S. 4541

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4541 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4541

To ensure that significantly more students graduate college with the 
international knowledge and experience essential for success in today's 
global economy through the establishment of the Senator Paul Simon 
Study Abroad Program in the Department of State.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 14, 2026

Mr. Durbin (for himself and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To ensure that significantly more students graduate college with the 
international knowledge and experience essential for success in today's 
global economy through the establishment of the Senator Paul Simon 
Study Abroad Program in the Department of State.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad 
Program Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) To prepare students for success in the modern global 
economy, opportunities for study abroad should be included as 
part of a well-rounded education.
(2) Study abroad programs provide students with 
unparalleled access to international knowledge, an unmatched 
opportunity to learn world languages, and a unique environment 
for developing cultural understanding, all of which are 
knowledge and skills needed in today's global economy.
(3) Only 10 percent of United States college students study 
abroad before they graduate, leaving 90 percent of graduates 
entering the workforce without the global skills, knowledge, 
and experiences afforded by study abroad programs that will 
position them for success in the global economy. Minority 
students, first-generation college students, community college 
students, and students with disabilities are also significantly 
underrepresented in study abroad participation.
(4) Congress authorized the establishment of the Commission 
on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program 
(referred to in this section as the ``Lincoln Commission'') 
under section 104 of the Miscellaneous Appropriations and 
Offsets Act, 2004 (division H of Public Law 108-199). Pursuant 
to its mandate, the Lincoln Commission submitted a report to 
Congress and to the President containing 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.
(5) According to the Lincoln Commission, ``[e]xperience 
shows that leadership from administrators and faculty will 
drive the number of study abroad participants higher and 
improve the quality of programs. Such leadership is the only 
way that study abroad will become an integral part of the 
undergraduate experience.'' A competitive grant program is 
necessary to encourage and support such leadership.
(6) Student health, safety, and security while studying 
abroad is, and must continue to be, a priority for institutions 
of higher education and study abroad programs.
(7) According to Open Doors 2022, published by the 
Institute of International Education in partnership with the 
Department of State, study abroad participation at colleges and 
universities in the United States plummeted by 91 percent 
during the 2020-2021 academic year. While study abroad numbers 
have rebounded, according to Open Doors 2025, participation 
remains 14 percent below pre-pandemic levels. In today's global 
society, increasing access to study abroad for students at 
institutions of higher education across the United States is 
critical to ensuring that those students gain the skills, 
knowledge, and experiences necessary to maintain the leadership 
and security of the United States in tackling global challenges 
that affect the people of the United States and succeeding in a 
global economy.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to ensure that significantly more students have access 
to quality study abroad opportunities, especially among low-
income students and students of color;
(2) to ensure that the diversity of students studying 
abroad reflects the diversity of students and institutions of 
higher education in the United States;
(3) to encourage greater diversity in study abroad 
destinations by increasing the portion of study abroad that 
takes place in nontraditional study abroad destinations, 
especially in developing countries; and
(4) to encourage a greater commitment by United States 
institutions of higher education to expand study abroad 
opportunities.

SEC. 4. SENATOR PAUL SIMON STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Consortium.--The term ``consortium'' means a group 
that--
(A) includes at least 1 institution of higher 
education; and
(B) may include nongovernmental organizations that 
provide and promote study abroad opportunities for 
students.
(2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(3) Nontraditional study abroad destination.--The term 
``nontraditional study abroad destination'' means a location 
that is determined by the Secretary of State to be a less 
common destination for students who study abroad.
(4) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Senator Paul 
Simon Study Abroad Program, as renamed pursuant to subsection 
(b)(1)(A).
(5) Student.--The term ``student'' means--
(A) an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 
residence in the United States or a national of the 
United States (as such terms are defined in paragraphs 
(20) and (22) of section 101(a) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act of 1965 (8 U.S.C. 1101(a))) who is 
enrolled at an institution of higher education located 
within the United States; or
(B) an individual who is an eligible noncitizen for 
Federal student aid, as determined by the Secretary of 
Education for purposes of the Federal student loan 
program under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).
(6) Study abroad.--The term ``study abroad'' means an 
educational program of study, work, service learning, research, 
internship, or combination of such activities that--
(A) is conducted outside of the United States; and
(B) carries academic credit.
(7) World language.--The term ``world language'' means any 
natural language other than English, including--
(A) languages determined by the Secretary of State 
to be critical to the national security interests of 
the United States;
(B) classical languages;
(C) American sign language; and
(D) Native American languages.
(b) Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program.--
(1) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations and under the authority of the Mutual 
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 
et seq.), the Secretary of State shall--
(A) rename the IDEAS Program, or any successor 
program, as the ``Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad 
Program''; and
(B) enhance the Program in accordance with this 
section.
(2) Objectives.--The objectives of the Program are that not 
later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act--
(A) not fewer than 1,000,000 undergraduate students 
from the United States will study abroad annually;
(B) the demographics of study abroad participation 
will reflect the demographics of the United States 
undergraduate population by increasing the 
participation rate of underrepresented groups; and
(C) an increasing portion of study abroad will take 
place in nontraditional study abroad destinations, with 
a substantial portion of such increases in developing 
countries.
(3) Competitive grants to institutions of higher 
education.--
(A) In general.--In order to accomplish the 
objectives described in paragraph (2), the Secretary of 
State shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
institutions of higher education, either individually 
or as part of a consortium, based on applications by 
such institutions that--
(i) set forth detailed plans for using 
grant funds to further such objectives;
(ii) include an institutional commitment to 
expanding access to study abroad;
(iii) include plans for evaluating progress 
made in increasing access to study abroad;
(iv) describe how increases in study abroad 
participation achieved through the grant will 
be sustained in subsequent years; and
(v) demonstrate that the study abroad 
programs have established health, safety, and 
security guidelines and procedures, informed by 
Department of State travel advisories and other 
appropriate Federal agencies and resources, 
including the Overseas Security Advisory 
Council and the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
(B) Priority.--In awarding grants under 
subparagraph (A), the Secretary may give priority to--
(i) minority-serving institutions listed 
under section 371(a) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a));
(ii) eligible institutions (as defined in 
section 312(b) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(b))) that qualify for the 
Strengthening Institutions Program of the 
Department of Education; and
(iii) institutions that offer study abroad 
programs with a significant world language 
learning component, as applicable.
(4) Implementation of lincoln commission recommendations.--
In administering the Program, the Secretary of State shall take 
fully into account the recommendations of the Lincoln 
Commission, including--
(A) institutions of higher education applying for 
grants described in paragraph (3) shall use Program 
funds to support direct student costs;
(B) diversity shall be a defining characteristic of 
the Program; and
(C) quality control shall be a defining 
characteristic of the Program.
(5) Consultation.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
Secretary of State shall consult with representatives of 
diverse institutions of higher education and educational policy 
organizations and other individuals with appropriate expertise.
(c) Annual Report.--Not later than December 31 of each year, the 
Secretary of State shall submit an annual report to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives that details the implementation of the 
Program during the most recently concluded fiscal year.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated, for fiscal year 2027 and for each subsequent fiscal year, 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out the Program.
<all>