106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4528
AN ACT
To establish an undergraduate grant program of the Depart-
ment of State to assist students of limited financial
means from the United States to pursue studies at for-
eign institutions of higher education.
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 ‘‘International Academic
Opportunity Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
It is the purpose of this Act to establish an under-
graduate grant program for students of limited financial
means from the United States to enable such students to
study at institutions of higher education in foreign coun-
tries. Such foreign study is intended to broaden the out-
look and better prepare such students of demonstrated fi-
nancial need to assume significant roles in the increasingly
global economy.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM FOR FOR-
EIGN STUDY BY AMERICAN COLLEGE STU-
DENTS OF LIMITED FINANCIAL MEANS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the availability of
appropriations and under the authorities of the Mutual
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, the Sec-
retary of State shall establish and carry out a program
in each fiscal year to award grants of up to $5,000, to
individuals who meet the requirements of subsection (b),
toward the cost of one academic year of undergraduate
study at an institution of higher education in a foreign
country. Grants under this Act shall be known as the
‘‘Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships’’.
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual referred to in sub-
section (a) is an individual who—
(1) is a student in good standing at an institu-
tion of higher education in the United States (as de-
fined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965);
(2) has been accepted for an academic year of
study at an institution of higher education outside
the United States (as defined by section 102(b) of
the Higher Education Act of 1965);
(3) is receiving any need-based student assist-
ance under title IV of the Higher Education Act of
1965; and
(4) is a citizen or national of the United States.
(c) APPLICATION AND SELECTION.—
(1) Grant application and selection shall be car-
ried out through accredited institutions of higher
education in the United States or combination of
such institutions under such procedures as are es-
tablished by the Secretary of State.
(2) In considering applications for grants under
this section, priority consideration shall be given to
applicants who are receiving Federal Pell Grants
under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
The Secretary of State shall report annually to the
Congress concerning the grant program established under
this Act. Each such report shall include the following in-
formation for the preceding year:
(1) The number of participants.
(2) The institutions of higher education in the
United States that participants attended.
(3) The institutions of higher education outside
the United States participants attended during their
year of study abroad.
(4) The areas of study of participants.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000
for each fiscal year to carry out this Act.
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect October 1, 2000.
Passed the House of Representatives July 11, 2000.
Attest:
Clerk.