text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``International and Foreign Language 
  Studies Act of 2004''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress makes the following findings:
              (1) In recent years, foreign language needs have 
          significantly increased throughout the Federal Government due 
          to the presence of a wider range of security threats, the 
          emergence of new nation states, and the globalization of the 
          United States economy.
              (2) Likewise, American businesses increasingly need 
          internationally and multiculturally experienced employees to 
          compete in the global economy and to manage a culturally 
          diverse workforce.
              (3) Currently, the Federal Government requires 34,000 
          employees with foreign language skills across more than 70 
          Federal agencies.
              (4) Federal agency officials have stated that, over the 
          years, translator and interpreter shortfalls have adversely 
          affected agency operations and hindered United States military, 
          law enforcement, intelligence, counterterrorism, and diplomatic 
          efforts.
              (5) In a 2002 General Accounting Office report, the United 
          States Army reported that it was experiencing serious 
          shortfalls of translators and interpreters in 5 of its 6 
          critical languages: Arabic, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Persian-
          Farsi, and Russian.
              (6) The number of Foreign Language and Area Studies 
          Fellowships awarded in 2003 was 30 percent less than the number 
          awarded at its high point in 1967.
              (7) In the 2000-2001 school year, the number of foreign 
          language degrees conferred was 1 percent of the total 
          undergraduate degrees conferred, less than .05 percent of the 
          total masters degrees conferred, and 1 percent of the total 
          doctoral degrees conferred.
              (8) In the 2003 National Survey of Student Engagement, only 
          \2/5\ of undergraduates reported taking foreign language 
          coursework, while only 1 in 5 reported having studied abroad.
              (9) Only 1 percent of all United States undergraduates 
          studied abroad in the 2001-2002 school year.
              (10) In 2002, 79 percent of Americans agreed that students 
          should have a study-abroad experience sometime during college.
              (11) More than 40 percent of Americans said they were more 
          likely to favor an increase in State funding for foreign 
          language education at their local college or university after 
          September 11, 2001.
  
  SEC. 3. REFERENCES.
  
      Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an 
  amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
  of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
  be made to a section or other provision of the Higher Education Act of 
  1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
  
  SEC. 4. GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE LANGUAGE AND AREA CENTERS AND 
                PROGRAMS.
  
      Section 602 (20 U.S.C. 1122) is amended--
              (1) in subsection (a)(2)--
                      (A) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``and'' after 
                  the semicolon;
                      (B) in subparagraph (H), by striking the period and 
                  inserting ``; and''; and
                      (C) by adding at the end the following:
                      ``(I) support for instructors of the less commonly 
                  taught languages.'';
              (2) in subsection (b)--
                      (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and 
                  Undergraduate'' after ``Graduate''; and
                      (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
                  following:
              ``(2) Eligible student.--A student receiving a stipend 
          described in paragraph (1) shall be engaged--
                      ``(A) in an instructional program with stated 
                  performance goals for functional foreign language use 
                  or in a program developing such performance goals, in 
                  combination with area studies, international studies, 
                  or the international aspects of a professional studies 
                  program; and
                      ``(B)(i) in the case of an undergraduate student, 
                  in the intermediate or advanced study of a less 
                  commonly taught language; or
                      ``(ii) in the case of a graduate student, in 
                  graduate study work in connection with a program 
                  described in subparagraph (A), including 
                  predissertation level study, preparation for 
                  dissertation research, dissertation research abroad, or 
                  dissertation writing.''; and
               (3) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 
          following:
      ``(d) Allowances.--
              ``(1) Graduate level recipients.--A stipend awarded to a 
          graduate level recipient may include allowances for dependents 
          and for travel for research and study in the United States and 
          abroad.
              ``(2) Undergraduate level recipients.--A stipend awarded to 
          an undergraduate level recipient may include an allowance for 
          educational programs in the United States or abroad that--
                      ``(A) are closely linked to the overall goals of 
                  the recipient's course of study; and
                      ``(B) have the purpose of promoting foreign 
                  language fluency and cultural knowledge.''.
  
  SEC. 5. USE OF FUNDS IN UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AND FOREIGN 
                LANGUAGE PROGRAMS.
  
      Section 604 (20 U.S.C. 1124) is amended--
              (1) in subsection (a)--
                      (A) in paragraph (2)--
                              (i) by redesignating subparagraphs (I) 
                          through (M) as subparagraphs (J) through (N), 
                          respectively; and
                              (ii) by inserting after subparagraph (H) 
                          the following:
                      ``(I) providing subgrants to undergraduate students 
                  for educational programs abroad that--
                              (i) are closely linked to the overall goals 
                          of the program for which the grant is awarded; 
                          and
                              (ii) have the purpose of promoting foreign 
                          language fluency and cultural knowledge;''; and
                      (B) by adding at the end the following:
              ``(9) Limitation on undergraduate grants.--An institution 
          of higher education, a combination of such institutions, or a 
          partnership awarded a grant under this section shall use not 
          more than 10 percent of the grant funds for the use described 
          in paragraph (2)(I).''; and
              (2) by striking subsection (c).
  
  SEC. 6. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.
  
      Section 605(a) (20 U.S.C. 1125(a)) is amended--
              (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' after the 
          semicolon;
              (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting 
          ``; and''; and
              (3) by adding at the end the following:
              ``(10) the systematic collection, analysis, and 
          dissemination of data that contribute to achieving the purposes 
          of this part.''.
  
  SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      Section 610 (20 U.S.C. 1128b) is amended by striking ``$80,000,000 
  for fiscal year 1999'' and inserting ``$120,000,000 for fiscal year 
  2005''.
target: International and Foreign Language Studies Act of 2004 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to revise provisions for international and foreign language studies (part A of title VI, international education).
  
  Includes support for instructors of less commonly taught languages among activities of national language and area centers and programs.
  
  Makes undergraduate students eligible for fellowships for foreign language and area or international studies (in addition to graduate students under current law).
  
  Allows a portion of funds for undergraduate international studies and foreign language programs to be used for subgrants to undergraduate students for educational programs abroad that promote foreign language literacy and cultural knowledge and are closely linked to grant program goals.
  
  Authorizes the Secretary of Education to support data collection, analysis, and dissemination that helps achieve part A purposes.
  
  Extends and increases the authorization of appropriations for part A.
feat_title: A bill to amend part A of title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding international and foreign language studies.