House Committee Approves Study Abroad Legislation, Similar Bill Introduced in Senate

The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 2007, by voice vote with no amendments. H.R. 1469 currently has 18 cosponsors: Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Darlene Hooley (D-OR), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Donald Payne (D-NJ), David Scott (D-GA), John Shimkus (R-IL), Diane Watson (D-CA), Robert Wexler (D-FL), and David Wu (D-OR).

The same day, Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) introduced a similar bill, the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act, into the Senate. Co-sponsors include Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Barack Obama (D-IL), John Kerry (D-MA), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Carl Levin (D-MI), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Ted Stevens (R-AK), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Max Baucus (D-MT), John Warner (R-VA), Mark Pryor (D-AR), and Edward Kennedy (D-MA).

Introducing S. 991, Durbin noted, "The bill has been renamed the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act so that all future generations will remember Senator Simon's commitment to international education."

Study Abroad Bill Introduced in House

On March 12, 2007, Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Ranking Member, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) announced the introduction of a bill, H.R. 1469, the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 2007, based on recommendations made by the Lincoln Commission.

According to Lantos: "This is an incredibly important bill that will democratize study abroad for American students in the way that the GI bill democratized higher education. Today, many American college students face financial and institutional impediments to study abroad. The Senator Paul Simon Act and the foundation it creates will tear down these barriers, and make foreign study a normal rather than an exceptional part of a college education."

"Expanding the number of American students who study abroad learning a second language and new culture advances our national interest," Ros-Lehtinen said. "Through this program, we are promoting a new generation of diplomats, intelligence analysts, and international businesspeople."

Study Abroad Act of 2006

On July 26, 2006 Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Norman Coleman (R-MN) introduced the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Act of 2006 (S. 3744), which calls for a national program to encourage study abroad.

The legislation carries on the legacy of the late Senator Paul Simon, who sought to promote peace and security through international understanding and global awareness. In the weeks before his untimely death, Senator Simon wrote, "This major national initiative ... can lift our vision and responsiveness to the rest of the world."

As outlined by the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program, the program will create fellowships and scholarships for individual students and establish partnerships with colleges and universities. The goal of the program is to create and sustain annual growth rates to achieve 1 million students studying abroad annually by 2016-17.

A focus of the Act is to expand study abroad opportunities to new populations, such as minorities and students with disabilities; underrepresented fields such as science, mathematics engineering, and business; and community colleges, minority-serving colleges, and low-income-serving institutions. In addition, the program would encourage study in non-traditional and developing countries.

Finally, the Commission calls for "the most demanding quality control" for participating programs, which makes the Forum's Quality Improvement Program (QUIP) of vital importance to the field of education abroad.

The Forum will play a critical role in the further development and possible implementation of this proposed legislation. Please weigh in with your views by contributing to our Forum Discussion!

What are your views of the proposed Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Act of 2006?

What are its strengths and weaknesses?

What improvements, if any, would you like to see in this Act?

Will it help to bring to fruition Senator Simon's vision?