Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

2

This Act may be cited as the "International Academic

3 Opportunity Act of 2000".

4 SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

5

It is the purpose of this Act to establish an under6 graduate grant program for students of limited financial 7 means from the United States to enable such students to 8 study at institutions of higher education in foreign coun9 tries. Such foreign study is intended to broaden the out10 look and better prepare such students of demonstrated fi11 nancial need to assume significant roles in the increasingly 12 global economy.

13 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM FOR FOR

14

15

16

EIGN STUDY BY AMERICAN COLLEGE STU

DENTS OF LIMITED FINANCIAL MEANS.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.-Subject to the availability of 17 appropriations and under the authorities of the Mutual 18 Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, the Sec19 retary of State shall establish and carry out a program 20 in each fiscal year to award grants of up to $5,000, to 21 individuals who meet the requirements of subsection (b), 22 toward the cost of 1 academic year of undergraduate study 23 at an institution of higher education in a foreign country. 24 Grants under this Act shall be known as the "Benjamin 25 A. Gilman International Scholarships".

June 28, 2000 (3:18 PM)

F:\FD\COM\H4528.COM

3

1

(b) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual referred to in sub-

2 section (a) is an individual who

[blocks in formation]

(1) is a student in good standing at an institu-
tion of higher education in the United States (as de-

fined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965);

(2) has been accepted for an academic year of
study at an institution of higher education outside
the United States (as defined by section 102(b) of
the Higher Education Act of 1965);

(3) is receiving any need-based student assist-
ance under title IV of the Higher Education Act of
1965; and

(4) is a citizen or national of the United States.
(c) APPLICATION AND SELECTION.—

(1) Grant application and selection shall be car-

ried out through accredited institutions of higher
education in the United States or combination of
such institutions under such procedures as are es-
tablished by the Secretary of State.

(2) In considering applications for grants under
this section, priority consideration shall be given to
applicants who are receiving Federal Pell Grants

under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

June 28, 2000 (3:18 PM)

F:\FD\COM\H4528.COM

1 SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

2

The Secretary of State shall report annually to the

3 Congress concerning the grant program established under

4 this Act. Each such report shall include the following in

5 formation for the preceding year:

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

(1) The number of participants.

(2) The institutions of higher education in the United States that participants attended.

(3) The institutions of higher education outside

the United States participants attended during their year of study abroad.

(4) The areas of study of participants.

13 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

14

There are authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000

15 for each fiscal year to carry out this Act.

16 SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.

17.

This Act shall take effect October 1, 2000.

June 28, 2000 (3:18 PM)

[graphic][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

We are writing to you regarding the Diplomatic Telecommunications Service Program Office (DTSPO), and direction relating to DTSPO that was part of the FY 2001 Intelligence Authorization bill. Due to serious policy concems with this aspect of the Intelligence bill, we planned to legislate on this subject in the context of the Defense and Security Assistance Act of 2000. However, we are prepared to refrain from legislating on DTSPO, at this stage of the legislative process, if we can receive your assurances that you are prepared to work with us, at both the Member- and staff-level, to fully resolve our concerns about the Intelligence Bill's DTSPO provision.

By way of background, Congress decided in FY 1992 that budget constraints and the need to improve communications in a cost effective manner for all agencies in the foreign affairs community, required the creation of DTSPO. This new office was designed to consolidate systems, and ensure fully interoperable and capable systems. In recent years, there has been considerable debate, both within the Administration and in Congress, on the strengths and weaknesses of the operation of DTSPO, and our committes legislated on DTSPO as recently as last year in the context of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act.

We are aware that inspectors General and interagency discussions have sought to identify weakness and deficiencies in the network and its management and develop acceptable solutions. A strong, secure, fully capable communications system is without question a priority because it is the backbone of any post operation. All agencies present at the post must have an efficient and reliable communications system. The question is how to adequately fund and manage a worldwide network that is responsive to the variety of users, the complexity of the systems, the need for rapid response to systems problems, and the ever increasing demand for greater bandwidth.

Given the jurisdiction rules of the House, both the House International Relations Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence share responsibility to oversee this

communications system. It has been brought to our attention that both key agencies involved in
this matter have made significant financial investments in the system over the years, and that all
appropriate congressional committees and agencies must be fully involved in any discussion of
managements changes at DTSPO.

We therefore believe that it is important that our committees work together to develop a
joint recommendation that addresses the numerous dimensions of this issue. Furthermore, we
believe that suggested changes should be based on fully identifying the problems of the existing
system and the principles that should guide a restructuring, including a fair distribution of assets
should we mutually decide that a "divorce" in the communications system is warranted.

To that end, we seek your assurances that you will work with us, both at the Member-and staff-level, using all current data and reports, to fully resolve our concerns about the Intelligence Bill's DTSPO provision. We look forward to receiving your assurances in this regard.

[blocks in formation]
« ÎnapoiContinuă »