article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Act of 2006''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings: (1) According to President George W. Bush, ``America's leadership and national security rest on our commitment to educate and prepare our youth for active engagement in the international community.''. (2) According to former President William J. Clinton, ``Today, the defense of United States interests, the effective management of global issues, and even an understanding of our Nation's diversity require ever-greater contact with, and understanding of, people and cultures beyond our borders.''. (3) Congress created the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program in section 104(a) of Division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004 (Public Law 108- 199). Pursuant to its mandate, the Commission has 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 and nontraditional study abroad destinations. (4) Studies consistently show that United States students score below their counterparts in other advanced countries on indicators of international knowledge. This lack of global literacy is a national liability in an age of global trade and business, global interdependence, and global terror. (5) By numbers ranging from 77 to more than 90 percent, Americans believe that it is important for their children to learn other languages, study abroad, attend a college where they can interact with international students, learn about other countries and cultures, and generally be prepared for the global age, according to a December 2005 national survey conducted by Lake Research Partners and the Tarrance Group. (6) In today's world, it is more important than ever for the United States to be a responsible, constructive leader that other countries are willing to follow. Such leadership cannot be sustained without an informed citizenry with much more knowledge and awareness of the world than most Americans tend to possess. (7) Study abroad has proven to be a very effective means of imparting international and foreign-language competency to students. (8) In the 2003-2004 academic year, an estimated 16,910,000 students were enrolled in United States postsecondary institutions, yet only 191,321, representing approximately 1 percent of those students, studied abroad for academic credit, according to the National Center for Education Statistics and the Institute of International Education, respectively. (9) Less than 10 percent of the students who graduate from United States institutions of higher education with bachelors degrees have studied abroad. (10) Far more study abroad must take place in the developing countries. Ninety-five percent of the world's population growth is anticipated to occur outside of Europe in the future. Yet in the academic year 2003-2004, 61 percent of United States students studying abroad studied in Europe, and 46 percent studied in the 4 countries of the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and France, according to the Institute of International Education. (11) Study abroad helps to build mutual understanding among nations and serves to promote national leadership in the United States, international effectiveness, and economic competitiveness by helping to create a globally literate citizenry. (12) The Senate designated 2006 as the Year of Study Abroad, raising awareness of the importance of study abroad. (13) To complement such worthwhile Federal programs as the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program and the National Security Education Program, a broad-based undergraduate study abroad program is needed that will democratize study abroad and make opportunities of study abroad accessible to all undergraduate students, regardless of their field of study, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or gender. (14) A majority of barriers to study abroad are due to institutional policies at the campus level, according to a report of the Strategic Task Force on Education Abroad issued by NAFSA: Association of International Educators. (15) To make study abroad an integral part of undergraduate students' education, regardless of field of study, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or gender, institutions of higher education should address institutional barriers that stand in the way of study abroad. (16) According to the Institute of International Education, the percentages of African-American, Asian-American, and Hispanic-American students among individuals studying abroad are extremely low and underrepresentative of the numbers of those students in the general student population. (17) The majority of students who study abroad are students in the social sciences, humanities, and foreign languages, while students who major in engineering, mathematics, computer science, or education are underrepresented in study abroad programs. Within the total enrolled United States undergraduate population, approximately 10.7 percent of United States students majoring in business have studied abroad, 8 percent of United States students majoring in engineering have studied abroad, and 5.9 percent of United States students majoring in education have studied abroad. (18) Recognizing that the international scope of scientific research in United States institutions of higher education and government facilities is often conducted by foreign-born scientists, the effectiveness of their work will be greatly enhanced by United States researchers who have similarly spent time studying abroad. (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act-- (1) to encourage not less than 1,000,000 undergraduate students in United States institutions of higher education to study abroad for academic credit within 10 years of the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) to establish an Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Program that-- (A) reflects the demographics of the United States undergraduate population, including undergraduate students in technical and scientific fields of study; (B) ensures an increasing portion of study abroad takes place in nontraditional study abroad destinations, with a substantial portion of such increases taking place in developing countries; and (C) is accessible by students at diverse types of institutions of higher education, including 2-year institutions, minority-serving institutions, and institutions that serve nontraditional students. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (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 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). (2) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority- serving institution'' means-- (A) a part B institution, as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061); (B) a Hispanic-serving institution, as defined in section 502(a) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)); or (C) another school that traditionally serves a racial or ethnic minority, as determined by the Secretary after consultation with the Secretary of Education. (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of State. SEC. 4. ABRAHAM LINCOLN STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM. (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to establish and carry out an Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Program to facilitate the participation of undergraduate students in study abroad for academic credit. The program shall consist of the following: (1) Fellowships for undergraduate students.-- (A) Fellowships.--From amounts made available under section 5(1), the Secretary shall award fellowships to undergraduate students to enable the students to study abroad for academic credit. (B) Designation.--Fellowships awarded under this paragraph shall be known as ``Lincoln Fellowships''. (2) Grants to institutions of higher education.-- (A) In general.--From amounts made available under section 5(2), the Secretary shall award grants to institutions of higher education-- (i) to enable the institutions of higher education to award fellowships to undergraduate students to enable the students to study abroad for academic credit; and (ii) for the reform of academic programs and institutional policies that inhibit participation by students in study abroad. (B) Designation.--Grants awarded under this paragraph shall be known as ``Lincoln Institutional Leverage Grants''. (C) Limitation.--Each institution of higher education that receives a grant under this paragraph shall use not less than 85 percent of the grant funds to award fellowships to students under subparagraph (A)(i). (b) Fellowship Award Rules.--The Secretary shall ensure that-- (1) fellowships awarded under subsections (a)(1)(A) and (a)(2)(A)(i) reflect the demographics of the United States undergraduate population; and (2) there is an annual increase in the number or percentage of fellowships awarded under subsections (a)(1)(A) and (a)(2)(A)(i) for study abroad taking place in nontraditional study abroad destinations, with a substantial portion of such increase taking place in developing countries. (c) Program Development and Implementation.--The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, consult with nonprofit and private organizations with experience in programs involving study abroad for academic credit, in establishing and carrying out the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Program. (d) Coordination With Other Federal Study Abroad Activities.--The Secretary may integrate the activities assisted under this section with other undergraduate study abroad activities supported by the Department of State, the Department of Education, and the Department of Defense. SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008 and for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years, of which-- (1) 25 percent of such sums shall be available to carry out section 4(a)(1) for each fiscal year; and (2) 75 percent of such sums shall be available to carry out section 4(a)(2) for each fiscal year.
summary: Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Act of 2006 - Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish an Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Program to facilitate undergraduate study abroad for academic credit. States that the Program shall consist of: (1) undergraduate fellowships (Lincoln Fellowships); and (2) grants to institutions of higher education (Lincoln Institutional Leverage Grants).