I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2940 
To reauthorize title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2021 
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. YOUNG, and Mr. LEVIN of 
Michigan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To reauthorize title VI of the Higher Education Act of 
1965. 
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 ‘‘Advancing Inter-
national and Foreign Language Education Act’’. 
SEC. 2. INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE LANGUAGE 
AND
AREA
CENTERS
AND
PROGRAMS.—Section 
602(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1122(b)(2)(B)(ii)) is amended— 
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(1) in subclause (III), by striking ‘‘or’’; 
(2) in subclause (IV), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(V) the beginning, intermediate, or 
advanced study of a foreign language re-
lated to the area of specialization.’’. 
(b) INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION.— 
Section 605 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1125) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 605. INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section to 
support essential international and foreign language edu-
cation research and innovation projects with the goal of 
assessing and strengthening international education ca-
pacity, coordination, delivery, and outcomes to meet na-
tional needs. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From the amount provided 
to carry out this section, the Secretary shall carry 
out the following activities: 
‘‘(A) Conduct research and studies that 
contribute to the purpose described in sub-
section (a) and include research to provide a 
systematic understanding of our nation’s inter-
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national and foreign language education capac-
ity, structures, and effectiveness in meeting 
growing demands by education, government, 
and the private sector (including business and 
other professions). 
‘‘(B) Create innovative paradigms or en-
hance or scale up proven strategies and prac-
tices that address systemic challenges to devel-
oping and delivering international and foreign 
language education resources and expertise 
across educational disciplines and institutions, 
and for employers and other stakeholders. 
‘‘(C) Develop and manage a national 
standardized 
database 
that 
includes 
the 
strengths, gaps, and trends in the nation’s 
international and foreign language education 
capacity, and document the outcomes of pro-
grams funded under this title for every grant 
cycle. 
‘‘(2) GRANTS OR CONTRACTS.—The Secretary 
shall carry out activities to achieve the outcomes de-
scribed in paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) directly; or 
‘‘(B) through grants awarded under sub-
section (d) or (e). 
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‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘eligible entity’ means— 
‘‘(1) an institution of higher education; 
‘‘(2) a public or private nonprofit library; 
‘‘(3) a nonprofit educational organization; 
‘‘(4) an entity that— 
‘‘(A) received a grant under this title for 
a preceding fiscal year; or 
‘‘(B) as of the date of application for a 
grant under this section is receiving a grant 
under this title; or 
‘‘(5) a partnership of two or more entities de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (4). 
‘‘(d) RESEARCH GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) PROGRAM
AUTHORIZED.—For any fiscal 
year for which the Secretary carries out activities to 
achieve the outcomes described in subsection (b)(1) 
through research grants under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall award such grants, on a competitive 
basis, to eligible entities. 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—An eligible entity 
that receives a grant under this subsection shall use 
the grant funds for the systematic development, col-
lection, analysis, publication, and dissemination of 
data, and other information resources in a manner 
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that is easily understandable, made publicly avail-
able, and that contributes to achieving the purposes 
of subsection (a) and achieves at least 1 of the out-
comes described in subsection (b)(1). 
‘‘(3) DISCRETIONARY ACTIVITIES.—An eligible 
entity that receives a grant under this subsection 
may use the grant to carry out the following activi-
ties: 
‘‘(A) Assess and document international 
and foreign language education capacity and 
supply through studies or surveys that— 
‘‘(i) determine the number of foreign 
language courses, programs, and enroll-
ments at all levels of education and in all 
languages, including a determination of 
gaps in those deemed critical to the na-
tional interest; 
‘‘(ii) measure the number and types of 
degrees or certificates awarded in area 
studies, global studies, foreign language 
studies, and international business and 
professional studies, including identifica-
tion of gaps in those deemed critical to the 
national interest; 
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‘‘(iii) measure the number of foreign 
language, area or international studies fac-
ulty, including international business fac-
ulty, and elementary school and secondary 
school foreign language teachers by lan-
guage, degree, and world area; or 
‘‘(iv) measure the number of under-
graduate and graduate students engaging 
in long- or short-term education or intern-
ship abroad programs as part of their cur-
riculum, including countries of destination. 
‘‘(B) Assess the demands for, and out-
comes of, international and foreign language 
education and their alignment, through studies, 
surveys, and conferences to— 
‘‘(i) determine demands for increased 
or improved instruction in foreign lan-
guage, area or global studies, or other 
international fields, and the demand for 
employees with such skills and knowledge 
in the education, government, and private 
sectors (including business and other pro-
fessions); 
‘‘(ii) assess the employment or utiliza-
tion of graduates of programs supported 
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