IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 100 
Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should establish 
an international education policy to foster mutual understanding among 
nations, promote a world free of terrorism, further United States foreign 
policy and national security, enhance United States leadership in the 
world, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 16, 2005 
Mr. KOLBE (for himself and Mr. OBERSTAR) submitted the following concur-
rent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Re-
lations, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Work-
force, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each 
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
the committee concerned 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States 
should establish an international education policy to fos-
ter mutual understanding among nations, promote a 
world free of terrorism, further United States foreign 
policy and national security, enhance United States lead-
ership in the world, and for other purposes. 
Whereas preparing American citizens with global skills and 
educating international students are crucial investments 
in United States leadership and security;
•HCON 100 IH 
Whereas the threat of terrorism crosses all borders, and de-
feating it requires global engagement to foster dialogue 
and partnership among nations; 
Whereas the war on terrorism is in part a struggle of ideas, 
values, and beliefs, especially within the Arab and Muslim 
world; 
Whereas the United States demonstrated in the Cold War 
that it can prevail in a struggle of ideas, values, and be-
liefs; 
Whereas international education and exchange were crucial 
components of that Cold War victory and are equally es-
sential for victory in the war on terrorism; 
Whereas educating international students is an important 
way to spread United States values and influence and to 
create goodwill for the United States throughout the 
world; 
Whereas robust exchange programs and careful screening of 
visa applicants both serve important United States inter-
ests and must be appropriately balanced; 
Whereas new security measures have had the unintended ef-
fect of weakening the United States position as the lead-
ing destination of international students seeking higher 
educational and other exchange opportunities; 
Whereas funding for the Department of State’s international 
exchange programs, which in the past have done much to 
extend United States influence in the world by educating 
the world’s leaders and providing them with a positive en-
counter with American society and values, has declined in 
constant dollars by 37 percent over 10 years, according 
to the Alliance for International Educational and Cul-
tural Exchange;
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Whereas study abroad prepares United States students for 
effective participation in an increasingly complex global 
society that demands cross-cultural skills and knowledge; 
Whereas study abroad has been determined to be an impor-
tant component of attaining higher levels of proficiency 
in foreign languages; 
Whereas according to the Institute of International Edu-
cation, less than 10 percent of United States college 
graduates study abroad; 
Whereas research indicates that the United States is failing 
to generate enough students with expertise in foreign lan-
guages and cultures to fill the demands of business, gov-
ernment, and universities; 
Whereas according to the Coalition for International Edu-
cation, funding for international, foreign language, and 
foreign-area studies programs at United States univer-
sities has declined in constant dollars since the 1960s; 
Whereas other countries are mounting vigorous recruitment 
campaigns to compete with the United States for inter-
national students, especially the United Kingdom, which 
increased its international student enrollment by 20 per-
cent from 2001 to 2002, according to the British Coun-
cil; and 
Whereas the United States requires an international edu-
cation policy to guide efforts to promote United States 
interests through international education and exchange: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring),
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SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE ESTABLISHMENT 
OF AN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 
FOR THE UNITED STATES. 
It is the sense of Congress that the United States 
should establish an international education policy to foster 
mutual understanding and respect among nations, pro-
mote a world free of terrorism, further United States for-
eign policy and national security, and enhance United 
States leadership in the world. 
SEC. 2. OBJECTIVES OF AN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION 
POLICY FOR THE UNITED STATES. 
An international education policy for the United 
States, which is essential for United States foreign policy 
and security interests, should strive to achieve the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Articulate the vital role of international 
education and exchange in the struggle to defeat ter-
rorism and enhance the security of the United 
States. 
(2) Invigorate citizen and professional exchange 
programs and promote the international exchange of 
students and scholars. 
(3) Ensure that visa and employment policies 
promote increased access to the United States by 
international students, scholars, and exchange visi-
tors, consistent with homeland security.
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(4) Significantly increase participation in study 
and internships abroad by United States students, 
especially minority and financially disadvantaged 
students. 
(5) Enhance the educational infrastructure 
through which the United States produces citizens 
with a high level of international expertise and 
builds a broad knowledge base that serves the 
United States. 
(6) Promote greater diversity of locations, lan-
guages, and subjects offered for study, teaching, and 
research abroad. 
(7) Ensure that every United States college 
graduate has knowledge of a second language and of 
a foreign area, as well as a broad understanding of 
the world. 
(8) Encourage programs that begin foreign lan-
guage learning in the United States at an early age. 
(9) Promote partnerships among government, 
business, and educational institutions and organiza-
tions to provide adequate resources for implementing 
this policy. 
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