ability to benefit from the training offered by the institution2 7,b7 that does not provide an educational program for which it awards a bachelor's degree 7or an equivalent degree72 and 7,c7 that-- 7i7 provides an educational program of not less than #b years that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree1 or 7ii7 offers a #b-year program in engineering1 mathematics1 or the physical or biological sciences1 designed to prepare a student to work as a technician or at the semiprofessional level in engineering1 scientific1 or other technological fields requiring the understanding and application of basic engineering1 scientific1 or mathematical principles of knowledge4 7#e7 ,postsecondary vocational institution ,the term postsecondary vocational institution means a school that-- 7,a7 provides an eligible program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation2 7,b7 meets the requirements of paragraphs 7#a71 7#b71 7#d71 and 7#e7 of section #ajb7;c7 in the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb7;c772 and 7,c7 has been in existence for at least #b years4 7#f7 ,relevant ,federal departments and agencies ,the term relevant ,federal departments and agencies includes-- 7,a7 the ,department of ,state2 7,b7 the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development2 and 7,c7 any other ,federal department or agency that is engaged in designing1 providing1 or supporting ,united ,states foreign assistance 7including development finance7 that the ,president determines is relevant for the purposes of this ,act4 #c4 ,expanding exchange programming for international scholars and experts to study at ,united ,states junior or community colleges and ,united ,states postsecondary vocational institutions 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development should seek to strengthen and expand partnerships and educational exchange opportunities1 including by working with eligible institutions1 that build the capacity and expertise of students1 scholars1 and experts in key development sectors1 including-- 7#a7 food systems and agriculture-led economic growth2 7#b7 microenterprise business development and entrepreneurship2 7#c7 early childhood education2 7#d7 engineering2 7#e7 information technology2 7#f7 media2 7#g7 social services1 health1 and public safety2 7#h7 tourism and hospitality management2 7#i7 water1 sanitation1 and hygiene2 7#aj7 water security2 and 7#aa7 environmental resilience4 7b7 ,exchange programming ,to deepen relationships and educational exchange between foreign participants from underrepresented backgrounds and the ,united ,states in ways that advance ,united ,states foreign policy goals and increase academic collaboration1 there is established in the ,bureau of ,educational and ,cultural ,affairs of the ,department of ,state a ,community ,college and ,postsecondary ,vocational ,institution ,initiative ,program to provide scholarships for students1 scholars1 and technical experts to spend up to one academic year at eligible institutions to support knowledge and skills training in the sectors referred to in subsection 7a74 #d4 ,building the capacity of ,united ,states junior or community colleges and ,united ,states postsecondary vocational institutions to expand study abroad programming 7a7 ,capacity building program ,to strengthen educational grant opportunities for eligible institutions and expand educational exchanges with these institutions1 there is established in the ,bureau of ,educational and ,cultural ,affairs of the ,department of ,state a capacity building program to increase the capacity of eligible institutions to create and expand study abroad programs for their scholars through small-grant and in-person and virtual study abroad capacity building activities4 ,this program should seek to prepare scholars to contribute to the fields critical to ,united ,states national and economic security4 7b7 ,small-,grant and in-,person and virtual study abroad capacity building activities ,the ,secretary of ,state is authorized to award grants1 provide technical assistance1 and develop resources for the program outlined in subsection 7a7 to-- 7#a7 increase the number of eligible institution students participating in study abroad programs2 7#b7 provide training for faculty and staff at eligible institutions to design1 implement1 and sustain study abroad programs2 7#c7 create and disseminate toolkits1 curriculum guides1 and program templates for eligible institutions seeking to launch or expand study abroad offerings2 7#d7 fund faculty and staff training workshops on best practices for developing1 managing1 and sustaining study abroad programs2 7#e7 support the development of study abroad programs aligned with workforce needs to ,,stem1 technical1 and vocational fields2 7#f7 pilot hybrid exchange models that combine virtual and short-term in-person components to make study abroad more flexible and accessible for students at eligible institutions2 7#g7 develop outreach and advising resources for underrepresented student populations to increase their participation in study-abroad programs2 and 7#h7 other activities the ,secretary of ,state determines are necessary to strengthen the capacity of eligible institutions to create or expand their ability to administer study abroad programs4 #e4 ,communications and outreach programming ,as part of strengthening and enhancing partnerships1 the ,secretary of ,state and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development shall advance outreach to and communications with eligible institutions1 including by-- 7#a7 providing technical assistance in the development of grant and partnership applications2 and 7#b7 upon request1 providing feedback to eligible institutions to the maximum extent practicable1 after a grant rejection in order to improve future grant applications1 as appropriate4 #f4 ,congressional consultation ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in consultation with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 shall consult with the appropriate congressional committees regarding implementation of-- 7#a7 the countries prioritized for the program established by section #c2 7#b7 existing partnerships and programs between relevant ,federal departments and agencies and eligible institutions and efforts to expand such partnerships and programs2 7#c7 efforts to strengthen the capacity of eligible institutions to participate1 or to be eligible to participate1 in relevant programs and initiatives2 and 7#d7 any progress made towards-- 7,a7 advancing plans to develop partnerships or programs and initiatives with eligible institutions that are not engaged in existing partnerships with relevant ,federal departments and agencies2 7,b7 identifying plans in which an eligible institution may participate2 and 7,c7 any other information that relevant ,federal departments and agencies determine is relevant to promoting opportunities to fund1 partner1 contract1 or otherwise interact with eligible institutions4