Community College Educational Exchange Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4767

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-25: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2026-07-06T22:26:15Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Community College Educational Exchange Act aims to promote and expand educational exchanges between international scholars, students, and experts and U.S. junior or community colleges, as well as U.S. postsecondary vocational institutions. It focuses on building skills in key development areas to support U.S. foreign policy goals, such as economic growth, security, and international partnerships.

Key Provisions

• Definitions (Section 2): Establishes clear terms, including:
• "Eligible institutions" as U.S. junior or community colleges and postsecondary vocational schools that partner with or are eligible for programs from the Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
• "Junior or community college" as two-year higher education institutions offering credits toward degrees or technical training, without awarding bachelor's degrees.
• "Postsecondary vocational institution" as schools providing at least two years of training for recognized occupations.
• "Educational exchange" refers to activities under the existing Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, such as scholarships and cultural programs.
• "Relevant federal departments and agencies" include the Department of State, USAID, and others involved in foreign assistance.

• Expanding Exchange Programs (Section 3): Directs the Secretary of State and USAID Administrator to strengthen partnerships in sectors like agriculture, entrepreneurship, engineering, information technology, health, and environmental resilience. Establishes the "Community College and Postsecondary Vocational Institution Initiative Program" in the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to provide scholarships for up to one academic year for international participants from underrepresented backgrounds to study at eligible U.S. institutions.

• Building Capacity for Study Abroad (Section 4): Creates a capacity-building program in the State Department's Bureau to help eligible institutions develop and expand study abroad opportunities. Authorizes grants, technical assistance, and resources to:
• Increase student participation in study abroad.
• Train faculty and staff on program design.
• Develop toolkits, workshops, and hybrid (virtual and in-person) models.
• Focus on fields critical to U.S. national and economic security, such as STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and vocational training.
• Target underrepresented students.

• Communications and Outreach (Section 5): Requires the Secretary of State and USAID to provide technical help for grant applications and feedback on rejected applications to improve future submissions for eligible institutions.

• Congressional Consultation (Section 6): Mandates a report to congressional committees (House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations) within one year of enactment, covering prioritized countries, existing partnerships, capacity-building efforts, and plans to engage new institutions.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces new programs and initiatives within the framework of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 and the Higher Education Act of 1965, but does not amend those laws directly. It creates dedicated scholarship and capacity-building programs specifically for junior/community colleges and vocational institutions, which were previously underserved in federal exchange efforts. It also authorizes new grants and outreach mechanisms to prioritize underrepresented international participants and U.S. institutions in development-focused sectors, expanding beyond traditional four-year university exchanges.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Department of State and USAID will need to allocate resources for new programs, including scholarships, grants, and consultations, potentially increasing administrative workload but enhancing their roles in educational diplomacy.
• Citizens: U.S. students, faculty, and staff at eligible institutions gain more opportunities for study abroad and international collaboration, particularly in high-demand fields. International scholars from underrepresented backgrounds benefit from access to U.S. training, fostering skill-building for global challenges.
• International Relations: Strengthens U.S. soft power by promoting people-to-people ties in developing countries, advancing foreign policy through education in sectors like food security and technology, and potentially improving bilateral relations via expanded partnerships.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Educational Institutions: Junior/community colleges and postsecondary vocational schools, which receive funding and support to participate in exchanges and study abroad.
• International Participants: Scholars, students, and experts from underrepresented backgrounds in prioritized countries, gaining scholarships and training.
• Federal Agencies: Department of State (leading implementation) and USAID (partnership focus), along with other foreign assistance entities.
• Congress: Foreign Affairs and Foreign Relations Committees, involved in oversight and consultation.
• Broader Community: Faculty, staff, and underrepresented U.S. students who benefit from capacity-building and outreach.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Builds on existing authorities under foreign assistance and education laws without creating new entitlements or mandates, relying on discretionary funding (e.g., "should seek" language indicates recommendations over requirements). Authorizes grants but does not appropriate funds, leaving budgeting to future Congresses.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's powers over foreign affairs and commerce, promoting educational exchanges as a form of diplomacy without infringing on individual rights or states' education roles.
• Political: Encourages bipartisan support for international education as a tool for U.S. security and economic interests, potentially facing debates over funding priorities amid foreign aid constraints. Highlights focus on vocational and community education, addressing equity for non-traditional institutions and global development needs.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]

Cosponsors (6)

Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-25: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2025-07-25: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-25: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Community College Educational Exchange Act — issued 2025-07-25 — PDF (10 pages)