I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4734 
To establish a comprehensive education program to bolster the economic 
competitiveness and national security of the United States by promoting 
science, technology, engineering, and math education, careers, and capac-
ity, as well as foreign language acquisition. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 8, 2006 
Mr. REYES introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on 
Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a comprehensive education program to bolster 
the economic competitiveness and national security of 
the United States by promoting science, technology, engi-
neering, and math education, careers, and capacity, as 
well as foreign language acquisition. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘21st Century National Defense Education Act’’ or 
‘‘NDEA–21’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.— 
Sec.
1. Short title; Table of Contents. 
Sec.
2. Purpose.
Sec.
3. Findings.
Sec.
4. Definitions.
TITLE I—STEM PROGRAMS 
Subtitle A—Elementary and Secondary Education 
Sec.
101. Math and Science Next Initiative. 
Sec.
102. Math and science teacher education requirements (MASTER) plan. 
Subtitle B—Undergraduate Education 
Sec.
111. STEM Loan Forgiveness. 
Sec.
112. Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs. 
Subtitle C—Graduate and Doctoral Education 
Sec.
121. Professional science Master’s program for national security and eco-
nomic competitiveness. 
Sec.
122. Advanced foreign language education grant program. 
Sec.
123. STEM Teaching Fellowships. 
Subtitle D—STEM Revitalization Task Force 
Sec.
131. STEM Revitalization Task Force. 
Sec.
132. National STEM Advisor. 
Sec.
133. Assistance from the Office of Science and Technology Policy. 
Sec.
134. Reports.
TITLE II—FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS 
Sec.
201. Office of Teaching Another Language to Kids (TALK). 
‘‘Sec.
216. Office of Teaching Another Language to Kids. 
Sec.
202. National Foreign Language Coordinating Council. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to strengthen national se-
curity and ensure the competitiveness of the United 
States’ economy by— 
(1) developing the skills and expertise of the 
Nation’s younger generations in science, technology, 
engineering, and math; and 
(2) increasing American students’ knowledge of 
languages, cultures, and areas around the globe.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) In 1958, in response to the Soviet Union’s 
launch of Sputnik, Congress passed into law the Na-
tional Defense Education Act (NDEA). The NDEA 
succeeded in educating a new generation of sci-
entists, engineers, mathematicians, and linguists, 
which was essential to ensuring national security 
and America’s leadership in scientific advancement. 
(2) Although the United States remains a domi-
nant force in innovation, a series of indicators, from 
academic scores to declining interest in science and 
engineering careers, demonstrate that the United 
States is losing its innovative edge. 
(3) Retirements in the science and engineering 
field are rapidly increasing, leading to a potential 
shortage in the high-tech talent required by the 
United States defense industry, as well as key Fed-
eral research and national defense agencies. 
(4) Language education is essential to Amer-
ica’s future. In the United States, language edu-
cation has not been—and is not yet—a national pri-
ority. While the Federal Government recognizes the 
importance of language education to diplomacy, na-
tional security, and international commerce, the 
States, which are the major source of funding for
education, do not yet have the same appreciation for 
its importance. 
(5) A national sense of urgency is needed to 
bring about change in the way the United States 
teaches foreign languages and to reinvigorate the 
science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) 
fields. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act: 
(1) STEM FIELD.—The term ‘‘STEM field’’ 
means a branch of knowledge or study of science, 
technology, engineering, or mathematics, as those 
terms are defined in this section. 
(2) SCIENCE.—The term ‘‘science’’ means the 
branch of knowledge or study of the physical 
sciences (meaning the branch of knowledge or study 
of the material universe, including such fields of 
knowledge or study as astronomy, atmospheric 
sciences, chemistry, earth sciences, ocean sciences, 
physics, and planetary sciences) and the life sciences 
(meaning the branch of knowledge or study of living 
things, including such fields of knowledge or study 
as biology, biochemistry, biophysics, microbiology, 
genetics, physiology, botany, zoology, ecology, and 
behavioral biology, except that the term does not en-
compass the social sciences or the health profes-
sions). 
(3) TECHNOLOGY.—The term ‘‘technology’’ 
means the application of science to industrial and 
commercial objectives, including the branch of 
knowledge or study— 
(A) of computers, (including such fields of 
knowledge or study as computer hardware, com-
puter software, computer engineering, informa-
tion systems, and robotics); 
(B) of electronic or digital products and 
systems; and 
(C) related to the fashioning of imple-
ments, the practicing of manual skills, and the 
extracting of resources. 
(4) ENGINEERING.—The term ‘‘engineering’’ 
means the science by which the properties of matter 
and the sources of energy in nature are made useful 
to humanity in structures, machines, and products, 
as in the construction of engines, bridges, buildings, 
mines, and chemical plants, including such fields of 
knowledge or study as aeronautical engineering, 
chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical en-
gineering, industrial engineering, materials engineer-
ing, manufacturing engineering, and mechanical en-
gineering. 
(5) MATHEMATICS.—The term ‘‘mathematics’’ 
means the branch of knowledge or study of numbers 
and the systematic treatment of magnitude, relation-
ships between figures and forms, and relations be-
tween quantities expressed symbolically, including 
such fields of knowledge or study as statistics, ap-
plied mathematics, and operations research. 
(6) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 102 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Education. 
(8) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ includes each of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States 
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Com-
monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and 
any other territory or possession of the United 
States, except that such term does not include the 
outlying areas for purposes of section 101(e) of this 
Act.
TITLE I—STEM PROGRAMS 
Subtitle A—Elementary and 
Secondary Education 
SEC. 101. MATH AND SCIENCE NEXT INITIATIVE. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—For the purpose de-
scribed in subsection (b), the Secretary of Education shall 
make a grant in an amount determined pursuant to sub-
section (e) to each State that submits an application in 
accordance with subsection (f). 
(b) PURPOSE.—A State receiving a grant under this 
section shall use the grant to make subgrants pursuant 
to subsection (c) and carry out the State activities de-
scribed in subsection (d) for the purpose of providing a 
high-quality foundation in the STEM fields to children in 
kindergarten, elementary school, and secondary school. 
(c) SUBGRANTS TO LEAS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Of the amount of funds 
made available to a State under this section for a 
fiscal year, the State shall use not less than 85 per-
cent of such amount to award subgrants on a com-
petitive basis to local educational agencies for the 
purpose described in subsection (b). 
(2) SELECTION.—In awarding subgrants to 
local educational agencies under this section, a State 
shall—
(A) determine the percentage of students 
served by such agencies in the State who are 
underrepresented minority students; and 
(B) of the amount of funds made available 
to the State under this section for a fiscal year, 
ensure that not less than a percentage of such 
funds equal to the percentage determined under 
subparagraph (A) is awarded to one or more 
local educational agencies that serve a popu-
lation of students consisting of not less than 60 
percent underrepresented minority students, ex-
cept that this paragraph shall not apply with 
respect to a State in which no local educational 
agency in the State serves such a population. 
(3) PREFERENCE.—In awarding subgrants to 
local educational agencies under this section, subject 
to paragraph (2), a State shall give preference to 
local educational agencies that agree to collaborate 
with industry and one or more institutions of higher 
education to carry out the activities described in 
paragraph (4). 
(4) AUTHORIZED
ACTIVITIES.—A local edu-
cational agency receiving a subgrant under this sec-
tion shall use the subgrant for the following:
(A) Establishing a high standard of in-
struction in the STEM fields through profes-
sional training for teachers, including training 
on integrated laboratory and academic content 
instruction. 
(B) Developing effective instructional ma-
terials, programs, curricula, learning systems, 
and strategies in the STEM fields, including in-
structional materials relating to integrated lab-
oratory and academic content instruction. 
(C) Constructing and purchasing facilities 
and equipment necessary for high-quality, con-
temporary instruction in the STEM fields, in-
cluding the provision of modern science and 
computer laboratories. 
(D) Developing contemporary courses of 
science study and courses of study designed to 
address recent advances and needs in the 
STEM fields, including courses of study that 
integrate academic content instruction with the 
use of a laboratory. 
(E) Developing career development initia-
tives to inform students about and promote ca-
reer pathways in the STEM fields.
(d) STATE ACTIVITIES.—Of the amount of funds 
made available to a State under this section for a fiscal 
year, the State shall reserve not more than 15 percent of 
such amount for State activities. Of the amount reserved 
under this subsection, the State shall use not more than— 
(1) 65 percent for professional development for 
instructors in the STEM fields; 
(2) 25 percent for technical assistance for local 
educational agencies and schools; and 
(3) 10 percent for planning, administration, 
and reporting. 
(e) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.— 
(1) RESERVATION
OF
FUNDS.—From the 
amount appropriated to carry out this section for a 
fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve a total of 1 
percent to award grants to the outlying areas that 
submit applications in accordance with subsection 
(f). 
(2) NATIONAL RESERVATIONS.—Of the amount 
of funds made available to carry out this section for 
a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve— 
(A) not more than 2.5 percent or $25 mil-
lion, whichever is greater, for national activities 
and program evaluation, including formulating 
guidelines to measure the effectiveness of pro-
grams under this section and determining 
whether such programs are achieving the pur-
pose described in subsection (b) and are deserv-
ing of continued Federal support; and 
(B) not more than $5,000,000 for pro-
moting, and disseminating information about, 
the programs under this subsection. 
(3) ALLOCATIONS TO STATES.—Of the amount 
of funds appropriated to carry out this section for 
a fiscal year, and not reserved under paragraph (1) 
or (2), the Secretary shall allocate such amount 
among the States submitting applications in accord-
ance with subsection (f) as follows: 
(A) Two-thirds of such amount shall be al-
located based on the population of children aged 
4 to 17 in the State. 
(B) One-third of such amount shall be allo-
cated based on the population of children aged 
4 to 17 in the State who are underrepresented 
minority students. 
(4) MINIMUM
ALLOCATION.—Notwithstanding 
paragraph (3), the Secretary shall ensure that each 
State described in such paragraph receives an alloca-
tion of not less than one-fourth of one percent of the 
amount allocated pursuant to such paragraph.
(f) APPLICATIONS.—To receive a grant under this 
section, a State shall submit an application to the Sec-
retary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary determines necessary. Each 
such application— 
(1) shall be for a 6-year period; and 
(2) shall include an implementation plan for 
such period. 
(g) REPORTS.—Each State receiving a grant under 
this section shall provide annual reports to the Secretary 
on the activities of the State under this section. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘local educational agency’’ has 
the meaning given to that term in section 9101 of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(2) The term ‘‘outlying area’’ has the meaning 
given to that term in section 9101 of the Elemen-
tary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7801). 
SEC. 102. MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER EDUCATION RE-
QUIREMENTS (MASTER) PLAN. 
(a) MASTER PLAN PURPOSES.—The purposes of 
the programs under this section are to—
(1) support cost-effective, content-based profes-
sional development for kindergarten, elementary, 
and secondary school STEM instructors; 
(2) support cost-effective development of kin-
dergarten, elementary, and secondary school STEM 
teaching strategies; and 
(3) encourage new college graduates and mid- 
and late-career professionals with degrees or work 
experience in the STEM fields to enter kindergarten, 
elementary, and secondary school STEM instruction, 
in order to populate American classrooms with content- 
qualified STEM teachers equipped with the tools to teach 
STEM courses effectively. 
(b) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.— 
(1) 
NATIONAL
ACADEMY
OF
SCIENCES 
STUDY.—The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall enter into an arrangement with the 
National Academy of Sciences for a study to identify 
appropriate mechanisms for promoting professional 
development to ensure effective STEM instruction 
and to create a national standard for effective 
STEM instruction. Such study shall be completed 
not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act.
(2) PROGRAM.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
National Science Foundation shall establish a pro-
gram to promote professional development to ensure 
effective STEM instruction. Such program shall be 
implemented through grants to institutions of higher 
education, educational organizations, and for-profit 
companies. The program shall be designed to give 
priority to grants that support local educational 
agencies with large populations of underrepresented 
minorities or deficient STEM performance. 
(c) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director 
of the National Science Foundation shall establish a 
competitive grant program for the creation of Cen-
ters of Excellence for developing STEM curricula. 
Such Centers of Excellence shall be located at insti-
tutions of higher education that have received a 
grant under the program and shall consist of con-
sortia of school districts, university departments of 
education, and university STEM and related depart-
ments. The goals of such Centers of Excellence shall 
be to—
(A) develop scientifically-based STEM cur-
ricula and best STEM instruction practices; 
(B) produce certified teachers in STEM 
fields through 4-year or 5-year programs; 
(C) promote professional development for 
current STEM instructors; and 
(D) encourage secondary and post-sec-
ondary students to attain advanced degrees in 
the STEM fields and to pursue STEM careers. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Na-
tional Science Foundation for carrying out this sub-
section $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2006 through 2011. 
(d) RECRUITING STEM TEACHERS.—The Secretary 
of Education, in consultation with other appropriate agen-
cies, shall develop and implement a program for the pur-
pose of encouraging mid- and late-career professionals in 
the STEM fields to become kindergarten, elementary 
school, and secondary school teachers in the STEM fields. 
Subtitle B—Undergraduate 
Education 
SEC. 111. STEM LOAN FORGIVENESS. 
(a) PURPOSE; SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—
(1) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section 
to encourage individuals to obtain a degree in a 
STEM field, and to pursue a career in such a field 
as a teacher or a Federal employee. 
(2) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the Sense 
of the Congress that the Federal Government should 
utilize programs such as the program under this sec-
tion to attract 10,000 of America’s brightest stu-
dents to the teaching profession every year, each of 
whom can have an impact on nearly 1,000 students 
over the life of their careers. 
(b) LOAN FORGIVENESS.— 
(1) LOAN
FORGIVENESS
AUTHORIZED.—The 
Secretary is authorized to forgive, in accordance 
with paragraph (2), the student loan debt of an eli-
gible borrower in the amount specified in subsection 
(d) of this section for consecutive complete years of 
qualified service by such eligible borrower completed 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(2) METHOD OF LOAN FORGIVENESS.—To pro-
vide the loan forgiveness authorized in paragraph 
(1), the Secretary is authorized to carry out a pro-
gram— 
(A) through the holder of the loan, to as-
sume the obligation to repay a qualified loan
amount for a loan made under part B of title 
IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1071 et seq.); and 
(B) to cancel a qualified loan amount for 
loans made under parts D and E of such title. 
(3) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Secretary shall re-
imburse an institution of higher education for any 
amounts canceled under paragraph (2) with respect 
to a loan under part E of title IV of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087aa et seq.) 
in the same manner as is required by section 465(b) 
of such Act with respect to a loan cancelled under 
section 465(a) of such Act. 
(c) ELIGIBLE BORROWER.—The Secretary is author-
ized to provided loan forgiveness to any individual who— 
(1) has obtained an undergraduate degree in a 
STEM field; 
(2) is performing qualified service as a full-time 
employee in a position— 
(A) in an elementary or secondary school 
as a teacher of a course in a STEM field; or 
(B) in an agency of the United States Gov-
ernment in a position that requires training or 
education in a STEM field, as determined by 
the Secretary;
(3) is a citizen or permanent legal resident of 
the United States; and 
(4) is in repayment status and is not in default 
on a loan for which the borrower seeks forgiveness. 
(d) PAYMENT
IN INSTALLMENTS.—The Secretary 
shall forgive the loan obligation of the borrower, in accord-
ance with subsection (b)(2), not to exceed $10,000 in the 
aggregate, in the following increments: 
(1) At the completion of the second year of 
service, $1,500 or 15 percent of the borrower’s loan 
obligation that is outstanding at the completion of 
such year, whichever is less. 
(2) At the completion of the third year of serv-
ice, $1,500 or 15 percent of the borrower’s loan obli-
gation that was outstanding at the completion of the 
second year of service, whichever is less. 
(3) At the completion of the fourth year of serv-
ice, $2,000 or 20 percent of the borrower’s loan obli-
gation that was outstanding at the completion of the 
second year of service, whichever is less. 
(4) At the completion of the fifth year of serv-
ice, $5,000 or 50 percent of the borrower’s loan obli-
gation that was outstanding at the completion of the 
second year of service, whichever is less. 
(e) APPLICATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall by regu-
lation establish procedures by which borrowers shall 
apply for loan forgiveness under this section. 
(2) PROMISE TO COMPLETE SERVICE REQUIRED 
FOR PAYMENT.—Any application for loan forgiveness 
under this section shall contain an agreement by the 
applicant that the applicant will continue in quali-
fying service described under subsection (c)(2) for 
not less than 5 consecutive complete years, or will, 
upon a failure to complete such 5 years of service, 
repay the United States the amount of the principal 
and interest forgiven by the Secretary, at a rate and 
schedule, and in accordance with regulations, pre-
scribed by the Secretary. Such regulations may pro-
vide for waiver by the Secretary of such repayment 
obligations upon proof of economic hardship as spec-
ified in such regulations. 
(f) PRIORITY.—Loan forgiveness under this section 
shall be subject to the availability of appropriations. The 
Secretary shall select loan forgiveness recipients from the 
applicants based on academic achievement and a dem-
onstrated commitment to national or community service, 
in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Sec-
retary. In selecting loan forgiveness recipients, the Sec-
retary shall take into consideration whether an eligible
borrower is a member of minority group that is tradition-
ally underrepresented in the STEM fields, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
(g) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
regulations to carry out this section. 
(h) PROGRAM EVALUATION.— 
(1) Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, 
the Secretary shall evaluate, based on guidelines es-
tablished in advance of the evaluation, the effective-
ness of the program under this section. The Sec-
retary shall report to the President and Congress re-
garding each such evaluation no later than 3 months 
after its completion. 
(2) Of the funds appropriated to carry out this 
section, not more than 5 percent shall be used for 
the program evaluation described in paragraph (1). 
(i) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to authorize any refunding of any repayment 
of a loan. 
(j) PREVENTION OF DOUBLE BENEFITS.—No bor-
rower may, for the same service, receive a benefit under 
both this section and—
(1) section 428J of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078–10); 
(2) section 460 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1087j); 
or 
(3) subtitle D of title I of the National and 
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 
et seq.). 
(k) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the 
term ‘‘year’’, where applied to service as a teacher, means 
an academic year as defined by the Secretary. 
(l) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, and such sums as may 
be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years. 
SEC. 112. RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADU-
ATES PROGRAMS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—The Director of 
the National Science Foundation shall establish a competi-
tive STEM Research Experiences for Undergraduates 
Matching Fund program. The program shall promote re-
search experiences for undergraduate students in STEM 
fields through grants to institutions of higher education. 
(b) PREFERENCE.—In awarding grants under this 
section the Director shall give preference to proposals 
that—
(1) would enhance underrepresented minority 
participation in STEM fields; 
(2) promote infrastructure development at insti-
tutions of higher education; 
(3) employ students on campus predominantly 
in research-related jobs; 
(4) provide mentoring about STEM study and 
career pathways to students participating in the pro-
gram established under this section; and 
(5) provide monetary incentives to faculty who 
agree to mentor students, not in excess of $1,000. 
(c) MATCHING FUNDS.—Grants under this section 
shall be made in an amount not to exceed 50 percent of 
the costs of the research experiences for undergraduates 
program of the recipient institution. 
(d) TRACKING AND PROMOTION.—The Director shall 
implement the program under this section in a manner 
that tracks the success of the program, and that promotes 
STEM and research experiences for undergraduates pro-
grams. Success shall be measured on the basis of student- 
centered variables, including persistence in STEM major, 
graduation, and STEM graduate program matriculation, 
not on the basis of research outputs. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science
Foundation for carrying out this section $20,000,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2011, not more than 
2 percent of which for each fiscal year shall be for evalua-
tion activities under subsection (d). 
Subtitle C—Graduate and Doctoral 
Education 
SEC. 121. PROFESSIONAL SCIENCE MASTER’S PROGRAM 
FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND ECONOMIC 
COMPETITIVENESS. 
(a) PROGRAM.—The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall establish a competitive program to pro-
vide grants to institutions of higher education for the cre-
ation of professional science Master’s programs for na-
tional security and economic competitiveness. Such pro-
gram shall provide a professional context for academic 
science expertise that has been identified by Federal agen-
cies and industry as holding extreme importance and ur-
gency. Such program shall be developed in coordination 
with industry, academia, the Department of Defense, the 
Department of Homeland Security, the Department of 
Energy, and other appropriate entities to create specific 
capacity in areas of high demand related to STEM. The 
Director may also seek input from or collaboration with 
the Sloan Foundation, which has a demonstrated record 
of success in professional science Master’s programs.
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 
Foundation for carrying out this section $50,000,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2011. 
SEC. 122. ADVANCED FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION 
GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM.—The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall establish a program to support STEM 
students pursuing study or research programs in foreign 
countries identified by the National Foreign Language 
Task Force as having languages of critical strategic im-
portance to the United States. Study or research under 
this subsection shall be carried out in the language of the 
foreign country. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 
Foundation for carrying out this section $5,000,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2011. 
SEC. 123. STEM TEACHING FELLOWSHIPS. 
(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section to 
authorize a national STEM Teaching Fellowship program 
in order to encourage individuals of superior ability and 
achievement to pursue teaching careers in the STEM 
fields and to provide such individuals with the financial
support necessary to complete post-graduate degrees in 
the STEM fields. 
(b) AWARD OF STEM TEACHING FELLOWSHIPS.— 
(1) AUTHORITY
TO
AWARD
STEM
TEACHING 
FELLOWSHIPS.—Each academic year, the Secretary 
shall award, from funds not otherwise appropriated, 
STEM Teaching Fellowships, in accordance with the 
provisions of this section, to 50 individuals of supe-
rior ability selected on the basis of high academic 
achievement and a demonstrated commitment to na-
tional or community service. 
(2) DESIGNATION
OF
FELLOWS.—Individuals 
receiving awards under this section shall be known 
as ‘‘STEM Teaching Fellows’’. The Secretary shall 
promote the STEM Teaching Fellows, and the pres-
tige of the fellowships, as a way to promote the 
STEM fields in the United States. 
(3) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to be a STEM 
Teaching Fellow, an individual shall— 
(A) be a citizen or permanent legal resi-
dent of the United States; 
(B) have earned a master’s degree in a 
STEM field; and 
(C) enter into an agreement with the Sec-
retary to be a full-time teacher of a course in
a STEM field at an elementary or secondary 
school for 5 complete academic years, in ex-
change for the fellowship award. 
(c) ADMINISTRATION OF FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.— 
(1) AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT.—The Secretary 
is authorized to enter into a contract with a non-
governmental entity to administer the program 
under this section if the Secretary determines that 
entering into the contract is an efficient means of 
carrying out the program. 
(2) FELLOWSHIP BOARD.— 
(A) APPOINTMENT.—The Secretary shall 
appoint a STEM Teaching Fellows Program 
Fellowship Board (hereinafter in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Board’’) consisting of 9 indi-
viduals representative of public and private in-
stitutions of higher education who are especially 
qualified to serve on the Board. In making ap-
pointments, the Secretary shall give due consid-
eration to the appointment of individuals who 
are highly respected in the academic and pro-
fessional community for each of the STEM 
fields. The Secretary shall assure that individ-
uals appointed to the Board are broadly rep-
resentative of the range of disciplines in the 
STEM fields. 
(B) DUTIES.—The Board shall— 
(i) oversee the operation of the pro-
gram established by this section; 
(ii) establish specific criteria for the 
award of STEM Teaching Fellowships, or, 
in the event that the Secretary enters into 
a contract with a nongovernmental entity 
to administer the program assisted under 
this section, such nongovernmental entity 
shall establish such criteria; 
(iii) appoint panels of academic schol-
ars with distinguished backgrounds in the 
STEM fields for the purpose of selecting 
fellows, except that, in the event that the 
Secretary enters into a contract with a 
nongovernmental entity to administer the 
program, such panels may be appointed by 
such nongovernmental entity; and 
(iv) prepare and submit to the Con-
gress at least once in every 3-year period— 
(I) a report on the effectiveness 
of the program established by this 
section; and
(II) recommendations regarding 
any modifications in the program that 
the Board determines are appropriate. 
(C) CONSULTATIONS.—In carrying out its 
responsibilities, the Board shall consult on a 
regular basis with representatives of the Na-
tional Science Foundation and representatives 
of institutions of higher education and associa-
tions of such institutions, learned societies, and 
professional organizations. 
(D) TERM.—The term of office of each 
member of the Board shall be 4 years, except 
that any member appointed to fill a vacancy 
shall serve for the remainder of the term for 
which the predecessor of the member was ap-
pointed. No member may serve for a period in 
excess of 6 years. 
(E) INITIAL
MEETING; 
VACANCY.—The 
Secretary shall call the first meeting of the 
Board, at which the first order of business shall 
be the election of a Chairperson and a Vice 
Chairperson, who shall serve until 1 year after 
the date of the appointment of the Chairperson 
and Vice Chairperson. Thereafter each officer 
shall be elected for a term of 2 years. In case
a vacancy occurs in either office, the Board 
shall elect an individual from among the mem-
bers of the Board to fill such vacancy. 
(F) QUORUM; ADDITIONAL MEETINGS.— 
(i) A majority of the members of the 
Board shall constitute a quorum. 
(ii) The Board shall meet at least 
once a year or more frequently, as may be 
necessary, to carry out the Board’s respon-
sibilities. 
(G) COMPENSATION.—Members of the 
Board, while serving on the business of the 
Board, shall be entitled to receive compensation 
at rates fixed by the Secretary, but not exceed-
ing the rate of basic pay payable for level IV of 
the Executive Schedule, including travel time, 
and while so serving away from their homes or 
regular places of business, the members may be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 
5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons 
in Government service employed intermittently. 
(d) ALLOCATION OF FELLOWSHIPS.— 
(1) APPLICATION
PROCESS.—The Secretary 
shall make applications for STEM Teaching Fellow-
ships available not later than October 1 of the aca-
demic year preceding the academic year for which 
fellowships shall be awarded, and shall announce the 
recipients of fellowships under this section not later 
than April 1 of such preceding academic year. 
(2) USE OF SELECTION PANELS.—The recipi-
ents of fellowships shall be selected in each des-
ignated STEM field from among all applicants na-
tionwide in each STEM field by distinguished panels 
appointed by the Board to make such selections 
under criteria established by the Board, except that, 
in the event that the Secretary enters into a contract 
with a nongovernmental entity to administer the 
program, such panels may be appointed by such 
nongovernmental entity. The number of recipients in 
each field in each year shall not exceed the number 
of fellows allocated to that field for that year by the 
Board. 
(e) FELLOWSHIP AWARD.— 
(1) STIPENDS.—The Secretary shall pay— 
(A) to each STEM Teaching Fellow— 
(i) for each of the 5 years during 
which the Fellow is teaching a course in a 
STEM field at an elementary or secondary 
school, a stipend in an amount equal to 25
percent of the salary paid by the school 
district to the Fellow for such teaching 
services, which shall be in addition to the 
salary paid by such school district; and 
(ii) for each year, not to exceed 7 
years, during which the Fellow is enrolled 
full-time or part-time in an educational 
program for which an institution of higher 
education awards a post-graduate degree 
in a STEM field, an amount equal to— 
(I) the cost of attendance (as de-
fined in section 472 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1087ll)) for the Fellow for such year; 
less 
(II) any other grant assistance 
received by the Fellow for such year 
for the pursuit of such degree; and 
(B) to a school district that employs a Fel-
low under this section, for each of the 5 years 
during which such Fellow is teaching a course 
in a STEM field in an elementary or secondary 
school in such school district, an amount equal 
to 25 percent of the salary paid by the school 
district to the Fellow for such teaching services,
which the school district shall use to provide re-
sources to the elementary or secondary school 
at which the Fellow is a teacher, to assist such 
school in educating students in the STEM 
fields. 
(2) 
POST-GRADUATE
OPTION.—A 
STEM 
Teaching Fellow shall be eligible to receive the sti-
pend described in paragraph (1)(A)(ii) only if such 
Fellow successfully completes the 5-year teaching 
commitment described in subsection (b)(3)(C). 
(f) FELLOWSHIP CONDITIONS.— 
(1) REPORTS
FROM
RECIPIENTS.—The Sec-
retary is authorized to require reports containing 
such information in such form and filed at such 
times as the Secretary determines necessary from 
any STEM Teaching Fellow. The reports shall be 
accompanied by a certificate from an appropriate of-
ficial at— 
(A) the elementary or secondary school at 
which the Fellow is teaching, stating that such 
Fellow is employed full-time as a teacher of a 
course in a STEM field; or 
(B) the institution of higher education at 
which the Fellow is pursuing a post-graduate 
degree in a STEM field, stating that such Fel-
low is enrolled full-time in the post-graduate de-
gree program for which a stipend under sub-
section (e)(1)(A)(ii) is awarded. 
(2) FELLOWSHIP
PORTABILITY.—A STEM 
Teaching Fellow shall be entitled to use the post- 
graduate fellowship stipend for a post-graduate pro-
gram at any one institution of higher education in 
which the Fellow is enrolled. 
(3) POST-GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP OPTIONS.—A 
STEM Teaching Fellow shall not be required to pur-
sue a post-graduate degree, or to extend the fellow-
ship beyond the 5-year teaching commitment de-
scribed in subsection (b)(3)(C). 
Subtitle D—STEM Revitalization 
Task Force 
SEC. 131. STEM REVITALIZATION TASK FORCE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the 
STEM Revitalization Task Force (referred to in this sub-
title as the ‘‘Task Force’’), which shall be an independent 
establishment as defined under section 104 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Task Force shall consist of 
the following members or their designees: 
(1) The National STEM Advisor, who shall 
serve as the chairperson of the Task Force.
(2) The Secretary of Education. 
(3) The Director of the National Science Foun-
dation. 
(4) The Secretary of Homeland Security. 
(5) The Director of National Intelligence. 
(6) The Secretary of Defense. 
(7) The Secretary of Energy. 
(8) The Secretary of Commerce. 
(9) The Director of the National Institutes of 
Health. 
(10) The heads of such other Federal agencies 
as the Task Force considers appropriate. 
(11) Three representatives from academia, se-
lected by the Director of the National Science Foun-
dation. 
(12) Three representatives from the defense 
and homeland security industry, one representative 
each selected by the President, the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and the minority leader of 
the House of Representatives. 
(13) Five general industry representatives, one 
representative each selected by the President, the 
majority leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, the minority leader of the
Senate, and the minority leader of the House of 
Representatives. 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Task Force shall be 
charged with— 
(1) evaluating the effectiveness of STEM edu-
cation and programs in elementary and secondary 
schools and institutions of higher education, includ-
ing undergraduate and graduate programs, and 
identifying successful programs and best practices 
that can be replicated at other schools and institu-
tions; 
(2) developing a national marketing campaign 
promoting STEM study and STEM careers that 
shall include the identification of STEM educational 
programs and careers, public service announcements, 
and an awareness campaign at elementary and sec-
ondary schools, in part by appealing to Americans’ 
patriotism and vibrant sense of national duty; and 
(3) identifying STEM degrees for which there 
is a national need, reporting specifically on national 
need in the fields of energy, defense, homeland secu-
rity, communications and connectivity, conservation 
and environmental science, and computer technology. 
(d) STAFF.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The National STEM Advi-
sor may appoint and fix the compensation of such 
additional personnel as the Advisor considers nec-
essary to carry out the duties of the Task Force. 
(2) DETAILS FROM OTHER AGENCIES.—Upon 
request of the Task Force, the head of any Federal 
agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of 
the personnel of such agency to the Task Force. 
(3) EXPERTS
AND
CONSULTANTS.—With the 
approval of the Task Force, the National STEM Ad-
visor may procure temporary and intermittent serv-
ices under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(e) POWERS.— 
(1) DELEGATION.—Any member or employee of 
the Task Force may, if authorized by the Task 
Force, take any action that the Task Force is au-
thorized to take in this Act. 
(2) INFORMATION.—The Task Force may se-
cure directly from any Federal agency such informa-
tion as the Task Force considers necessary to carry 
out its responsibilities. Upon request of the National 
STEM Advisor, the head of such agency shall fur-
nish such information to the Task Force.
(3) DONATIONS.—The Task Force may accept, 
use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or 
property. 
(4) MAIL.—The Task Force may use the 
United States mail in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as other Federal agencies. 
SEC. 132. NATIONAL STEM ADVISOR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a National 
STEM Advisor who shall be appointed by the President. 
The National STEM Advisor shall be a nationally recog-
nized individual with credentials and abilities across all of 
the sectors to be involved with creating and implementing 
long-term solutions to achieving national STEM com-
petency. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The National STEM Advi-
sor shall— 
(1) develop and oversee the implementation of 
a national STEM strategy across all sectors; 
(2) establish formal relationships among the 
major stakeholders involved in meeting the needs of 
the United States for improved capabilities in STEM 
fields, including Federal, State, and local govern-
ment agencies, academia, industry, and labor; and 
(3) coordinate and lead the public information 
campaign described in paragraph (2) of section 133.
(c) COMPENSATION.—The National STEM Advisor 
shall be paid at a rate of pay payable for a position at 
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
SEC. 133. ASSISTANCE FROM THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND 
TECHNOLOGY POLICY. 
The Office of Science and Technology Policy may 
provide to the Task Force, upon the request of the Na-
tional STEM Advisor, such services, funds, facilities, staff, 
and other support services as the Office may determine 
advisable and as may be authorized by law. 
SEC. 134. REPORTS. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Task Force shall 
prepare and transmit to the President and Congress a re-
port that describes the activities of the Task Force and 
the efforts of the Task Force to perform the responsibil-
ities described in section 133. Such report shall include 
a detailed statement of any findings by the Task Force 
and recommendations for legislative action and adminis-
trative action.
TITLE II—FOREIGN LANGUAGE 
AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS 
SEC. 201. OFFICE OF TEACHING ANOTHER LANGUAGE TO 
KIDS (TALK). 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Education shall 
take such steps as may be appropriate for the orderly 
transfer of the personnel, assets, obligations, and func-
tions of the Office of English Language Acquisition, Lan-
guage Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Lim-
ited English Proficient Students to the Office of Teaching 
Another Language to Kids. 
(b) AMENDMENTS.—Title II of the Department of 
Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3411 et seq.) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking section 209; and 
(2) by striking section 216 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘SECTION 216. OFFICE OF TEACHING ANOTHER LANGUAGE 
TO KIDS. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established within 
the Department of Education an office to be known 
as the Office of Teaching Another Language to Kids 
(in this section referred to as the ‘Office’) for the 
purpose of improving foreign language education
from kindergarten through 12th grade. The Sec-
retary shall appoint a director as the head of the Of-
fice. 
‘‘(2) DUTIES.—To carry out the purpose de-
scribed in paragraph (1), the Director of the Office 
shall— 
‘‘(A) create— 
‘‘(i) a local educational agency foreign 
language feeder program; 
‘‘(ii) a dual language immersion pro-
gram; and 
‘‘(iii) a national foreign language pro-
gram for the training of teachers; 
‘‘(B) contract with educational organiza-
tions to provide efficient and effective profes-
sional instruction for programs of the Office, 
which training may include summer language 
teaching institutes at several locations around 
the country; 
‘‘(C) recommend improvements and pro-
vide technical assistance to other Federal pro-
grams serving language-minority students, stu-
dents with limited English proficiency, and 
their families;
‘‘(D) ensure that language-minority stu-
dents and students with limited English pro-
ficiency are included in ways that are valid, reli-
able, and fair for all standards and assessments 
conducted or funded by the Department; and 
‘‘(E) assist the Assistant Secretary of the 
Office of Educational Research and Improve-
ment in identifying research priorities that re-
flect the needs of language-minority students 
and students with limited English proficiency. 
‘‘(b) FOREIGN LANGUAGE FEEDER PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) GRANTS TO SEAS.— 
‘‘(A) GRANTS.—For the purpose described 
in subparagraph (B), the Director of the Office 
shall make a grant in the amount determined 
under subparagraph (C) to each State edu-
cational agency that submits an application 
under subparagraph (D). 
‘‘(B) USE
OF
FUNDS.—Each State edu-
cational agency receiving a grant under this 
subsection shall use the grant for the purpose 
of making competitive subgrants to consortia of 
local educational agencies to enable such con-
sortia to establish foreign language programs 
emphasizing continuity of instruction from ele-
mentary school through 12th grade and, if pos-
sible, through college. 
‘‘(C) AMOUNT
OF
GRANTS.—From the 
total amount appropriated to carry out this sec-
tion for a fiscal year, the Director of the Office 
shall allot to each State educational agency that 
submits an application in accordance with sub-
paragraph (D) an amount that bears the same 
ratio to such total amount as the population of 
children aged 4 to 17 in the State bears to the 
aggregate population of children aged 4 to 17 
in all States for which applications are sub-
mitted in accordance with subparagraph (D). 
‘‘(D) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—To seek a grant 
under this subsection, a State educational 
agency shall submit an application to the 
Director of the Office at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information 
as the Director determines necessary to 
carry out this subsection. 
‘‘(ii) CONTENTS.—At a minimum, 
each application submitted under this sub-
paragraph shall demonstrate to the Direc-
tor’s satisfaction that the State educational
agency will meet basic standards to ensure 
that foreign language programs under this 
subsection are successful. 
‘‘(2) SUBGRANTS TO CONSORTIA OF LEAS.— 
‘‘(A) USE
OF
FUNDS.—A consortium of 
local educational agencies receiving a subgrant 
under this subsection shall use the subgrant to 
establish a foreign language program empha-
sizing continuity of instruction from elementary 
school through 12th grade. Such program— 
‘‘(i) shall include— 
‘‘(I) elementary school instruc-
tion at least 3 times each week in 30 
minute periods; 
‘‘(II) middle school instruction at 
least 5 times each week in 45 minute 
periods; and 
‘‘(III) high school instruction at 
least 5 times each week in 50 minute 
periods; 
‘‘(ii) may include international stu-
dent exchange programs for high school 
students; and 
‘‘(iii) shall be coordinated with, and 
relate to, the content being taught in other
subject matter courses (a technique known 
as content-based language instruction). 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION.—To seek a subgrant 
under this subsection, a consortium of local 
educational agencies shall submit an application 
to the State educational agency at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information 
as the State educational agency may require. 
‘‘(c) DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Office 
may make grants to local educational agencies serv-
ing areas with a large percentage of heritage lan-
guage speakers to establish dual language immersion 
programs described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—A grant may be made 
under this subsection only if the applicant involved 
agrees to use the grant to establish a dual language 
immersion program that— 
‘‘(A) by instructing in both English and 
the heritage language of the community, facili-
tates— 
‘‘(i) foreign language acquisition; and 
‘‘(ii) English language acquisition by 
students with limited English proficiency; 
and
‘‘(B) provides students with strong lan-
guage skills to enable those students to con-
tribute to national security, government service, 
and global economic competitiveness. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATION.—To seek a grant under this 
subsection, a local educational agency shall submit 
an application to the Secretary in such form, in such 
manner, and containing such agreements, assur-
ances, and information as the Secretary may re-
quire. 
‘‘(4) HERITAGE LANGUAGE.—For purposes of 
this subsection, the term ‘heritage language’ refers 
to a foreign language that is used within a commu-
nity by residents or citizens of the United States 
who are native speakers of, or who have partial flu-
ency in, such language. 
‘‘(d) NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To carry out the purpose 
described in subsection (a)(1), the Director of the 
Office may enter into contracts with educational or-
ganizations for the development of summer insti-
tutes for teachers of grades kindergarten through 
12. 
‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—A contract may be en-
tered into under paragraph (1) only if the applicant
involved agrees, with respect to the program estab-
lished by the applicant, as follows: 
‘‘(A) To teach language instruction meth-
odologies based on the standards articulated in 
the documented entitled ‘Standards for Foreign 
Language Learning in the 21st Century’. 
‘‘(B) To promote strong teaching skills for 
foreign language teachers and individuals who 
are studying to become teachers. 
‘‘(C) To design programs to prepare a 
teacher to provide professional development to 
other teachers at a school, to assist novice 
teachers at such school, including (if applicable) 
a mechanism to integrate experiences from the 
summer workshop or institute. 
‘‘(D) To recruit university students with 
foreign language majors to participate in the in-
stitute and to become language instructors. 
‘‘(e) EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN.— 
The Director of the Office shall develop an evaluation and 
accountability plan for use by each entity receiving a grant 
or subgrant under this section. The plan shall include ob-
jectives and measures for— 
‘‘(1) increasing participation by students in ad-
vanced courses in foreign language;
‘‘(2) increasing the percentages of secondary 
school classes in foreign language taught by teachers 
with academic majors in foreign language; and 
‘‘(3) increasing the number of foreign language 
teachers who participate in professional development 
activities. 
‘‘(f) REPORTS BY GRANTEES.—Each entity receiving 
a grant under this section shall annually report to the Sec-
retary regarding the progress of the entity in meeting the 
performance objectives described in subsection (e). 
‘‘(g) NATIONAL EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each year, the Director 
shall conduct a quantitative evaluation of the activi-
ties conducted under this section and their long-term 
impacts. 
‘‘(2) REPORTS.—Not less than every 3 years, 
the Director of the Office shall submit a report to 
the Congress on the activities conducted under this 
section and the results of evaluations conducted 
under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To carry out this section, 
there 
are 
authorized 
to 
be 
appropriated 
$500,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 
through 2011.
‘‘(2) RESERVATION.—Of the amount appro-
priated to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the 
Director of the Office shall use not less than 4 per-
cent and not more than 8 percent of such amount 
to conduct evaluations required by subsection (g)(1). 
‘‘(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘local educational agency’ has 
the meaning given to that term in section 9101 of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
‘‘(2) The term ‘State educational agency’ has 
the meaning given to that term in section 9101 of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).’’. 
SEC. 202. NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE COORDINATING 
COUNCIL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the 
Executive Office of the President the National For-
eign Language Coordinating Council (referred to as 
the ‘‘Council’’ in this section). 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall con-
sist of the ex officio members specified in sub-
paragraph (B) and the representatives ap-
pointed under subparagraph (C). 
(B) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS.—The Council 
shall include the following ex officio members 
(or their designees): 
(i) The National Foreign Language 
Advisor, who shall serve as the chairperson 
of the Council. 
(ii) The Director of National Intel-
ligence. 
(iii) The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity. 
(iv) The Secretary of Defense. 
(v) The Secretary of Education. 
(vi) The Secretary of Agriculture. 
(vii) The Attorney General of the 
United States. 
(viii) The Secretary of Labor. 
(ix) The Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development. 
(x) The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services. 
(xi) The Secretary of Commerce. 
(xii) One representative of the Na-
tional Security Education Program Board.
(xiii) The Secretary of State. 
(xiv) The heads of such other Federal 
agencies as the Council considers appro-
priate. 
(C) APPOINTED
MEMBERS.—The Council 
shall include the following members appointed 
by the President: 
(i) Three representatives of academia. 
(ii) Three representatives of industry. 
(3) RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall be 
charged with— 
(i) developing a national foreign lan-
guage strategy within 18 months of the 
date of enactment of this Act; and 
(ii) overseeing the implementation of 
such strategy. 
(B) STRATEGY
CONTENT.—The strategy 
developed under subparagraph (A) shall in-
clude— 
(i) identification of crucial priorities 
across all sectors, including by identifying 
foreign languages for which there is a na-
tional need;
(ii) identification and evaluation of 
Federal foreign language programs and ac-
tivities, including— 
(I) recommendations on coordi-
nation; 
(II) program enhancements; and 
(III) allocation of resources so as 
to maximize use of resources; 
(iii) needed national policies and cor-
responding legislative and regulatory ac-
tions in support of, and allocation of des-
ignated resources to, promising programs 
and initiatives at all levels (Federal, State, 
and local), especially in the less commonly 
taught languages that are seen as critical 
for national security and global competi-
tiveness in the next 20 to 50 years; 
(iv) 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 increasing support for foreign language 
study among— 
(I) Federal, State, and local lead-
ers;
(II) students; 
(III) parents; 
(IV) elementary, secondary, and 
postsecondary educational institutions; 
and 
(V) potential employers; 
(v) incentives for related educational 
programs, 
including 
foreign 
language 
teacher training; 
(vi) coordination of cross-sector ef-
forts, including public-private partnerships; 
(vii) coordination initiatives to develop 
a strategic posture for language research 
and recommendations for funding for ap-
plied foreign language research into issues 
of national concern; 
(viii) assistance for— 
(I) the development and imple-
mentation of foreign language content 
and performance standards, including 
implementation of such standards de-
veloped by the Council or other 
groups; 
(II) corresponding assessments 
for the elementary, secondary, and
postsecondary education levels, includ-
ing the National Assessment of Edu-
cational Progress in foreign lan-
guages; 
(III) the development and imple-
mentation of language skill-level cer-
tification standards; 
(IV) an ideal course of pre-serv-
ice 
and 
professional 
development 
study for those who teach foreign lan-
guage; and 
(V) suggested graduation criteria 
for foreign language studies and ap-
propriate non-language studies, such 
as— 
(aa) international business; 
(bb) national security; 
(cc) public administration; 
and 
(dd) health care; and 
(ix) identification of and means for 
replicating best practices at all levels and 
in all sectors, including best practices from 
the international community.
(4) MEETINGS.—The Council may hold such 
meetings, 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 lan-
guage-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. 
(5) STAFF.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The National Foreign 
Language Advisor may appoint and fix the 
compensation of such additional personnel as 
the Advisor considers necessary to carry out the 
duties of the Council. 
(B) DETAILS FROM OTHER AGENCIES.— 
Upon request of the Council, the head of any 
Federal agency may detail, on a reimbursable 
basis, any of the personnel of such agency to 
the Council. 
(C) EXPERTS
AND
CONSULTANTS.—With 
the approval of the Council, the National For-
eign Language Advisor may procure temporary
and intermittent services under section 3109(b) 
of title 5, United States Code. 
(6) POWERS.— 
(A) DELEGATION.—Any member or em-
ployee of the Council may, if authorized by the 
Council, take any action that the Council is au-
thorized to take in this Act. 
(B) INFORMATION.—The Council may se-
cure directly from any Federal agency such in-
formation as the Council considers necessary to 
carry out its responsibilities. Upon request of 
the National Foreign Language Advisor, the 
head of such agency shall furnish such informa-
tion to the Council. 
(C) DONATIONS.—The Council may ac-
cept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of 
services or property. 
(D) MAIL.—The Council may use the 
United States mail in the same manner and 
under the same conditions as other Federal 
agencies. 
(7) 
CONFERENCES, 
NEWSLETTER, 
AND 
WEBSITE.—In carrying out this section, the Coun-
cil—
(A) may arrange Federal, regional, State, 
and local conferences for the purpose of devel-
oping and coordinating effective programs and 
activities to improve foreign language edu-
cation; 
(B) may publish a newsletter concerning 
Federal, State, and local programs that are ef-
fectively meeting the foreign language needs of 
the Nation; and 
(C) shall create and maintain a website 
containing information on the Council and its 
activities, best practices on language education, 
and other relevant information. 
(8) REPORTS.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter, the Council shall prepare and transmit to 
the President and Congress a report that de-
scribes— 
(A) the activities of the Council; 
(B) the efforts of the Council to improve 
foreign language education and training; and 
(C) any impediments, including any statu-
tory and regulatory restrictions, to such efforts. 
(b) NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE ADVISOR.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be a National 
Foreign Language Advisor, who shall be appointed 
by the President. The National Foreign Language 
Advisor shall be a nationally recognized individual 
with credentials and abilities across all of the sectors 
to be involved with creating and implementing long- 
term solutions to achieving national foreign language 
and cultural competency. 
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The National Foreign 
Language Advisor shall— 
(A) develop and oversee 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. 
(3) COMPENSATION.—The National Foreign 
Language Advisor shall be paid at a rate of pay pay-
able for a position at level V of the Executive Sched-
ule under section 5316 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
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