[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 176 Reported in Senate (RS)]
Calendar No. 968
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 176
[Report No. 110-463]
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 1, 2007
Received
August 3, 2007
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
September 15, 2008
Reported by Mr. Reid (for Mr. Biden), with amendments
[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To authorize the establishment of educational exchange and development
programs for member countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Shirley A.
Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Act of
<DELETED>2007</DELETED>2008''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. <DELETED>Findings and s</DELETED>Statement of purpose.
Sec. 4. Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational
Exchange Program.
Sec. 5. Program to provide educational development assistance for
CARICOM countries.
Sec. 6. Administrative provisions.
Sec. 7. Reporting requirements.
Sec. 8. Authorization of appropriations.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--Except as otherwise provided, the term
``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(3) Caricom country.--The term ``CARICOM country''--
(A) means a member country of the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM); but
(B) does not include--
(i) a country having observer status in
CARICOM; or
(ii) a country the government of which the
Secretary of State has determined, for purposes
of section 6(j) of the Export Administration
Act of 1979 (as continued in effect pursuant to
the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act), section 40 of the Arms Export Control
Act, section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961, or any other provision of law, is a
government that has repeatedly provided support
for acts of international terrorism.
(4) Secretary.--Except as otherwise provided, the term
``Secretary'' means the Secretary of State.
(5) United states cooperating agency.--The term ``United
States cooperating agency'' means--
(A) an <DELETED>accredited</DELETED> institution of
higher education (as that term is defined in section
101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001(a))), including, to the maximum extent
practicable, an historically Black college or
university that is a part B institution (as such term
is defined in section 322(2) of <DELETED>the Higher
Education</DELETED>such Act <DELETED>of 1965</DELETED>
(20 U.S.C. 1061(2))) or an Hispanic-serving institution
(as such term is defined in section 502(5) of such Act
(20 U.S.C. 1101a(5)));
(B) a higher education association;
(C) a nongovernmental organization incorporated in
the United States; or
(D) a consortium consisting of two or more such
institutions, associations, or nongovernmental
organizations.
SEC. 3. <DELETED>FINDINGS AND </DELETED>STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
<DELETED> (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) The United States and CARICOM countries have
enjoyed long-standing friendly relations.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) As an important regional partner for trade and
democratic values, the Caribbean region constitutes a ``Third
Border'' of the United States.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) The decrease in tourism revenue in the
aftermath of the tragic terrorist attacks on September 11,
2001, had an adverse affect on the Caribbean region.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) According to a 2005 World Bank Report on the
Caribbean region, high rates of unemployment, particularly
youth unemployment, have had severe implications on poverty and
income distributions, as well as drug trafficking and
addiction.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) The 2005 World Bank Report also concludes that
better synchronization is needed between curricula in CARICOM
countries and the skills needed in evolving national and
regional job markets and economies.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) Caribbean leaders have highlighted the need
for increased educational opportunities for Caribbean students
in fields that will contribute to and support an increasingly
competitive regional economy.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) Enhancing United States cultural and
educational exchange programs in CARICOM countries will expand
human resources, provide opportunities that promote economic
growth, and improve regional security.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) Many Caribbean leaders studied at the
undergraduate or graduate level in the United States before
returning to their respective countries to contribute toward
the strengthening of democracy, the economy, or the provision
of social services.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) From 2003 through 2005, 217 Caribbean leaders
participated in exchange programs with the United States that
focused on good governance, combating drug trafficking, anti-
corruption, and other regional issues of concern.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (10) The Department of State currently administers
public outreach programs that include cultural, academic, and
citizen-exchange initiatives in CARICOM countries through the
public affairs sections at United States embassies with support
from the Office of Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of Western
Hemisphere Affairs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (11) The Caribbean Center for Excellence in
Teacher Training (C-CETT), a Presidential Initiative funded by
the United States Agency for International Development and
implemented by the University of the West Indies, works to
improve the quality of reading instruction by training
classroom and student teachers in seven countries of the
English-speaking Caribbean. Belize, Jamaica, Grenada, St.
Lucia, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and
Tobago have participated in the C-CETT as a means to reducing
illiteracy in the most disadvantaged urban and remote rural
areas.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (12) In Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the
Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican
Republic, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St.
Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, the Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State sponsors
educational advisors to promote study in the United
States.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (13) In the 2004-2005 academic year, approximately
14,000 Caribbean students were enrolled in United States
colleges and universities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (14) Shirley Anita Chisholm, who served as a
member of the United States House of Representatives from 1968
to 1983, had family roots in the Caribbean nation of Barbados,
was a staunch advocate for educational opportunity and access,
and increased support for historically Black colleges and
universities and other minority-serving institutions in the
United States.</DELETED>
(b)</DELETED> Statement of Purpose</DELETED>.--The purpose of this
Act is to establish--
(1) an educational exchange program between the United
States and CARICOM countries, to be known as the ``Shirley A.
Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange
Program'', pursuant to section 4,<DELETED>of this Act</DELETED>
to assist in educating promising students and scholars from
CARICOM countries who will invest the knowledge and experiences
they gain in the United States back into the community of
CARICOM countries; and
(2) a program to provide educational development assistance
for CARICOM countries pursuant to section 5 <DELETED>of this
Act</DELETED>.
SEC. 4. SHIRLEY A. CHISHOLM UNITED STATES-CARIBBEAN EDUCATIONAL
EXCHANGE PROGRAM.
(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary <DELETED>of State</DELETED>
is authorized to establish an educational exchange program between the
United States and CARICOM countries, <DELETED>to</DELETED>which shall
be known as the ``Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean
Educational Exchange Program,'' under which--
(1) secondary school students from CARICOM countries will--
(A) attend a public or private secondary school in
the United States; and
(B) participate in activities designed to promote a
greater understanding of the values and culture of the
United States; and
<DELETED> (C) have the option to live with a United
States host family and experience life in a United
States host community; and</DELETED>
(2) undergraduate students, graduate students, post-
graduate students, and scholars from CARICOM countries will--
(A) attend a public or private college or
university, including a community college, in the
United States; and
(B) participate in activities designed to promote a
greater understanding of the values and culture of the
United States<DELETED>; and</DELETED>.
<DELETED> (C) have the option to live with a United
States host family and experience life in a United
States host community or live in an on-campus housing
environment.</DELETED>
(b) Elements of Program.--The program authorized under subsection
(a) shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The program will offer scholarships to students and
scholars based on merit and need. It is the sense of Congress
that scholarships should be offered <DELETED>under the program</DELETED>
to students and scholars who evidence merit, achievement, and
strong potential for the studies such students and scholars
wish to undertake under the program and 40 percent of
scholarships offered under the program should be based on
financial need.
(2) The program will seek to achieve gender equality in
granting scholarships under the program.
(3) The program will limit participation to--
(A) two years of study for secondary school
students;
(B) four years of study for undergraduate students;
(C) 30 months of study for graduate students; and
(D) one year of study for post-graduate students
and scholars.
(4) For a period of time equal to the period of time of
participation in the program, but not to exceed 2 years, the
program will require participants who are students and scholars
described in subsection (a)(2) to--
(A) agree to return to live in a CARICOM country
and maintain residence in such country, within 6 months
of completion of academic studies; or
(B) agree to obtain employment that directly
benefits the growth, progress, and development of one
or more CARICOM countries and the people of such
countries.
(5) The Secretary <DELETED>of State shall have the
discretion to</DELETED>may waive, shorten the duration, or
otherwise alter the requirements of paragraph
<DELETED>(5)</DELETED>(4) in limited circumstances of hardship,
humanitarian needs, for specific educational purposes, or in
furtherance of the national interests of the United States.
(c) Role of United States Cooperating Agencies.--The Secretary
shall consult with United States cooperating agencies in developing the
program authorized under subsection (a).<DELETED>and shall make grants
</DELETED>The Secretary is authorized to provide grants to United
States cooperating agencies in carrying out the program authorized
under subsection (a).
(d) Monitoring and Evaluation of Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall <DELETED>establish and
implement a system to</DELETED> monitor and evaluate the
effectiveness and efficiency of the program authorized under
subsection (a). In <DELETED>carrying out the system</DELETED>so
doing, the Secretary shall, inter alia, evaluate the program's
positive or negative effects on brain-drain from the
participating CARICOM countries and suggest ways in which the
program may be improved to promote the basic goal of
alleviating brain-drain from the participating CARICOM
countries.
(2) Requirements.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall review on a regular basis--
(A) financial information relating to the program;
(B) budget plans for the program;
(C) adjustments to plans established for the
program;
(D) graduation rates of participants in the
program;
(E) the percentage of participants who are students
described in subsection (a)(1) who pursue higher
education;
(F) the percentage of participants who return to
their home country or another CARICOM country;
(G) the types of careers pursued by participants in
the program and the extent to which such careers are
linked to the political, economic, and social
development needs of CARICOM countries; and
(H) the impact of gender, country of origin,
financial need of students, and other relevant factors
on the data collected under subparagraphs (D) through
(G).
<DELETED> (e) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary should seek to work with CARICOM countries to establish
an educational exchange program under which--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) secondary school students from the United
States will attend a public or private equivalent school in
CARICOM countries; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) undergraduate students, graduate students,
post-graduate students, and scholars from the United States
will attend a public or private college or university in
CARICOM countries.</DELETED>
SEC. 5. PROGRAM TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FOR
CARICOM COUNTRIES.
(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary <DELETED>of State,</DELETED>
acting through the Administrator <DELETED>of the United States Agency
for International Development</DELETED>, is authorized to establish a
program to provide educational development assistance for CARICOM
countries.
(b) Purpose of Program.--The purpose of the program authorized
under subsection (a) is to improve primary and secondary education in
CARICOM countries by enhancing teacher training, strengthening
curriculum and instructional materials, and assisting improvements in
school management and public administration of education.
(c) Elements of Program.--The program authorized under subsection
(a) shall extend and expand upon existing primary and secondary school
programs in CARICOM countries to provide--
(1) teacher-training methods and training in subject area
studies;
(2) classroom and school management;
(3) development and modernization of curriculum and
instructional materials;
(4) increased community involvement in school activities;
and
(5) local, regional, and national government policy
planning on the elements described in paragraphs (1) through
(4).
(d) Role of United States Cooperating Agencies.--The Secretary
shall consult with the Secretary of Education <DELETED>and</DELETED>,
officials of United States cooperating agencies, and officials of
CARICOM countries in developing the program authorized under subsection
(a).<DELETED>and shall</DELETED>The Secretary is authorized to make
grants to United States cooperating agencies in carrying out the
program authorized under subsection (a).
(e) Monitoring and Evaluation of Program.--The Secretary shall
<DELETED>establish and implement a system to</DELETED> monitor and
evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the program authorized
under subsection (a).
<DELETED> (f) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary should seek to work with CARICOM countries to establish
an educational development program under which education in the CARICOM
countries is improved and access to quality education for children in
CARICOM countries is increased.</DELETED>
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
(a) Funding From Private Sources and Partnerships With Other
Appropriate Entities.--To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary
<DELETED>of State</DELETED> and the Administrator <DELETED>of the
United States Agency for International Development</DELETED> should
implement the programs authorized under sections 4 and 5 <DELETED>of
this Act</DELETED> through utilization of funding from private sources
to maximize the impact of United States funds under this Act, and
through partnerships with appropriate United States organizations,
institutions, and corporations.
(b) Avoidance of Duplication.--The Secretary and the Administrator
shall consult with the Secretary of Education to ensure that--
(1) activities under the programs authorized under sections
4 and 5 <DELETED>of this Act</DELETED> are not duplicative of
other United States educational programs for CARICOM countries;
and
(2) United States cooperating agencies and partner
institutions in CARICOM countries are accredited by national or
regional accrediting bodies.
(c) Reporting Under SEVIS.--To the extent necessary, the Secretary
shall provide support to United States cooperating agencies that are
participating in the program authorized under section 4 <DELETED>of
this Act</DELETED> in order to fulfill the requirements for student
data reporting under the Student and Exchange Visitor Information
System (SEVIS).
SEC. 7. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than <DELETED>90</DELETED>120 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary <DELETED>of
State</DELETED> shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report on plans to implement the programs authorized under
sections 4 and 5 <DELETED>of this Act</DELETED>.
(b) Matters to Be Included.--The report required by subsection (a)
shall include--
(1) with respect to implementation of the program
authorized under section 4--
(A) a plan for selecting participants in the
program, including an estimate of the number of
secondary school students, undergraduate students,
graduate students, post-graduate students, and scholars
from each country, by educational level, who will be
selected as participants in the program for each fiscal
year;
(B) a timeline for selecting United States
cooperating agencies that will assist in implementing
the program;
(C) a financial plan that--
(i) identifies budget plans for each
educational level under the program; and
(ii) identifies plans or systems to ensure
that the costs to public school, college, and
university education under the program and the
costs to private school, college, and
university education under the program are
reasonably allocated; and
(D) a plan to provide outreach to and linkages with
schools, colleges and universities, and nongovernmental
organizations in both the United States and CARICOM
countries for implementation of the program; and
(2) a plan outlining implementation of the program
authorized under section 5, identifying the initial countries
in which the program will be implemented and a timeline for
implementation.
(c) Updates of Report.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees updates of the report
required by subsection (a) for each fiscal year for which
amounts are appropriated pursuant to the authorization of
appropriations under section 8 <DELETED>of this Act</DELETED>.
(2) Matters to be included.--Such updates shall include the
following:
(A) Information on United States cooperating
agencies that are selected to assist in implementing
the programs authorized under sections 4 and 5
<DELETED>of this Act</DELETED>.
(B) An analysis of the positive and negative
impacts the program authorized under section 4 will
have or is having on brain drain from the participating
CARICOM countries.
(C) A description of efforts made by the Secretary
<DELETED>of State, acting through</DELETED>and the
Administrator <DELETED>of the United States Agency for
International Development,</DELETED> to implement the
program authorized under section 5.
(D) A description of the programs established in
each CARICOM country receiving assistance under the
program authorized under section 5.<DELETED>that
provides a</DELETED>Such description shall include a
detailed explanation of the extent to which the program
and the assistance provided are contributing to the
purpose of the program described in section 5(b) in the
CARICOM country.
(E) An evaluation of additional educational
development goals in CARICOM countries, identifying
those goals that could be maximized or achieved with
United States assistance through the program authorized
under section 5. In addition to standard or necessary
areas of education review, the evaluation should give
attention to factors affecting academic achievement,
attrition, and graduation rates in CARICOM countries.
The evaluation should suggest ways in which United
States assistance can maximize success factors and
address factors contributing to poor achievement.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
To carry out this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated such
sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 through
2012. Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of
appropriations under this section are in addition to amounts otherwise
available for such purposes.
Calendar No. 968
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 176
[Report No. 110-463]
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To authorize the establishment of educational exchange and development
programs for member countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
_______________________________________________________________________
September 15, 2008
Reported with amendments