H.R. 9971
Advancing International and Foreign Language Education Act
Sponsor: Deborah K. Ross
2 cosponsors
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Advancing International and Foreign Language Education Act
This bill reauthorizes through FY2032 and revises international education programs. These programs provide grants to institutions of higher education and related entities to (1) enhance instruction in international and foreign language studies, and (2) promote international business skills and education.
First, the bill reauthorizes programs related to international and foreign language studies. Specifically, it extends (1) the Graduate and Undergraduate Language and Area Centers and Programs, which include the National Resource Centers program; (2) the Language Resource Centers; (3) the Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Programs; and (4) the American Overseas Research Centers.
Next, the bill reauthorizes the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships program. It also revises the program to permit graduate students to receive a stipend for the beginning, intermediate, or advanced study of a foreign language related to the student's area of specialization.
Further, the bill extends the Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information Access program. It also modifies the program, such as by (1) revising the types of available grants, and (2) allowing the Department of Education to establish a national database on international and foreign language education.
Finally, the bill reauthorizes programs related to international business skills and education. Specifically, it reauthorizes the Centers for International Business Education program. It also reauthorizes and revises the Business and International Education program, including by (1) renaming the program; and (2) mandating certain program activities, such as incorporating specified programs and studies into professional education and technical training curricula.
Text of the bill
Part B of title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1130 et seq.) is amended—
(1) in the title heading, by striking business and international education programs and inserting global business and professional education programs; and
(2) in section 611 (20 U.S.C. 1130)—
(A) in subsection (a)—
(i) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
(1) the future economic welfare of the United States will depend substantially on increasing international and global skills in the business, educational, and other professional communities and creating an awareness among the American public of the internationalization of the economy of the United States and numerous other professional areas important to our national interest in the 21st century;
(ii) in paragraph (2)—
(I) by striking language and area study programs and inserting professional schools and programs, language, area study, and global study programs; and
(II) by inserting and security before interests;
(iii) in paragraph (3)—
(I) by striking between the and inserting
among—
(A) the
(II) by striking business and the international education and inserting the following:
business and other professional fields;
(B) the international and global education
; and
(III) by striking States, and public and inserting the following:
States; and
(C) public
; and
(iv) in paragraph (4)—
(I) by striking and State departments of commerce and inserting , State departments of commerce, and other professional organizations; and
(II) by striking universities and business and inserting institutions of higher education with businesses or other professions; and
(B) in subsection (b)—
(i) in paragraph (1)—
(I) by striking and economic enterprise and inserting , economic enterprise, and security; and
(II) by inserting and other professional before personnel; and
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking to prosper in an international and inserting and other professional fields to prosper in an international global.