S 1010 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 7, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. DODD, and Mr. DURBIN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘National Foreign Language Coordination Act of 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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 Act referred to as the ‘Council’), directed by a National Language Advisor (in this Act referred to as the ‘Advisor’) appointed by the President.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Membership- The Council shall consist of the following members or their designees:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The Advisor, who shall serve as the chairperson of the Council.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The Secretary of Education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The Secretary of Defense.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The Secretary of State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The Secretary of Homeland Security.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) The Attorney General.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) The Director of National Intelligence.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) The Secretary of Labor.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) The Secretary of Commerce.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) The heads of such other Federal agencies as the Council considers appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Responsibilities-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Council shall be charged with--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) overseeing, coordinating, and implementing continuing national security and education language initiatives;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, developing a national foreign language strategy, building upon efforts such as the National Security Language Initiative, the National Language Conference, the National Defense Language Roadmap, the Language Continuum of the Department of State, and others, in consultation with--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) State and local government agencies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) academic sector institutions;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) foreign language-related interest groups;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) business associations, including industry;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(v) heritage associations; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(vi) other relevant stakeholders;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) conducting a survey of the status of Federal agency foreign language and area expertise and agency needs for such expertise; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) monitoring the implementation of such strategy through--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) application of current and recently enacted laws; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) the promulgation and enforcement of rules and regulations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) STRATEGY CONTENT- The strategy developed under paragraph (1) shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the long-term goals, anticipated effect, and needs of national security language initiatives;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) identification of crucial priorities across all sectors;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) identification and evaluation of Federal foreign language programs and activities, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) any duplicative or overlapping programs that may impede efficiency;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) recommendations on coordination;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) program enhancements; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) allocation of resources so as to maximize use of resources;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) Federal, State, and local leaders;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) students;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) parents;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational institutions; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(v) employers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) recommendations for incentives for related educational programs, including foreign language teacher training;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(H) coordination of cross-sector efforts, including public-private partnerships;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(J) identification of and means for replicating best practices at all levels and in all sectors, including best practices from the international community; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(K) recommendations for overcoming barriers in foreign language proficiency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Submission of Strategy to President and Congress- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Council shall prepare and submit to the President and the relevant committees of Congress the strategy required under subsection (c).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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 not less than 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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Staff-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Advisor may--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) appoint, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing the competitive service, such personnel as the Advisor considers necessary; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) compensate such personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS- With the approval of the Council, the Advisor may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) SECURITY CLEARANCE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) EXCEPTION- No person shall be provided with access to classified information under this section without the appropriate required security clearance access.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) COMPENSATION- The rate of pay for any employee of the Council (including the Advisor) may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Powers-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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 Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) INFORMATION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) REQUIREMENT TO FURNISH REQUESTED INFORMATION- Upon request of the Advisor, the head of such agency shall furnish such information to the Council.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) DONATIONS- The Council may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) MAIL- The Council may use the United States mail in the same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Conferences, Newsletter, and Website- In carrying out this Act, the Council--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) may publish a newsletter concerning Federal, State, and local programs that are effectively meeting the foreign language needs of the Nation; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) shall create and maintain a website containing information on the Council and its activities, best practices on language education, and other relevant information.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) Annual Report- 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--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the activities of the Council;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the efforts of the Council to improve foreign language education and training; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) impediments to the use of a National Foreign Language program, including any statutory and regulatory restrictions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(j) Establishment of a National Language Advisor-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The National Language Advisor appointed by the President 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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) RESPONSIBILITIES- The Advisor shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(k) Encouragement of State Involvement-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(l) Congressional Notification- The Council shall provide to Congress such information as may be requested by Congress, through reports, briefings, and other appropriate means.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(m) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary to carry out this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink