The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act is a congressional initiative to greatly expand study abroad opportunities for U.S. undergraduates. The legislation has gained strong bipartisan support in Congress and has also been endorsed by more than 40 higher education and educational exchange organizations. Sponsored by: NAFSA

The Legislation

The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act is a visionary bill to address today's need for more Americans to know more about the rest of the world as a basic part of their undergraduate education. By numbers ranging from 77 percent to more than 90 percent, Americans believe that it is important for their children to learn other languages, study abroad, attend a college where they can interact with international students, learn about other countries and cultures, and generally be prepared for a global age, according to a national survey conducted by Lake Research Partners and the Tarrance Group.

The concept of the legislation is based on the vision of the late distinguished Senator Paul Simon and the recommendations put forth by the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program. This legislation creates a national program that will establish study abroad as the norm, not the exception, for undergraduate students.

The program's goals are to establish an innovative public-private partnership which would create a more globally informed American citizenry by:

• - Increasing participation in quality study abroad programs
• - Encouraging diversity in student participation in study abroad
• - Diversifying locations of study abroad, particularly in developing countries
• - Making study abroad a cornerstone of today's higher education

This legislation, once signed into law, will authorize the creation of the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation and will define the goals and objectives of the program. Once the foundation and program are authorized, specific funding levels will be determined through a separate appropriations process.

To read more about the current status of the bill:  NAFSA - Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act.