Policy Brief vol.3 issue.1

Key Study Abroad Bill Advances in Senate
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passes Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week passed The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act (H.R. 1469), further advancing a bill to establish study abroad as a national priority. The legislation, which stems from the vision of the late Senator Paul Simon to create a more globally educated American citizenry, calls for the creation of an innovative national program to dramatically increase the numbers of American college students who study abroad.

"We believe this bill will launch our country into a new arena when it comes to Americans’ international knowledge and understanding," said NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Marlene Johnson. "We applaud Senators Dick Durbin and Norm Coleman for their strong bipartisan leadership on behalf of this historic piece of legislation. The committee’s action is an important step for the bill, and we urge the full Senate to act as quickly as possible to pass and fully fund this initiative."

The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act, through the establishment of a foundation that will partner with higher education to focus on advancing study abroad, would help to ensure that many more American college students have the opportunity to live and learn abroad during their undergraduate education. It sets out the goal that in ten years’ time, one million students, fully representative of the college demographic, will study abroad annually on quality programs in locations across the globe. It particularly aims to increase the number of community-college, low-income, and minority students who study abroad, as well as the number of students who study abroad in developing countries.

Foreign policy leaders and national security experts have long pointed out the urgent need for more Americans to have foreign-language skills and an understanding of global issues. Many of today’s most successful businesses, large and small alike, span international borders and operate in many languages. Students themselves recognize the need to gain valuable international skills, to become the "360-degree graduates" that employers are looking for. Yet only one percent of American college students participate in study abroad programs each year.

The bill, which passed the House last year under the leadership of the late Rep. Lantos, has received the backing of dozens of educational exchange and higher education groups, as well as the endorsement of an advisory panel convened by the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security to provide guidance and recommendations on protecting America’s security while keeping its doors open.

 

Policy Brief is a periodic electronic information resource for policy news and analysis on international education issues.

About NAFSA
NAFSA is the world’s largest membership association dedicated to international education. With nearly 10,000 members, the association seeks to increase awareness of and support for international education and exchange in higher education, government, and the community, believing that citizens with international experience and global awareness are crucial to U.S. leadership, competitiveness, and security.