,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #deda ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ad1 #bjbf,mr4 ,durbin 7for himself and ,mr4 ,wicker7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,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 ,state4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,senator ,paul ,simon ,study ,abroad ,program ,act of #bjbf4 #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 world languages1 and a unique environment for developing cultural understanding1 all of which are knowledge and skills needed in today's global economy4 7#c7 ,only #aj percent of ,united ,states college students study abroad before they graduate1 leaving #ij percent of graduates entering the workforce without the global skills1 knowledge1 and experiences afforded by study abroad programs that will position them for success in the global economy4 ,minority students1 first-generation college students1 community college students1 and students with disabilities are also significantly underrepresented in study abroad participation4 7#d7 ,congress authorized the establishment of the ,commission on the ,abraham ,lincoln ,study ,abroad ,fellowship ,program 7referred to in this section as the ,lincoln ,commission7 under 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 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 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 experience4 ,a competitive grant program is necessary to encourage and support such leadership4 7#f7 ,student health1 safety1 and security while studying abroad is1 and must continue to be1 a priority for institutions of higher education and study abroad programs4 7#g7 ,according to ,open ,doors #bjbb1 published by the ,institute of ,international ,education in partnership with the ,department of ,state1 study abroad participation at colleges and universities in the ,united ,states plummeted by #ia percent during the #bjbj-bjba academic year4 ,while study abroad numbers have rebounded1 according to ,open ,doors #bjbe1 participation remains #ad percent below pre-pandemic levels4 ,in today's global society1 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 skills1 knowledge1 and experiences necessary to maintain the leadership and security of the ,united ,states in tackling global challenges that affect the people of the ,united ,states and succeeding in a global economy4 #c4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to ensure that significantly more students have access to quality study abroad opportunities1 especially among low-income students and students of color2 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 ,united ,states institutions of higher education to expand study abroad opportunities4 #d4 ,senator ,paul ,simon ,study ,abroad ,program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,consortium ,the term consortium means a group that-- 7,a7 includes at least #a institution of higher education2 and 7,b7 may include nongovernmental organizations that provide and promote study abroad opportunities for students4 7#b7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a774 7#c7 ,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 abroad4 7#d7 ,program ,the term ,program means the ,senator ,paul ,simon ,study ,abroad ,program1 as renamed pursuant to subsection 7b77#a77;,a74 7#e7 ,student ,the term student means-- 7,a7 an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the ,united ,states or a national of the ,united ,states 7as such terms are defined in paragraphs 7#bj7 and 7#bb7 of section #aja7;a7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act of #aife 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a777 who is enrolled at an institution of higher education located within the ,united ,states2 or 7,b7 an individual who is an eligible noncitizen for ,federal student aid1 as determined by the ,secretary of ,education for purposes of the ,federal student loan program under title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj et seq474 7#f7 ,study abroad ,the term study abroad means an educational program of study1 work1 service learning1 research1 internship1 or combination of such activities that-- 7,a7 is conducted outside of the ,united ,states2 and 7,b7 carries academic credit4 7#g7 ,world language ,the term world language means any natural language other than ,english1 including-- 7,a7 languages determined by the ,secretary of ,state to be critical to the national security interests of the ,united ,states2 7,b7 classical languages2 7,c7 ,american sign language2 and 7,d7 ,native ,american languages4 7b7 ,senator ,paul ,simon ,study ,abroad ,program 7#a7 ,establishment ,subject to the availability of appropriations and under the authority of the ,mutual ,educational and ,cultural ,exchange ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bdea et seq471 the ,secretary of ,state shall-- 7,a7 rename the ,,ideas ,program1 or any successor program1 as the ,senator ,paul ,simon ,study ,abroad ,program2 and 7,b7 enhance the ,program in accordance with this section4 7#b7 ,objectives ,the objectives of the ,program are that not later than #aj years after the date of enactment of this ,act-- 7,a7 not fewer than #a1jjj1jjj undergraduate students from the ,united ,states will study abroad annually2 7,b7 the demographics of study abroad participation will reflect the demographics of the ,united ,states undergraduate population by increasing the participation rate of underrepresented groups2 and 7,c7 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 7,a7 ,in general ,in order to accomplish the objectives described in paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary of ,state shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to institutions of higher education1 either individually or as part of a consortium1 based on applications by such 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 study abroad programs have established health1 safety1 and security guidelines and procedures1 informed by ,department of ,state travel advisories and other appropriate ,federal agencies and resources1 including the ,overseas ,security ,advisory ,council and the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention4 7,b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary may give priority to-- 7i7 minority-serving institutions listed under section #cga7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfgq7a772 7ii7 eligible institutions 7as defined in section #cab7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajeh7;b777 that qualify for the ,strengthening ,institutions ,program of the ,department of ,education2 and 7iii7 institutions that offer study abroad programs with a significant world language learning component1 as applicable4 7#d7 ,implementation of lincoln commission recommendations ,in administering the ,program1 the ,secretary of ,state shall take fully into account the recommendations of the ,lincoln ,commission1 including-- 7,a7 institutions of higher education applying for grants described in paragraph 7#c7 shall use ,program funds to support direct student costs2 7,b7 diversity shall be a defining characteristic of the ,program2 and 7,c7 quality control shall be a defining characteristic of the ,program4 7#e7 ,consultation ,in carrying out this subsection1 the ,secretary of ,state shall consult with representatives of diverse institutions of higher education and educational policy organizations and other individuals with appropriate expertise4 7c7 ,annual report ,not later than ,december #ca of each year1 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 year4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated1 for fiscal year #bjbg and for each subsequent fiscal year1 such sums as may be necessary to carry out the ,program4