Public Policy
House Passes Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act
On June 5, 2007, the House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass H.R. 1469, the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 2007.
In bringing the bill before the House floor, Chairman Lantos stated, "This historic piece of legislation will democratize the program of Study Abroad, which used to be the privilege of a very thin layer of our society. It opens up for every American college student, irrespective of his or her socioeconomic status, the opportunity of spending a year or more involved in serious language and area study all over the world." Representative Ros-Lehtinen followed his statement, emphasizing that this legislation "represents a creative, forward-thinking initiative to protect American leadership and security in a fast-changing world."
Read the full floor statements by Representative Lantos, Representative Ros-Lehtinen, and Representative Jackson Lee.
Senator Durbin Commends House for Passing H.R. 1469
The legislation, as passed in the House, incorporates a few small changes. Language was added to the bill to emphasize that the Simon Foundation is intended to complement existing educational exchange programs and that the money authorized to the foundation should exceed amounts authorized for already existing programs, such as the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. Language was also added to the bill to emphasize the importance of quality and safety in study abroad. The last change, which aims to make the foundation more cost-effective, is the elimination of a provision that would have given financial compensation to public members of the board of directors of the Simon Foundation for their service. Under the Act, as amended, all board members are only eligible to receive per diem for travel required to perform their duties in service to the Simon Foundation.
View the report language accompanying the bill.
In bringing the bill before the House floor, Chairman Lantos stated, "This historic piece of legislation will democratize the program of Study Abroad, which used to be the privilege of a very thin layer of our society. It opens up for every American college student, irrespective of his or her socioeconomic status, the opportunity of spending a year or more involved in serious language and area study all over the world." Representative Ros-Lehtinen followed his statement, emphasizing that this legislation "represents a creative, forward-thinking initiative to protect American leadership and security in a fast-changing world."
Read the full floor statements by Representative Lantos, Representative Ros-Lehtinen, and Representative Jackson Lee.
Senator Durbin Commends House for Passing H.R. 1469
The legislation, as passed in the House, incorporates a few small changes. Language was added to the bill to emphasize that the Simon Foundation is intended to complement existing educational exchange programs and that the money authorized to the foundation should exceed amounts authorized for already existing programs, such as the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. Language was also added to the bill to emphasize the importance of quality and safety in study abroad. The last change, which aims to make the foundation more cost-effective, is the elimination of a provision that would have given financial compensation to public members of the board of directors of the Simon Foundation for their service. Under the Act, as amended, all board members are only eligible to receive per diem for travel required to perform their duties in service to the Simon Foundation.
View the report language accompanying the bill.
