I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3119 
To award grants to States to establish or improve, and carry out a Seal 
of Biliteracy program to recognize high-level student proficiency in speak-
ing, reading, and writing in both English and a second language. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 5, 2019 
Ms. BROWNLEY of California (for herself, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, 
Mr. CA´RDENAS, and Mr. LANGEVIN) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To award grants to States to establish or improve, and 
carry out a Seal of Biliteracy program to recognize high- 
level student proficiency in speaking, reading, and writ-
ing in both English and a second language. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Biliteracy Education 
Seal and Teaching Act’’ or the ‘‘BEST Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The people of the United States celebrate 
cultural and linguistic diversity and seek to prepare 
students with skills to succeed in the 21st century. 
(2) It is fitting to commend the dedication of 
students who have achieved proficiency in multiple 
languages and to encourage their peers to follow in 
their footsteps. 
(3) The study of world languages in elementary 
and secondary schools should be encouraged because 
it contributes to a student’s cognitive development 
and to the national economy and security. 
(4) The congressionally requested Commission 
on Language Learning, in its 2017 report ‘‘Amer-
ica’s Languages: Investing in Language Education 
for the 21st Century,’’ notes the pressing national 
need for more Americans proficient in two or more 
languages, for national security, economic growth, 
and the fulfillment of the potential of all Americans. 
(5) Recognition of student achievement in lan-
guage proficiency will enable institutions of higher 
education and employers to readily recognize and ac-
knowledge the valuable expertise of bilingual stu-
dents in academia and the workplace. 
(6) California has pioneered the first State sys-
tem in the Nation to recognize students for achiev-
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ing proficiency in multiple languages. In 2012, Cali-
fornia awarded a Seal of Biliteracy to over 10,000 
graduating high school seniors in 37 school districts. 
By 2019, 35 States and the District of Columbia 
will have adopted the Seal of Biliteracy. 
(7) Students in every State should be able to 
benefit from a Seal of Biliteracy program. 
SEC. 3. STATE SEAL OF BILITERACY PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Education 
shall award grants to States to establish or improve, and 
carry out a Seal of Biliteracy program to recognize stu-
dent proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in both 
English and a second language. 
(b) GRANT APPLICATION.—In order to receive a 
grant under this section, a State shall submit an applica-
tion to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information and assurances as the Sec-
retary may require, including— 
(1) a description of the criteria a student must 
meet to demonstrate proficiency in speaking, read-
ing, and writing in both English and a second lan-
guage; 
(2) assurances that a student who meets the re-
quirements under paragraph (1)— 
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(A) receives a permanent seal or other 
marker on the student’s secondary school di-
ploma or its equivalent; and 
(B) receives documentation of proficiency 
in the student’s official academic transcript; 
and 
(3) assurances that a student is not charged a 
fee for submitting an application under subsection 
(c). 
(c) STUDENT
PARTICIPATION
IN
A
SEAL
OF 
BILITERACY PROGRAM.—To participate in a Seal of 
Biliteracy program, a student must submit an application 
to the State that serves the student at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information and assurances 
as the State may require, including assurances that the 
student— 
(1) will receive a secondary school diploma or 
its equivalent in the year the student submits an ap-
plication; and 
(2) has met the criteria established by the State 
under subsection (b)(1). 
(d) STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
FOR APPLICATION.—A 
student who gained proficiency in a second language out-
side of school may apply to participate in a Seal of 
Biliteracy program under subsection (c). 
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(e) USE OF FUNDS.—Grant funds made available 
under this section shall be used for— 
(1) the administrative costs of establishing or 
improving, and carrying out a Seal of Biliteracy pro-
gram; and 
(2) public outreach and education about such 
program. 
(f) GRANT TERMS.— 
(1) DURATION.—A grant awarded under this 
section shall be for a period of 2 years, and may be 
renewed at the discretion of the Secretary. 
(2) RENEWAL.—At the end of a grant term, the 
recipient of such grant may reapply for a grant 
under this section. 
(3) LIMITATIONS.—A grant recipient under this 
section shall not have more than 1 grant under this 
section at anytime. 
(4) RETURN OF UNSPENT GRANT FUNDS.—Not 
later than 6 months after the date on which a grant 
term ends, a recipient of a grant under this section 
shall return any unspent grant funds to the Sec-
retary. 
(g) REPORT.—Not later than 9 months after receiv-
ing a grant under this section, a grant recipient shall issue 
a report to the Secretary describing the implementation 
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of the Seal of Biliteracy program for which the State re-
ceived such grant. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ESEA 
DEFINITIONS.—The terms ‘‘sec-
ondary school’’, ‘‘Secretary’’, and ‘‘State’’ have the 
meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(2) SECOND
LANGUAGE.—The term ‘‘second 
language’’ means any language other than English, 
including Braille and American Sign Language. 
(3) SEAL OF BILITERACY PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘Seal of Biliteracy program’’ means any program es-
tablished or improved, and carried out with funds 
received under this section. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized 
to 
be 
appropriated 
to 
the 
Secretary 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 
to carry out this section. 
Æ 
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