Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.9145 | Sponsor: Rep. Bustos, Cheri (D-IL)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2022
This bill expands access to study abroad for U.S. undergraduate students. It revises the Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students program (commonly known as the IDEAS program) and formally renames the program as the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program.

To ensure that significantly more students graduate college with the 
international knowledge and experience essential for success in today's 
  global economy through the establishment of the Senator Paul Simon 
            Study Abroad Program in the Department of State.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad 
Program Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) To prepare students for success in the modern global 
        economy, opportunities for study abroad should be included as 
        part of a well-rounded education.
            (2) Study abroad programs provide students with 
        unparalleled access to international knowledge, an unmatched 
        opportunity to learn foreign languages, and a unique 
        environment for developing cultural understanding, all of which 
        are knowledge and skills needed in today's global economy.
            (3) Because only 10 percent of United States college 
        students study abroad before they graduate, meaning that 90 
        percent of graduates are entering the workforce without the 
        global skills, knowledge, and experiences afforded by study 
        abroad programs that will position them for success in the 
        global economy. Minority students, first generation college 
        students, community college students, and students with 
        disabilities are also significantly underrepresented in study 
        abroad participation.
            (4) Congress authorized the establishment of the Commission 
        on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program pursuant 
        to section 104 of the Miscellaneous Appropriations and Offsets 
        Act, 2004 (division H of Public Law 108-199). Pursuant to its 
        mandate, the Lincoln Commission submitted to Congress and the 
        President a report of its recommendations for greatly expanding 
        the opportunity for students at institutions of higher 
        education in the United States to study abroad, with special 
        emphasis on studying in developing nations.
            (5) According to the Lincoln Commission, ``[e]xperience 
        shows that leadership from administrators and faculty will 
        drive the number of study abroad participants higher and 
        improve the quality of programs. Such leadership is the only 
        way that study abroad will become an integral part of the 
        undergraduate experience.''. A competitive grant program is 
        necessary to encourage and support such leadership.
            (6) Student health, safety, and security while studying 
        abroad is and must continue to be a priority for institutions 
        of higher education and study abroad programs.
            (7) The COVID-19 pandemic has limited or prevented students 
        from participating in study abroad due to travel restrictions 
        and reduced budgets. In a post-pandemic world, increasing 
        access to study abroad for students at institutions of higher 
        education across the United States will be critical to ensuring 
        that those students gain the skills, knowledge, and experiences 
        necessary to maintain the leadership of the United States in 
        tackling global challenges, like pandemics, and succeeding in a 
        global economy.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to ensure that significantly more students have access 
        to quality study abroad opportunities;
            (2) to ensure that the diversity of students studying 
        abroad reflects the diversity of students and institutions of 
        higher education in the United States;
            (3) to encourage greater diversity in study abroad 
        destinations by increasing the portion of study abroad that 
        takes place in nontraditional study abroad destinations, 
        especially in developing countries; and
            (4) to encourage a greater commitment by institutions of 
        higher education to expand study abroad opportunities.

SEC. 4. SENATOR PAUL SIMON STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM.

    (a) Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program.--
            (1) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations and under the authorities of the Mutual 
        Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended 
        (Public Law 87-256; 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.), the Secretary of 
        State shall rename the Increase and Diversify Education Abroad 
        for U.S. Student Program (commonly known as ``IDEAS'') as the 
        ``Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program'' (in this section 
        referred to as the ``Program'') and enhance the Program as 
        detailed below.
            (2) Objectives.--The objectives of the Program established 
        under paragraph (1) are, that not later than 10 years after the 
        date of enactment of the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad 
        Program Act of 2022--
                    (A) not less than 1,000,000 undergraduate students 
                from the United States will study abroad annually;
                    (B) the demographics of study abroad participation 
                will reflect the demographics of the United States 
                undergraduate population by increasing the 
                participation of underrepresented groups; and
                    (C) an increasing portion of study abroad will take 
                place in nontraditional study abroad destinations, with 
                a substantial portion of such increases in developing 
                countries.
            (3) Competitive grants to institutions of higher 
        education.--In order to accomplish the objectives set forth in 
        paragraph (2), the Secretary of State shall award grants on a 
        competitive basis to institutions of higher education, 
        individually or in as part of a consortium, based on 
        applications by the institutions that--
                    (A) set forth detailed plans for using grant funds 
                to further such objectives;
                    (B) include an institutional commitment to 
                expanding access to study abroad;
                    (C) include plans for evaluating progress made in 
                increasing access to study abroad;
                    (D) describe how increases in study abroad 
                participation achieved through the grant will be 
                sustained in subsequent years; and
                    (E) demonstrate that the programs have established 
                health, safety, and security guidelines and procedures, 
                informed by Department of State travel advisories and 
                other appropriate Federal agencies and resources, 
                including the Overseas Security Advisory Council and 
                the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
            (4) Implementation of lincoln commission recommendations.--
        In administering the Program, the Secretary of State shall take 
        fully into account the recommendations of the Lincoln 
        Commission including--
                    (A) institutions of higher education applying for 
                grants described in paragraph (3) may use Program funds 
                to support direct student costs;
                    (B) diversity shall be a defining characteristic of 
                the Program; and
                    (C) quality control shall be a defining 
                characteristic of the Program.
            (5) Consultation.--In carrying out this paragraph, the 
        Secretary of State shall consult with representatives of 
        diverse institutions of higher education, educational policy 
        organizations, and others with appropriate expertise.
    (b) Annual Report.--Not later than December 31 of each year, the 
Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives that describes the implementation of the 
Program during the most recently concluded fiscal year.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the Program such sums as may be necessary for 
fiscal year 2023 and each subsequent fiscal year.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 
        amended (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (2) Consortia.--The term ``consortia'' means a group that 
        shall include at least one institution of higher education and 
        may include nongovernmental organizations that provide and 
        promote study abroad opportunities for students.
            (3) Nontraditional study abroad destination.--The term 
        ``nontraditional study abroad destination'' means a location 
        that is determined by the Secretary of State to be a less 
        common destination for students who study abroad.
            (4) Student.--The term ``student'' means a national of the 
        United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 
        residence in the United States, as such persons are described 
        in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 
        (8 U.S.C. 1101), who is enrolled at an institution of higher 
        education located within the United States; or ``eligible 
        noncitizens'' for Federal Student Aid as defined by the 
        Department of Education.
            (5) Study abroad.--The term ``study abroad'' means an 
        educational program of study, work, service learning, research, 
        internship, or combination thereof that is conducted outside 
        the United States and that carries academic credit.
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