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HR 5179 IH

To establish in the Department of Education an Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education and an Office of International and Foreign Language Education.

January 29, 2008

Mr. HOLT (for himself, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. EHLERS, and Mr. MARKEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

To establish in the Department of Education an Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education and an Office of International and Foreign Language Education.

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 `International Education Leadership Act of 2008'.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION.

(a) In General- Section 202(b)(1) of the Department of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3412(b)(1)) is amended--

(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking `and' at the end;

(2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G); and

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:

`(F) an Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education; and'.

(b) Functions- Section 202 of such Act is further amended by adding at the end the following:

`(j) The Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education--

`(1) shall be an individual with extensive background and experience in international and foreign language education; and

`(2) notwithstanding any other provision of law, shall report directly the Secretary.'.

(c) Conforming Amendment- Section 202(e) of such Act is amended--

(1) in paragraph (4), by adding `and' at the end;

(2) in paragraph (5), by striking `; and' at the end and inserting a period; and

(3) by striking paragraph (6).

(d) Office of International and Foreign Language Education- Title II of the Department of Education Organization Act is amended by inserting after section 207 (20 U.S.C. 3417) the following:

`OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION

`Sec. 207A. There shall be in the Department an Office of International and Foreign Language Education, to be administered by the Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education appointed under section 202(b). In addition to performing such functions affecting international and foreign language education as the Secretary may prescribe, the Assistant Secretary shall--

`(1) have responsibility for encouraging and promoting the study of foreign languages and the study of cultures of other countries at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels in the United States;

`(2) carry out the administration of all Department programs on international and foreign language education and research;

`(3) coordinate with related international and foreign language education programs of other Federal departments and agencies; and

`(4) administer and coordinate the Department of Education's activities in international affairs.'.