DURBIN INTRODUCES PAUL SIMON STUDY ABROAD FOUNDATION ACT
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation to establish a study abroad program for undergraduate students that would help build global awareness and international understanding. Durbin's bill, the Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act, was inspired by the work of the late Senator Paul Simon and is based on recommendations published by the bipartisan Lincoln Study Abroad Commission. The legislation creates a program that encourages non-traditional students -- such as low income students and those who attend community college -- to spend part of their undergraduate careers studying abroad. The bipartisan bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN). Last year Durbin and Coleman introduced similar bipartisan legislation.
"Senator Paul Simon was one our nation's great public servants," said Durbin. "He had a vision -- to strengthen the role of the U.S. as a world leader by investing in the education of our young people. The international study abroad program we are introducing is based on his vision and advances his work. This program will instill in the next generation of Americans a deeper understanding of the cultures and histories of other nations. This, in turn, will enhance the United States' capacity to lead in the 21st Century."
The goal of the Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act is to make study abroad in high-quality programs in diverse locations around the world the routine, rather than the exception, for American college students. The bill authorizes $80 million for grants to individual students, colleges and universities and nongovernmental institutions that provide study abroad opportunities. The foundation will also be able to leverage funds through support from the private sector. The new legislation creates an independent government entity, the Senator Paul Simon Foundation, to administer the program.
Durbin's bill would:
Help at least 1 million undergraduates study abroad annually within 10 years Expand study abroad opportunities for students who are currently underrepresented Increase the number of students that study abroad in non-traditional destinations
"Over the next 50 years, the majority of the world's population growth will occur outside of the United States and Europe. It is essential to our security and economic success that tomorrow's leaders understand this changing world," said Durbin. "Every student should have access to study abroad and be encouraged to pursue research in developing countries. With swift passage of this bill, Congress has the opportunity to make international education a national priority."
This marks the second year in a row that Durbin and Coleman have teamed up to address the importance of study abroad programs; last year the two senators introduced similar legislation known as the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Act. The Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program established in the 2004 budget, presented recommendations for greatly expanding the opportunity for college students to study abroad, with special emphasis on studying in developing nations. In addition, the 9/11 Commission Report recommended that the United States should increase support for scholarship and exchange programs. The Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 2007 has the support of the academic and educational-exchange communities. A companion bill was introduced on March 12, 2007 in the House and referred to the Foreign Affairs Committee.
