I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4196 
To establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 2, 2005 
Mr. BAIRD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To establish a National Foreign Language Coordination 
Council. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL FOREIGN LAN-
GUAGE COORDINATION COUNCIL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Na-
tional Foreign Language Coordination Council (in this 
section referred to as the ‘‘Council’’), which shall be an 
independent establishment as defined under section 104 
of title 5, United States Code. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Council shall consist of the 
following members or their designees:
(1) The National Language Director, who shall 
serve as the chairperson of the Council. 
(2) The Secretary of Education. 
(3) The Secretary of Defense. 
(4) The Secretary of State. 
(5) The Secretary of Homeland Security. 
(6) The Attorney General. 
(7) The Director of National Intelligence. 
(8) The Secretary of Labor. 
(9) The Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management. 
(10) The Director of the Office of Management 
and Budget. 
(11) The Secretary of Commerce. 
(12) The Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices. 
(13) The Secretary of the Treasury. 
(14) The Secretary of Housing and Urban De-
velopment. 
(15) The Secretary of Agriculture. 
(16) The Chairman and President of the Ex-
port-Import Bank of the United States. 
(17) The heads of such other Federal agencies 
as the Council considers appropriate. 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Council shall be 
charged with— 
(A) developing a national foreign language 
strategy, within 18 months of the date of enact-
ment of this section, in consultation with— 
(i) State and local government agen-
cies; 
(ii) academic sector institutions; 
(iii) foreign language related interest 
groups; 
(iv) business associations; 
(v) industry; 
(vi) heritage associations; and 
(vii) other relevant stakeholders; 
(B) conducting a survey of the status of 
Federal agency foreign language and area ex-
pertise and agency needs for such expertise; 
and 
(C) monitoring the implementation of such 
strategy through— 
(i) application of current and recently 
enacted laws; and 
(ii) the promulgation and enforcement 
of rules and regulations.
(2) STRATEGY CONTENT.—The strategy devel-
oped under paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) identification of crucial priorities 
across all sectors; 
(B) identification and evaluation of Fed-
eral foreign language programs and activities, 
including— 
(i) any duplicative or overlapping pro-
grams that may impede efficiency; 
(ii) recommendations on coordination; 
(iii) program enhancements; and 
(iv) allocation of resources so as to 
maximize use of resources; 
(C) needed national policies and cor-
responding legislative and regulatory actions in 
support of, and allocation of designated re-
sources to, promising programs and initiatives 
at all levels (Federal, State, and local), espe-
cially in the less commonly taught languages 
that are seen as critical for national security 
and global competitiveness during the next 20 
to 50 years; 
(D) effective ways to increase public 
awareness of the need for foreign language 
skills and career paths in all sectors that can
employ those skills, with the objective of in-
creasing support for foreign language study 
among— 
(i) Federal, State, and local leaders; 
(ii) students; 
(iii) parents; 
(iv) elementary, secondary, and post-
secondary educational institutions; and 
(v) employers; 
(E) recommendations for incentives for re-
lated educational programs, including foreign 
language teacher training; 
(F) coordination of cross-sector efforts, in-
cluding public-private partnerships; 
(G) coordination initiatives to develop a 
strategic posture for language research and rec-
ommendations for funding for applied foreign 
language research into issues of national con-
cern; 
(H) recommendations for assistance for— 
(i) the development of foreign lan-
guage achievement standards; and 
(ii) corresponding assessments for the 
elementary, secondary, and postsecondary 
education levels, including the National As-
sessment of Educational Progress in for-
eign languages; 
(I) recommendations for development of— 
(i) language skill-level certification 
standards; 
(ii) frameworks for pre-service and 
professional development study for those 
who teach foreign language; and 
(iii) suggested graduation criteria for 
foreign language studies and appropriate 
non-language studies, such as— 
(I) international business; 
(II) national security; 
(III) public administration; 
(IV) health care; 
(V) engineering; 
(VI) law; 
(VII) journalism; and 
(VIII) sciences; 
(J) identification of and means for repli-
cating best practices at all levels and in all sec-
tors, including best practices from the inter-
national community; and 
(K) recommendations for overcoming bar-
riers in foreign language proficiency.
(d) SUBMISSION OF STRATEGY TO PRESIDENT AND 
CONGRESS.—Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Council shall prepare and 
transmit to the President and the relevant committees of 
Congress the strategy required under subsection (c). 
(e) MEETINGS.—The Council may hold such meet-
ings, and sit and act at such times and places, as the 
Council considers appropriate, but shall meet in formal 
session at least 2 times a year. State and local government 
agencies and other organizations (such as academic sector 
institutions, foreign language-related interest groups, 
business associations, industry, and heritage community 
organizations) shall be invited, as appropriate, to public 
meetings of the Council at least once a year. 
(f) STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director may— 
(A) appoint, without regard to the provi-
sions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
the competitive service, such personnel as the 
Director considers necessary; and 
(B) compensate such personnel without re-
gard to the provisions of chapter 51 and sub-
chapter III of chapter 53 of that title. 
(2) DETAIL
OF
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.— 
Upon request of the Council, any Federal Govern-
ment employee may be detailed to the Council with-
out reimbursement, and such detail shall be without 
interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege 
(3) EXPERTS
AND
CONSULTANTS.—With the 
approval of the Council, the Director may procure 
temporary and intermittent services under section 
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. 
(4) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Council members and 
staff shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for 
employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 
57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from 
their homes or regular places of business in the per-
formance of services for the Council. 
(5) SECURITY CLEARANCE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the appropriate Federal agencies or 
departments shall cooperate with the Council in 
expeditiously providing to the Council members 
and staff appropriate security clearances to the 
extent possible pursuant to existing procedures 
and requirements. 
(B) EXCEPTION.—No person shall be pro-
vided with access to classified information
under this section without the appropriate re-
quired security clearance access. 
(6) COMPENSATION.—The rate of pay for any 
employee of the Council (including the Director) 
may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the 
Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(g) POWERS.— 
(1) DELEGATION.—Any member or employee of 
the Council may, if authorized by the Council, take 
any action that the Council is authorized to take in 
this section. 
(2) INFORMATION.— 
(A) COUNCIL
AUTHORITY
TO
SECURE.— 
The Council may secure directly from any Fed-
eral agency such information, consistent with 
Federal privacy laws, including The Family 
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. 
1232g) and Department of Education’s General 
Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232(h)), 
the Council considers necessary to carry out its 
responsibilities. 
(B) REQUIREMENT
TO
FURNISH
RE-
QUESTED INFORMATION.—Upon request of the
Director, the head of such agency shall furnish 
such information to the Council. 
(3) DONATIONS.—The Council may accept, use, 
and dispose of gifts or donations of services or prop-
erty. 
(4) MAIL.—The Council may use the United 
States mail in the same manner and under the same 
conditions as other Federal agencies. 
(h) CONFERENCES, NEWSLETTER, AND WEBSITE.— 
In carrying out this section, the Council— 
(1) may arrange Federal, regional, State, and 
local conferences for the purpose of developing and 
coordinating effective programs and activities to im-
prove foreign language education; 
(2) may publish a newsletter concerning Fed-
eral, State, and local programs that are effectively 
meeting the foreign language needs of the Nation; 
and 
(3) shall create and maintain a website con-
taining information on the Council and its activities, 
best practices on language education, and other rel-
evant information. 
(i) REPORTS.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the 
Council shall prepare and transmit to the President and
the relevant committees of Congress a report that de-
scribes— 
(1) the activities of the Council; 
(2) the efforts of the Council to improve foreign 
language education and training; and 
(3) impediments to the use of a National For-
eign Language program, including any statutory and 
regulatory restrictions. 
(j) ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL LANGUAGE DI-
RECTOR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established a Na-
tional Language Director who shall be appointed by 
the President. The National Language Director shall 
be a nationally recognized individual with credentials 
and abilities across the sectors to be involved with 
creating and implementing long-term solutions to 
achieving national foreign language and cultural 
competency. 
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The National Lan-
guage Director shall— 
(A) develop and monitor the implementa-
tion of a national foreign language strategy 
across all sectors; 
(B) establish formal relationships among 
the major stakeholders in meeting the needs of
the Nation for improved capabilities in foreign 
languages and cultural understanding, including 
Federal, State, and local government agencies, 
academia, industry, labor, and heritage commu-
nities; and 
(C) coordinate and lead a public informa-
tion campaign that raises awareness of public 
and private sector careers requiring foreign lan-
guage skills and cultural understanding, with 
the objective of increasing interest in and sup-
port for the study of foreign languages among 
national leaders, the business community, local 
officials, parents, and individuals. 
(k) ENCOURAGEMENT OF STATE INVOLVEMENT.— 
(1) STATE
CONTACT
PERSONS.—The Council 
shall consult with each State to provide for the des-
ignation by each State of an individual to serve as 
a State contact person for the purpose of receiving 
and disseminating information and communications 
received from the Council. 
(2) STATE INTERAGENCY COUNCILS AND LEAD 
AGENCIES.—Each State is encouraged to establish a 
State interagency council on foreign language co-
ordination or designate a lead agency for the State 
for the purpose of assuming primary responsibility
for coordinating and interacting with the Council 
and State and local government agencies as nec-
essary. 
(l) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary 
to carry out this section. 
Æ