[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 747 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 747
To establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 31, 2007
Mr. Baird (for himself, Mr. Etheridge, Mr. Holt, Mr. Moore of Kansas,
Mr. Pomeroy, and Mr. Grijalva) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council.
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 ``National Foreign Language
Coordination Act''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE COORDINATION
COUNCIL.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Executive Office of
the President a National Foreign Language Coordination Council (in this
section referred to as the ``Council'').
(b) Membership.--The Council shall consist of the following members
or their designees:
(1) The National Language Director, who shall serve as the
chairperson of the Council.
(2) The Secretary of Education.
(3) The Secretary of Defense.
(4) The Secretary of State.
(5) The Secretary of Homeland Security.
(6) The Attorney General.
(7) The Director of National Intelligence.
(8) The Secretary of Labor.
(9) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
(10) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(11) The Secretary of Commerce.
(12) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(13) The Secretary of the Treasury.
(14) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(15) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(16) The Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank
of the United States.
(17) The heads of such other Federal agencies as the
Council considers appropriate.
(c) Responsibilities.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall be charged with--
(A) overseeing, coordinating, and implementing the
National Security Language Initiative;
(B) developing a national foreign language
strategy, building upon the efforts of the National
Security Language Initiative, within 18 months after
the date of the enactment of this section, in
consultation with--
(i) State and local government agencies;
(ii) academic sector institutions;
(iii) foreign language related interest
groups;
(iv) business associations;
(v) industry;
(vi) heritage associations; and
(vii) other relevant stakeholders;
(C) conducting a survey of the status of Federal
agency foreign language and area expertise and agency
needs for such expertise; and
(D) monitoring the implementation of such strategy
through--
(i) application of current and recently
enacted laws; and
(ii) the promulgation and enforcement of
rules and regulations.
(2) Strategy content.--The strategy developed under
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) recommendations for amendments to title 5,
United States Code, in order to improve the ability of
the Federal Government to recruit and retain
individuals with foreign language proficiency and
provide foreign language training for Federal
employees;
(B) the long term goals, anticipated effect, and
needs of the National Security Language Initiative;
(C) identification of crucial priorities across all
sectors;
(D) identification and evaluation of Federal
foreign language programs and activities, including--
(i) any duplicative or overlapping programs
that may impede efficiency;
(ii) recommendations on coordination;
(iii) program enhancements; and
(iv) allocation of resources so as to
maximize use of resources;
(E) needed national policies and corresponding
legislative and regulatory actions in support of, and
allocation of designated resources to, promising
programs and initiatives at all levels (Federal, State,
and local), especially in the less commonly taught
languages that are seen as critical for national
security and global competitiveness during the next 20
to 50 years;
(F) effective ways to increase public awareness of
the need for foreign language skills and career paths
in all sectors that can employ those skills, with the
objective of increasing support for foreign language
study among--
(i) Federal, State, and local leaders;
(ii) students;
(iii) parents;
(iv) elementary, secondary, and
postsecondary educational institutions; and
(v) employers;
(G) recommendations for incentives for related
educational programs, including foreign language
teacher training;
(H) coordination of cross-sector efforts, including
public-private partnerships;
(I) coordination initiatives to develop a strategic
posture for language research and recommendations for
funding for applied foreign language research into
issues of national concern;
(J) recommendations for assistance for--
(i) the development of foreign language
achievement standards; and
(ii) corresponding assessments for the
elementary, secondary, and postsecondary
education levels, including the National
Assessment of Educational Progress in foreign
languages;
(K) recommendations for development of--
(i) language skill-level certification
standards;
(ii) frameworks for pre-service and
professional development study for those who
teach foreign language;
(iii) suggested graduation criteria for
foreign language studies and appropriate non-
language studies, such as--
(I) international business;
(II) national security;
(III) public administration;
(IV) health care;
(V) engineering;
(VI) law;
(VII) journalism; and
(VIII) sciences;
(L) identification of and means for replicating
best practices at all levels and in all sectors,
including best practices from the international
community; and
(M) recommendations for overcoming barriers in
foreign language proficiency.
(3) National security language initiative.--The term
``National Security Language Initiative'' means the
comprehensive national plan of the President announced on
January 5, 2006, and under the direction of the Secretaries of
State, Education, and Defense and the Director of National
Intelligence to expand foreign language education for national
security purposes in the United States.
(d) Submission of Strategy to President and Congress.--Not later
than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Council
shall prepare and transmit to the President and the relevant committees
of Congress the strategy required under subsection (c).
(e) Meetings.--The Council may hold such meetings, and sit and act
at such times and places, as the Council considers appropriate, but
shall meet in formal session at least 2 times a year. State and local
government agencies and other organizations (such as academic sector
institutions, foreign language-related interest groups, business
associations, industry, and heritage community organizations) shall be
invited, as appropriate, to public meetings of the Council at least
once a year.
(f) Staff.--
(1) In general.--The Director may--
(A) appoint, without regard to the provisions of
title 5, United States Code, governing the competitive
service, such personnel as the Director considers
necessary; and
(B) compensate such personnel without regard to the
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter
53 of that title.
(2) Detail of government employees.--Upon request of the
Council, any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the
Council without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without
interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege
(3) Experts and consultants.--With the approval of the
Council, the Director may procure temporary and intermittent
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(4) Travel expenses.--Council members and staff shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States
Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business
in the performance of services for the Council.
(5) Security clearance.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
appropriate Federal agencies or departments shall
cooperate with the Council in expeditiously providing
to the Council members and staff appropriate security
clearances to the extent possible pursuant to existing
procedures and requirements.
(B) Exception.--No person shall be provided with
access to classified information under this section
without the appropriate required security clearance
access.
(6) Compensation.--The rate of pay for any employee of the
Council (including the Director) may not exceed the rate
payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section
5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(g) Powers.--
(1) Delegation.--Any member or employee of the Council may,
if authorized by the Council, take any action that the Council
is authorized to take in this section.
(2) Information.--
(A) Council authority to secure.--The Council may
secure directly from any Federal agency such
information, consistent with Federal privacy laws,
including The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(20 U.S.C. 1232g) and Department of Education's General
Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232(h)), the
Council considers necessary to carry out its
responsibilities.
(B) Requirement to furnish requested information.--
Upon request of the Director, the head of such agency
shall furnish such information to the Council.
(3) Donations.--The Council may accept, use, and dispose of
gifts or donations of services or property.
(4) Mail.--The Council may use the United States mail in
the same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal
agencies.
(h) Conferences, Newsletter, and Website.--In carrying out this
section, the Council--
(1) may arrange Federal, regional, State, and local
conferences for the purpose of developing and coordinating
effective programs and activities to improve foreign language
education;
(2) may publish a newsletter concerning Federal, State, and
local programs that are effectively meeting the foreign
language needs of the nation; and
(3) shall create and maintain a website containing
information on the Council and its activities, best practices
on language education, and other relevant information.
(i) Annual Report.--
(1) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Council
shall prepare and transmit to the President and the relevant
committees of Congress a report that describes--
(A) the activities of the Council;
(B) the efforts of the Council to improve foreign
language education and training; and
(C) impediments to the use of a National Foreign
Language program, including any statutory and
regulatory restrictions.
(2) Relevant committees.--For purposes of paragraph (1),
the relevant committees of Congress include--
(A) in the House of Representatives--
(i) the Committee on Appropriations;
(ii) the Committee on Armed Services;
(iii) the Committee on Education and Labor;
(iv) the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform;
(v) the Committee on Small Business;
(vi) the Committee on Foreign Affairs; and
(vii) the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence;
(B) in the Senate--
(i) the Committee on Appropriations;
(ii) the Committee on Armed Services;
(iii) the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions;
(iv) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs;
(v) the Committee on Foreign Relations; and
(vi) the Select Committee on Intelligence.
(j) Establishment of a National Language Director.--
(1) In general.--There is established a National Language
Director who shall be appointed by the President. The National
Language Director shall be a nationally recognized individual
with credentials and abilities across the sectors to be
involved with creating and implementing long-term solutions to
achieving national foreign language and cultural competency.
(2) Responsibilities.--The National Language Director
shall--
(A) develop and monitor the implementation of a
national foreign language strategy, built upon the
efforts of the National Security Language Initiative,
across all sectors;
(B) establish formal relationships among the major
stakeholders in meeting the needs of the Nation for
improved capabilities in foreign languages and cultural
understanding, including Federal, State, and local
government agencies, academia, industry, labor, and
heritage communities; and
(C) coordinate and lead a public information
campaign that raises awareness of public and private
sector careers requiring foreign language skills and
cultural understanding, with the objective of
increasing interest in and support for the study of
foreign languages among national leaders, the business
community, local officials, parents, and individuals.
(k) Encouragement of State Involvement.--
(1) State contact persons.--The Council shall consult with
each State to provide for the designation by each State of an
individual to serve as a State contact person for the purpose
of receiving and disseminating information and communications
received from the Council.
(2) State interagency councils and lead agencies.--Each
State is encouraged to establish a State interagency council on
foreign language coordination or designate a lead agency for
the State for the purpose of assuming primary responsibility
for coordinating and interacting with the Council and State and
local government agencies as necessary.
(l) Congressional Notification.--The Council shall provide to
Congress such information as may be requested by Congress, through
reports, briefings, and other appropriate means.
(m) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as necessary to carry out this section.
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