(8) Study abroad has proven to be a very effec-
tive means of imparting international and foreign- 
language competency to students. 
(9) In any given year, only approximately one 
percent of all students enrolled in United States in-
stitutions of higher education study abroad. 
(10) Less than 10 percent of the students who 
graduate from United States institutions of higher 
education with bachelors degrees have studied 
abroad. 
(11) Far more study abroad must take place in 
developing countries. Ninety-five percent of the 
world’s population growth over the next 50 years 
will occur outside of Europe. Yet in the academic 
year 2004–2005, 60 percent of United States stu-
dents studying abroad studied in Europe, and 45 
percent studied in four countries—the United King-
dom, Italy, Spain, and France—according to the In-
stitute of International Education. 
(12) The Final Report of the National Commis-
sion on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States 
(The 9/11 Commission Report) recommended that 
the United States increase support for ‘‘scholarship, 
exchange, and library programs’’. The 9/11 Public 
Discourse Project, successor to the 9/11 Commis-
sion, noted in its November 14, 2005, status report 
that this recommendation was ‘‘unfulfilled,’’ and 
stated that ‘‘The U.S. should increase support for 
scholarship and exchange programs, our most power-
ful tool to shape attitudes over the course of a gen-
eration.’’. In its December 5, 2005, Final Report on 
the 9/11 Commission Recommendations, the 9/11 
Public Discourse Project gave the government a 
grade of ‘‘D’’ for its implementation of this rec-
ommendation. 
(13) Investing in a national study abroad pro-
gram would help turn a grade of ‘‘D’’ into an ‘‘A’’ 
by equipping United States students to communicate 
United States values and way of life through the 
unique dialogue that takes place among citizens 
from around the world when individuals study 
abroad. 
(14) An enhanced national study abroad pro-
gram could help further the goals of other United 
States Government initiatives to promote edu-
cational, social, and political reform and the status 
of women in developing and reforming societies 
around the world, such as the Middle East Partner-
ship Initiative.
(15) To complement such worthwhile Federal 
programs and initiatives as the Benjamin A. Gilman 
International Scholarship Program, the National Se-
curity Education Program, and the National Secu-
rity Language Initiative, a broad-based under-
graduate study abroad program is needed that will 
make many more study abroad opportunities acces-
sible to all undergraduate students, regardless of 
their field of study, ethnicity, socio-economic status, 
or gender. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to significantly enhance the global competi-
tiveness and international knowledge base of the 
United States by ensuring that more United States 
students have the opportunity to acquire foreign lan-
guage skills and international knowledge through 
significantly expanded study abroad; 
(2) to enhance the foreign policy capacity of the 
United States by significantly expanding and diversi-
fying the talent pool of individuals with non-tradi-
tional foreign language skills and cultural knowledge 
in the United States who are available for recruit-
ment by United States foreign affairs agencies, leg-
islative branch agencies, and nongovernmental orga-
nizations involved in foreign affairs activities; 
(3) to ensure that an increasing portion of 
study abroad by United States students will take 
place in nontraditional study abroad destinations 
such as the People’s Republic of China, countries of 
the Middle East region, and developing countries; 
and 
(4) to create greater cultural understanding of 
the United States by exposing foreign students and 
their families to United States students in countries 
that have not traditionally hosted large numbers of 
United States students. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate.
(2) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the 
Board of Directors of the Foundation established 
pursuant to section 5(d). 
(3) CHIEF
EXECUTIVE
OFFICER.—The term 
‘‘Chief Executive Officer’’ means the chief executive 
officer of the Foundation appointed pursuant to sec-
tion 5(c). 
(4) FOUNDATION.—The term ‘‘Foundation’’ 
means the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foun-
dation established by section 5(a). 
(5) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
(6) NONTRADITIONAL STUDY ABROAD DESTINA-
TION.—The term ‘‘nontraditional study abroad des-
tination’’ means a location that is determined by the 
Foundation to be a less common destination for 
United States students who study abroad. 
(7) STUDY ABROAD.—The term ‘‘study abroad’’ 
means an educational program of study, work, re-
search, internship, or combination thereof that is 
conducted outside the United States and that carries 
academic credit toward fulfilling the participating 
student’s degree requirements.
(8) 
UNITED
STATES.—The 
term 
‘‘United 
States’’ means any of the several States, the District 
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Is-
lands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 
and any other territory or possession of the United 
States. 
(9) UNITED
STATES
STUDENT.—The term 
‘‘United States student’’ means a national of the 
United States who is enrolled at an institution of 
higher education located within the United States. 
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SEN-
ATOR PAUL SIMON STUDY ABROAD FOUNDA-
TION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the 
executive branch a corporation to be known as the 
‘‘Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation’’ 
that shall be responsible for carrying out this Act 
under the authorities of the Mutual Educational and 
Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 et 
seq.). The Foundation shall be a government cor-
poration, as defined in section 103 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(2) BOARD
OF
DIRECTORS.—The Foundation 
shall be governed by a Board of Directors chaired by
the Secretary of State (or the Secretary’s designee) 
in accordance with subsection (d). 
(3) INTENT OF CONGRESS.—It is the intent of 
Congress in establishing the structure of the Foun-
dation set forth in this subsection to create an entity 
that will administer a study abroad program that— 
(A) serves the long-term foreign policy and 
national security needs of the United States; 
but 
(B) operates independently of short-term 
political and foreign policy considerations. 
(b) MANDATE OF FOUNDATION.—In administering 
the program referred to in subsection (a)(3), the Founda-
tion shall— 
(1) promote the objectives and purposes of this 
Act; 
(2) through responsive, flexible grant-making, 
promote access to study abroad opportunities by 
United States students at diverse institutions of 
higher education, including two-year institutions, mi-
nority-serving institutions, and institutions that 
serve nontraditional students; 
(3) through creative grant-making, promote ac-
cess to study abroad opportunities by diverse United 
States students, including minority students, stu-
dents of limited financial means, and nontraditional 
students; 
(4) raise funds from the private sector to sup-
plement funds made available under this Act; and 
(5) be committed to minimizing administrative 
costs and to maximizing the availability of funds for 
grants under this Act. 
(c) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Foun-
dation a Chief Executive Officer who shall be re-
sponsible for the management of the Foundation. 
(2) APPOINTMENT.—The Chief Executive Offi-
cer shall be appointed by the Board and shall be a 
recognized leader in higher education, business, or 
foreign policy, chosen on the basis of a rigorous 
search. 
(3) RELATIONSHIP TO BOARD.—The Chief Ex-
ecutive Officer shall report to and be under the di-
rect authority of the Board. 
(4) COMPENSATION AND RANK.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Chief Executive 
Officer shall be compensated at the rate pro-
vided for level III of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5314 of title 5, United States 
Code.
(B) AMENDMENT.—Section 5314 of title 
5, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘Chief Executive Officer, Senator Paul Simon 
Study Abroad Foundation.’’. 
(5) AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES.—The Chief Ex-
ecutive Officer shall be responsible for the manage-
ment of the Foundation and shall exercise the pow-
ers and discharge the duties of the Foundation. 
(6) AUTHORITY
TO
APPOINT
OFFICERS.—In 
consultation and with approval of the Board, the 
Chief Executive Officer shall appoint all officers of 
the Foundation. 
(d) BOARD OF DIRECTORS.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There shall be in the 
Foundation a Board of Directors. 
(2) DUTIES.—The Board shall perform the 
functions specified to be carried out by the Board in 
this Act and may prescribe, amend, and repeal by-
laws, rules, regulations, and procedures governing 
the manner in which the business of the Foundation 
may be conducted and in which the powers granted 
to it by law may be exercised. 
(3) MEMBERSHIP.—The Board shall consist 
of—
(A) the Secretary of State (or the Sec-
retary’s designee), the Secretary of Education 
(or the Secretary’s designee), the Secretary of 
Defense (or the Secretary’s designee), and the 
Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development (or the Administra-
tor’s designee); and 
(B) five other individuals with relevant ex-
perience in matters relating to study abroad 
(such as individuals who represent institutions 
of higher education, business organizations, for-
eign policy organizations, or other relevant or-
ganizations) who shall be appointed by the 
President, by and with the advice and consent 
of the Senate, of which— 
(I) one individual shall be appointed 
from among a list of individuals submitted 
by the majority leader of the House of 
Representatives; 
(ii) one individual shall be appointed 
from among a list of individuals submitted 
by the minority leader of the House of 
Representatives;
(iii) one individual shall be appointed 
from among a list of individuals submitted 
by the majority leader of the Senate; and 
(iv) one individual shall be appointed 
from among a list of individuals submitted 
by the minority leader of the Senate. 
(4) CHIEF
EXECUTIVE
OFFICER.—The Chief 
Executive Officer of the Foundation shall serve as a 
nonvoting, ex officio member of the Board. 
(5) TERMS.— 
(A) OFFICERS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERN-
MENT.—Each member of the Board described 
in paragraph (3)(A) shall serve for a term that 
is concurrent with the term of service of the in-
dividual’s position as an officer within the other 
Federal department or agency. 
(B) OTHER MEMBERS.—Each member of 
the Board described in paragraph (3)(B) shall 
be appointed for a term of 3 years and may be 
reappointed for a term of an additional 3 years. 
(C) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Board 
shall be filled in the manner in which the origi-
nal appointment was made.
(6) CHAIRPERSON.—There shall be a Chair-
person of the Board. The Secretary of State (or the 
Secretary’s designee) shall serve as the Chairperson. 
(7) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Board described in paragraph (3) shall con-
stitute a quorum, which, except with respect to a 
meeting of the Board during the 135-day period be-
ginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
shall include at least one member of the Board de-
scribed in paragraph (3)(B). 
(8) MEETINGS.—The Board shall meet at the 
call of the Chairperson. 
(9) COMPENSATION.— 
(A) OFFICERS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERN-
MENT.— 
(I) IN GENERAL.—A member of the 
Board described in paragraph (3)(A) may 
not receive additional pay, allowances, or 
benefits by reason of the member’s service 
on the Board. 
(ii) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—Each such 
member of the Board shall receive travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of sub-
sistence, in accordance with applicable pro-
visions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(B) OTHER MEMBERS.— 
(I) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 
in clause (ii), a member of the Board de-
scribed in paragraph (3)(B) while away 
from the member’s home or regular place 
of business on necessary travel in the ac-
tual performance of duties as a member of 
the Board, shall be paid per diem, travel, 
and transportation expenses in the same 
manner as is provided under subchapter I 
of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(ii) LIMITATION.—A member of the 
Board may not be paid compensation 
under clause (I) for more than 90 days in 
any calendar year. 
SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROGRAM.—There is 
hereby established a program, which shall— 
(1) be administered by the Foundation; and 
(2) award grants to— 
(A) United States students for study 
abroad;
(B) nongovernmental institutions that pro-
vide and promote study abroad opportunities 
for United States students, in consortium with 
institutions described in subparagraph (C); and 
(c) institutions of higher education, indi-
vidually or in consortium, 
in order to accomplish the objectives set forth in 
subsection (b). 
(b) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of the program es-
tablished under subsection (a) are that, within 10 years 
of the date of the enactment of this Act— 
(1) not less than one million undergraduate 
United States students will study abroad annually 
for credit; 
(2) the demographics of study-abroad participa-
tion will reflect the demographics of the United 
States undergraduate population, including students 
enrolled in community colleges, minority-serving in-
stitutions, and institutions serving large numbers of 
low-income and first-generation students; and 
(3) an increasing portion of study abroad will 
take place in nontraditional study abroad destina-
tions, with a substantial portion of such increases 
taking place in developing countries.
(c) MANDATE OF THE PROGRAM.—In order to ac-
complish the objectives set forth in subsection (b), the 
Foundation shall, in administering the program estab-
lished under subsection (a), take fully into account the rec-
ommendations of the 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 Public Law 108–199)). 
(d) STRUCTURE OF GRANTS.—In accordance with 
the recommendations of the Commission on the Abraham 
Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program, grants award-
ed under the program established under subsection (a) 
shall be structured to the maximum extent practicable to 
promote appropriate reforms in institutions of higher edu-
cation in order to remove barriers to participation by stu-
dents in study abroad. 
(e) BALANCE
OF LONG-TERM
AND SHORT-TERM 
STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS.—In administering the pro-
gram established under subsection (a), the Foundation 
shall seek an appropriate balance between— 
(1) longer-term study abroad programs, which 
maximize foreign-language learning and intercultural 
understanding; and
(2) shorter-term study abroad programs, which 
maximize the accessibility of study abroad to non-
traditional students. 
(f) QUALITY AND SAFETY IN STUDY ABROAD.—In 
administering the program established under subsection 
(a), the Foundation shall require that institutions receiv-
ing grants demonstrate that— 
(1) the study abroad programs for which stu-
dents receive grant funds are for academic credit; 
and 
(2) the programs have established health and 
safety guidelines and procedures. 
SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than March 31, 
2008, and each March 31 thereafter, the Foundation shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a re-
port on the implementation of this Act during the prior 
fiscal year. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall include— 
(1) the total financial resources available to the 
Foundation during the year, including appropriated 
funds, the value and source of any gifts or donations 
accepted pursuant to section 8(a)(6), and any other 
resources;
(2) a description of the Board’s policy priorities 
for the year and the bases upon which competitive 
grant proposals were solicited and awarded to insti-
tutions of higher education, nongovernmental insti-
tutions, and consortiums pursuant to section 
6(a)(2)(B) and 6(a)(2)(C); 
(3) a list of grants made to institutions of high-
er education, nongovernmental institutions, and con-
sortiums pursuant to section 6(a)(2)(B) and 
6(a)(2)(C) that includes the identity of the institu-
tional recipient, the dollar amount, and the esti-
mated number of study abroad opportunities pro-
vided to United States students by each grant; 
(4) a description of the bases upon which the 
Foundation made grants directly to United States 
students pursuant to section 6(a)(2)(A); 
(5) the number and total dollar amount of 
grants made directly to United States students by 
the Foundation pursuant to section 6(a)(2)(A); and 
(6) the total administrative and operating ex-
penses of the Foundation for the year, as well as 
specific information on— 
(A) the number of Foundation employees 
and the cost of compensation for Board mem-
bers, Foundation employees, and personal serv-
ice contractors; 
(B) costs associated with securing the use 
of real property for carrying out the functions 
of the Foundation; 
(C) total travel expenses incurred by Board 
members and Foundation employees in connec-
tion with Foundation activities; and 
(D) total representational expenses. 
SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE FOUNDATION; RELATED PROVI-
SIONS. 
(a) POWERS.—The Foundation— 
(1) shall have perpetual succession unless dis-
solved by a law enacted after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act; 
(2) may adopt, alter, and use a seal, which shall 
be judicially noticed; 
(3) may make and perform such contracts, 
grants, and other agreements with any person or 
government however designated and wherever situ-
ated, as may be necessary for carrying out the func-
tions of the Foundation; 
(4) may determine and prescribe the manner in 
which its obligations shall be incurred and its ex-
penses allowed and paid, including expenses for rep-
resentation; 
(5) may lease, purchase, or otherwise acquire, 
improve, and use such real property wherever situ-
ated, as may be necessary for carrying out the func-
tions of the Foundation; 
(6) may accept cash gifts or donations of serv-
ices or of property (real, personal, or mixed), tan-
gible or intangible, for the purpose of carrying out 
the provisions of this Act; 
(7) may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and on the same conditions as the ex-
ecutive departments; 
(8) may contract with individuals for personal 
services, who shall not be considered Federal em-
ployees for any provision of law administered by the 
Office of Personnel Management; 
(9) may hire or obtain passenger motor vehi-
cles; and 
(10) shall have such other powers as may be 
necessary and incident to carrying out this Act. 
(b) PRINCIPAL
OFFICE.—The Foundation shall 
maintain its principal office in the metropolitan area of 
Washington, District of Columbia.
(c) APPLICABILITY OF GOVERNMENT CORPORATION 
CONTROL ACT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Foundation shall be 
subject to chapter 91 of subtitle VI of title 31, 
United States Code, except that the Foundation 
shall not be authorized to issue obligations or offer 
obligations to the public. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
9101(3) of title 31, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(R) the Senator Paul Simon Study 
Abroad Foundation.’’. 
(d) INSPECTOR GENERAL.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Inspector General of 
the Department of State shall serve as Inspector 
General of the Foundation, and, in acting in such 
capacity, may conduct reviews, investigations, and 
inspections of all aspects of the operations and ac-
tivities of the Foundation. 
(2) AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD.—In carrying 
out the responsibilities under this subsection, the In-
spector General shall report to and be under the 
general supervision of the Board. 
(3) REIMBURSEMENT AND AUTHORIZATION OF 
SERVICES.—
(A) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Foundation 
shall reimburse the Department of State for all 
expenses incurred by the Inspector General in 
connection with the Inspector General’s respon-
sibilities under this subsection. 
(B) AUTHORIZATION
FOR
SERVICES.—Of 
the amount authorized to be appropriated 
under section 10(a) for a fiscal year, up to 
$2,000,000 is authorized to be made available 
to the Inspector General of the Department of 
State to conduct reviews, investigations, and in-
spections of operations and activities of the 
Foundation. 
SEC. 9. GENERAL PERSONNEL AUTHORITIES. 
(a) DETAIL OF PERSONNEL.—Upon request of the 
Chief Executive Officer, the head of an agency may detail 
any employee of such agency to the Foundation on a reim-
bursable basis. Any employee so detailed remains, for the 
purpose of preserving such employee’s allowances, privi-
leges, rights, seniority, and other benefits, an employee of 
the agency from which detailed. 
(b) REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An employee of an agency 
who is serving under a career or career conditional 
appointment (or the equivalent), and who, with the
consent of the head of such agency, transfers to the 
Foundation, is entitled to be reemployed in such em-
ployee’s former position or a position of like senior-
ity, status, and pay in such agency, if such em-
ployee— 
(A) is separated from the Foundation for 
any reason, other than misconduct, neglect of 
duty, or malfeasance; and 
(B) applies for reemployment not later 
than 90 days after the date of separation from 
the Foundation. 
(2) SPECIFIC RIGHTS.—An employee who satis-
fies paragraph (1) is entitled to be reemployed (in 
accordance with such paragraph) within 30 days 
after applying for reemployment and, on reemploy-
ment, is entitled to at least the rate of basic pay to 
which such employee would have been entitled had 
such employee never transferred. 
(c) HIRING AUTHORITY.—Of persons employed by 
the Foundation, not to exceed 30 persons may be ap-
pointed, compensated, or removed without regard to the 
civil service laws and regulations. 
(d) BASIC PAY.—The Chief Executive Officer may fix 
the rate of basic pay of employees of the Foundation with-
out regard to the provisions of chapter 51 of title 5,
United States Code (relating to the classification of posi-
tions), subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title (relating 
to General Schedule pay rates), except that no employee 
of the Foundation may receive a rate of basic pay that 
exceeds the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5315 of such title. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘agency’’ means an executive 
agency, as defined by section 105 of title 5, United 
States Code; and 
(2) the term ‘‘detail’’ means the assignment or 
loan of an employee, without a change of position, 
from the agency by which such employee is employed 
to the Foundation. 
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this Act $80,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2008 and each subsequent fiscal year. 
(2) AMOUNTS IN ADDITION TO OTHER AVAIL-
ABLE AMOUNTS.—Amounts authorized to be appro-
priated by paragraph (1) are in addition to amounts 
authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made 
available for educational exchange programs, includ-
ing the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange
Program and the Benjamin A. Gilman International 
Scholarship Program, administered by the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department 
of State. 
(b) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Foundation may allo-
cate or transfer to any agency of the United States 
Government any of the funds available for carrying 
out this Act. Such funds shall be available for obli-
gation and expenditure for the purposes for which 
the funds were authorized, in accordance with au-
thority granted in this Act or under authority gov-
erning the activities of the United States Govern-
ment agency to which such funds are allocated or 
transferred. 
(2) NOTIFICATION.—The Foundation shall no-
tify the appropriate congressional committees not 
less than 15 days prior to an allocation or transfer 
of funds pursuant to paragraph (1). 
Passed the House of Representatives June 5, 2007. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1469 
AN ACT 
To establish the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad 
Foundation under the authorities of the Mutual 
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961.