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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 308 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 308

           Designating 2006 as the ``Year of Study Abroad''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 10, 2005

 Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Craig, Mr. 
     Akaka, Mr. Coleman, and Mr. Cochran) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
           Designating 2006 as the ``Year of Study Abroad''.

Whereas ensuring that the citizens of the United States are globally literate is 
        the responsibility of the educational system of the United States;
Whereas educating students internationally is an important way to share the 
        values of the United States, to create goodwill for the United States 
        around the world, to work toward a peaceful global society, and to 
        increase international trade;
Whereas, according to a 2002 American Council on Education poll, 79 percent of 
        people in the United States agree that students should have a study 
        abroad experience sometime during college, but only 1 percent of 
        students from the United States currently study abroad each year;
Whereas study abroad programs help people from the United States to be more 
        informed about the world and to develop the cultural awareness necessary 
        to avoid offending individuals from other countries;
Whereas a National Geographic global literacy survey found that 87 percent of 
        students in the United States between the ages of 18 and 24 cannot 
        locate Iraq on a world map, 83 percent cannot find Afghanistan, 58 
        percent cannot find Japan, and 11 percent cannot even find the United 
        States;
Whereas studying abroad exposes students from the United States to valuable 
        global knowledge and cultural understanding and forms an integral part 
        of their education;
Whereas Congress recognized through the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1001 et seq.) that the security, stability, and economic vitality of the 
        United States in an increasingly complex global age depend largely upon 
        having a globally competent citizenry and the availability of experts 
        specializing in world regions, foreign languages, and international 
        affairs;
Whereas the Coalition for International Education, an ad hoc group of higher 
        education organizations with interests in the international education 
        programs of the Department of Education, and Government Accountability 
        Office reports have found that Federal agencies, educational 
        institutions, and corporations in the United States are suffering from a 
        shortage of professionals with international knowledge and foreign 
        language skills;
Whereas, according to the Coalition for International Education, institutions of 
        higher education in the United States are struggling to graduate enough 
        students with the language skills and cultural competence necessary to 
        meet the current demands of business, government, and educational 
        institutions;
Whereas a survey done by the Institute for the International Education of 
        Students shows that studying abroad influences subsequent educational 
        experiences, decisions to expand or change academic majors, and 
        decisions to attend graduate school;
Whereas substantive research literature demonstrates that some of the core 
        values and skills of higher education are enhanced by participation in 
        study abroad programs;
Whereas study abroad programs not only open doors to foreign language learning, 
        but also empower students to better understand themselves and others 
        through a comparison of cultural values and ways of life;
Whereas study abroad programs for students from the United States can provide 
        specialized training and practical experiences not available at 
        institutions in the United States;
Whereas a blue ribbon task force of NAFSA: Association of International 
        Educators, a global association of individuals dedicated to advancing 
        international education and exchange, found that a national effort to 
        promote study abroad programs is needed to address a serious deficit in 
        global competence in the United States;
Whereas the bipartisan, federally-appointed Commission on the Abraham Lincoln 
        Study Abroad Fellowship Program, established pursuant to section 104 of 
        the Miscellaneous Appropriations and Offsets Act, 2004 (division H of 
        the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004 (Public Law 108-199; 118 Stat. 
        435)), is scheduled to make recommendations by December 1, 2005, for a 
        national study abroad program to meet this need: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates 2006 as the ``Year of Study Abroad'';
            (2) encourages secondary schools, institutions of higher 
        learning, businesses, and government programs to promote and 
        expand study abroad opportunities; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to--
                    (A) support initiatives to promote and expand study 
                abroad opportunities; and
                    (B) observe the ``Year of Study Abroad'' with 
                appropriate ceremonies, programs, and other activities.
                                 <all>
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